““Our father loved plants but his real passion was the nursery industry. He wanted all businesses, including landscapers, garden centres and nursery growers to be successful, because he understood that the success of his own business was directly related to a successful sector.””

“My company, through my dad and myself, had known Neil and dealt with his nursery for many years. Besides our long-standing business association, we also became strong friends. Neil was always a gentleman and a man of vision loved by his clients and staff. Very knowledgeable in many fields and a community leader, he was a good mentor for our industry and a great citizen of this country. He will be missed.”

“I had the privilege of working for Neil for three years when I was in my late teens and early 20s. He empowered us as staff, always putting our suggestions into practice for the betterment of the company. He mentored me even when I started my own business. Neil always had a listening ear, and I admired his great leadership skills. He was a very close lifetime friend. I miss him very much.”

“Neil’s lifetime of experience and true enjoyment of people in general made whatever he did successful, and he always had a sense of ease with a smile. Neil is not remembered for what he said but by what he did and how he did it. ”

“Dedicated to horticulture and Landscape Ontario, Neil constantly supported research, education, professionalism and mentored so many in our industry. My first copy of DIRR was a spontaneous gift from Neil many years ago when Peter and I visited on our Southern Ontario nursery tour. Neil’s leadership and tenacity built NVK as well as our industry.”