Shelmerdine Garden Centre Growing on . . . 80 years
I
n 1937, Shelmerdine Nursery was founded at 3612 Roblin Blvd. in Charleswood by Walter Shelmerdine. Walter concentrated on the production of fruit trees, mainly apple varieties, which were sold to farmers in Charleswood and west Winnipeg.
Being the entrepreneur that he was, in 1944, Walter increased his market by knock- ing on doors during the winter months and offering to draw landscape plans for home- owners. By this means, slowly but surely, the 11-acre nursery progressed and, in 1958, undertook its first commercial landscaping contract.
During these years, Mr. Shelmerdine took on a business partner and avid horticultural- ist, Carl Pedersen, who had immigrated from Denmark. Shelmerdine Nursery produced its first plant catalogue in 1953, from which it advertised landscape plans to homeowners for $5, and trees and shrubs ranging in price from 50 cents to $2! Walter Shelmerdine retired from the company in 1967. The nursery business continued to grow and as a result, a number of business partners joined the firm in the sixties and seventies: Gordon Laurie, Jan Pedersen, Charlie Ger- lach, Brian Duncan and Bo Wohlers. It was under this new leadership that the original site in Charleswood was sold, and in 1974, the current retail garden centre at 7800 Ro- blin Blvd. in Headingley was established and built on an 80-acre growing range. During the seventies and eighties, as nu- merous housing developments cropped up throughout Winnipeg, the fleet of Shelmer- dine landscaping trucks and crews could be seen throughout the city, often landscaping entire streets at a time! Throughout these
66 • Fall 2016
years, Shelmerdine established its reputation, which they are proud to uphold, as one of Winnipeg’s most reputable and trustworthy landscaping firm and garden centre, provid- ing clients with friendly and knowledgeable service, superior plants, and quality garden- ing products.
In 2005, the company reorganized into two separate, but closely operating com- panies, the commercial landscaping opera- tion, Shelmerdine Ltd. and the retail store, Shelmerdine Garden Centre Ltd. Almost 80 years . . . and growing!
Today, Shelmerdine Garden Centre Ltd. is a home, garden, and fashion centre as well as a greenhouse growing operation. It is owned by Nicole Bent and Chad Labbe. Nicole’s background as an interior designer, Chad’s knowledge from over 20 years in horticul- ture, and Shelmerdine’s loyal crew of expert staff creates a visionary and passionate team! With over 80,000-square-feet of covered
shopping area, Shelmerdine Garden Centre operates from March through December. Shelmerdine’s selection of plants, home decor, and ladies fashion changes season- ally, inspiring its customers with stunning displays and a unique variety of products. Transforming from a vibrant greenhouse, lush with plants in the spring and summer, into an inviting warm fall atmosphere, and then a Christmas shopping destination in the winter, they strive to create a unique and inviting experience for their customers to enjoy throughout the year.
Shelmerdine' owners feel extremely proud that they continue to be recognized by their friends, customers and by the horticultural industry as reputable leaders in their field. The foundation of friendly, knowledge- able customer service and quality plants and products, upon which Shelmerdine was built, remains our legacy today and into the future! x
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