Algonquin sweeps half of awards with bouquets

By Kris Lapenskie

lape0039@algonquincollege.com

Algonquin florist students took three of six awards home at the 19th annual Ontario Floral Growers design competition in Mississauga, Ont.

Janet Jones, Sarah Hartsell, and Susan McMullin each placed in the competition comprised of four Ontario colleges. McMullin and Hartsell won first and third place respectively in the wedding bouquet category. Jones won second place in the theme surprise package.

“At first I didn’t want to embarrass my teacher when she asked me to compete,” said McMullin. “But I ended up being praised for it.”

McMullin won first place in the wedding bouquet category. Her crescent-shaped design was contained in a Euro holder - an ice cream scoop shaped container that the floral arrangement comes out from.

“The theme this year was ‘bling is the thing,’” said Jones. “Everyone in the [surprise package category] got the same package [of flowers] and we had to make an arrangement with 80 per cent of them.”

“Mine was a cascading bouquet,” said Hartsell. Hartsell, 19, worked as a florist for three years before coming to the florist program at Algonquin.

“We competed against Conestoga, Seneca, and the Canadian Institute,” said Daphne Young, another Algonquin competitor.

To remember their success, the women were given a book on wedding bouquets, a framed certificate, and a traditional award ribbon.

“It proves you’re never too old,” said 53-year-old Jones. “I was apprehensive to come to Algonquin because I thought I was too old. But I’m glad I did it.”