First Annual Canadian Flowers Week Blooms September 13-19th 2018

TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada's first annual Canadian Flowers Week launches today with a cutting garden at Toronto's Gladstone Hotel from 12-2pm.

Canadian Flowers Week celebrates the local floral industry and continues through to September 19, by engaging the public, policymakers, and media in conversations about the origins of our flowers. It will help Canadians make conscious purchase decisions by:

First annual Canadian Flowers Week installation, located at the Gladstone Hotel, located at 1214 Queen St W, Toronto, ON. (CNW Group/Canadian Flowers Week)

• Providing education about growing seasons
• What's available and when
• Where Canadians can buy local blooms

"Similar to the locavore and slow food movements, 'slow flowers' help to strengthen the relationships between farmers, florists and consumers," notes Canadian Flowers Week and Toronto Flower Market founder, Natasa Kajganic. "Our goal is to build a mindful momentum, so we can develop long-lasting social impacts that benefit local economies and bring Canadians the best quality flowers for years to come."

Currently many flowers sold in Canada are imported from the USA and South America, this needs to change. Canada has 2,000+ greenhouse and field growers, with 250+ flower varieties grown throughout the year. Canadian blooms are plentiful.

In addition to building a dialogue, Canadian Flowers Week celebrates flower power with growers, wholesalers, designers, florists and retailers by hosting multiple events, design installations and flower markets across the country.

At Hamilton's Supercrawl festival on September 14  artist Stephan Altena will exhibit his floral paintings alongside an installation by local farmer-florists of Sweet Gale Gardens.

Flower Markets will be held on September 15, in Toronto, ON / Abbotsford BC / Victoria, BC

Floral installations will also be unveiled starting September 13 in Toronto, ON / Hamilton, ON / Calgary, AB / Delta, BC / Nelson, BC / Victoria, BC

Canadian Flowers Week will host a one-time Ontario-wide "Petal Path" event in partnership with Ecological Farmers of Ontario. Local flower farms will host pubic garden tours to share and educate the public about flower farming. The "Petal Path" will occur simultaneously across the province from 11am-3pm on Sunday September 16, 2018.

Visit www.canadianflowersweek.ca to find events and activities in your area, as well as seasonal availability calendars by province. The site also serves as a resource for industry, media and consumers to learn about local blooms, growers, wholesalers and florists. Join the conversation on social media using: #canadianflowersweek

SOURCE Canadian Flowers Week

Media Contacts: Sue Kuruvilla, E: [email protected], Cell: 647.401.7431; Caroline Shaheed, E: [email protected], Cell: 416.220.8042