April 15, 2015
The landscape industry lost a truly dedicated and knowledgeable landscape professional with the passing of Hans Joerg Fischer on Feb. 10, 2015, in his 82nd year.  

He will be sadly missed by wife Eleonore (née Gengenbach), siblings Elisabeth Seipel (Klaus) and Ernst Fischer (Hilde), and his children Eleanor, Michael (Janice) and Carl.

Fischer’s landscaping career spanned over 50 years. After arriving in Canada from his homeland of Germany, Fischer worked at M. Putzer Nursery in Hornby with the landscape crew.

Five years later, he joined Leslie L. Solty and Sons in Barrie, where he was employed for 45 years.

Skilled in all aspects of the landscaping industry, he will be best remembered for his abilities on a backhoe planting trees. Fischer worked on countless projects, including some well-known landmarks, such as Ontario Place, Wonderland, Inn on The Park, Four Seasons Sheridan Hotel and McMaster University. During the 1980s and ‘90s, Fischer planted over 180,000 trees around the GTA, not to mention the thousands of shrubs and perennials.

Fischer will be remembered for his inquisitive conversations and sarcastic humour. Metaphors and riddles delivered with a straight, poker-like face, might sometimes catch the uninitiated off guard. His motive for conversational engagement was a genuine interest in people’s thoughts and interests. Fischer’s thirst for knowledge, even in his senior years, was endless.

A dedicated and motivated employee, even in his 80s, Fischer could still out work people a fraction of his age. His knowledge and passion for the green industry will be greatly missed.