January 15, 2010
New president Intven’s roots go back to LO’s first days
LO’s new president Tom Intven has a long history with the association, back to its formation in 1973.
Intven is president and manager of Canadale Nurseries Wholesale Division, St. Thomas, which became a charter member of Landscape Ontario back when Tom Intven’s father Bill ran the business.
He will follow a long line of strong LO presidents who have served in the lead role. There is little doubt that level of strength will continue during Intven’s term. He has already announced his intentions over the next two years, “I would like to emphasize to our members and prospective members that the more they become engaged in what our community has to offer, the more success they will achieve and the stronger our association will become, especially in these rapidly changing times.”
Intven has the track record to prove that statement is more than words. He lives the philosophy: Twice president of the London Chapter of Landscape Ontario; recipient of LO Past President’s Award for outstanding contribution to the industry; chair of the IPPS 1998 and 2007 Site Committees (Toronto and Montreal meetings); president of the International Plant Propagators’ Society (ER) 2006; radio garden talk show host for CJBK and CFPL in London for four years; board member of Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation from 1999-2009; member of the local school board, chairing finance and building committees; Chamber of Commerce board member, serving as chair of the Agri-Business Committee; chair of the Elgin Community Lottery, with profits going to charitable organizations throughout Elgin County; chair of St. Thomas’ Elgin Hospital Foundation fundraising drive in 2007, raising over $250,000 for cystoscopes and related equipment.
Intven’s parents, Bill and Joan, emigrated from Holland and opened Canadale in 1955. They had seven children. Tom Intven, who graduated in 1977 from Queen’s University with a degree in plant biology, and his sister, Pauline, became involved in Canadale. He rapidly expanded the production of the nursery and increased the wholesale division.
The new president has been married to Laurie, an elementary school principal, for over 30 years. They have four daughters.
Members will have an opportunity to meet Tom Intven during the President’s Reception, from 4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m, followed by awards night at the Doubletree Hotel, during Congress 2010 from Jan. 12 to 14, www.locongress.com.
Intven is president and manager of Canadale Nurseries Wholesale Division, St. Thomas, which became a charter member of Landscape Ontario back when Tom Intven’s father Bill ran the business.
He will follow a long line of strong LO presidents who have served in the lead role. There is little doubt that level of strength will continue during Intven’s term. He has already announced his intentions over the next two years, “I would like to emphasize to our members and prospective members that the more they become engaged in what our community has to offer, the more success they will achieve and the stronger our association will become, especially in these rapidly changing times.”
Intven has the track record to prove that statement is more than words. He lives the philosophy: Twice president of the London Chapter of Landscape Ontario; recipient of LO Past President’s Award for outstanding contribution to the industry; chair of the IPPS 1998 and 2007 Site Committees (Toronto and Montreal meetings); president of the International Plant Propagators’ Society (ER) 2006; radio garden talk show host for CJBK and CFPL in London for four years; board member of Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation from 1999-2009; member of the local school board, chairing finance and building committees; Chamber of Commerce board member, serving as chair of the Agri-Business Committee; chair of the Elgin Community Lottery, with profits going to charitable organizations throughout Elgin County; chair of St. Thomas’ Elgin Hospital Foundation fundraising drive in 2007, raising over $250,000 for cystoscopes and related equipment.
Canadale, well-known to LO members, has won numerous awards over the years, including 50 LO Awards of Excellence in retail and wholesale and the company was named Ontario’s Favourite Garden Centre five times. The business has also won the Better Business Bureau (Western Ontario) Business Integrity Award in 2001; Second place in the North American BBB Business Integrity Award, 2001; Winner of St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce Free Enterprise Award, 2000; Twice national record holder of most attendees at a Chamber of Commerce Business After 5 Networking Event and holds the current record at 1,453 attendees.“I would like to emphasize to our members and prospective members that the more they become engaged in what our community has to offer, the more success they will achieve.”
— Tom Intven
Intven’s parents, Bill and Joan, emigrated from Holland and opened Canadale in 1955. They had seven children. Tom Intven, who graduated in 1977 from Queen’s University with a degree in plant biology, and his sister, Pauline, became involved in Canadale. He rapidly expanded the production of the nursery and increased the wholesale division.
The new president has been married to Laurie, an elementary school principal, for over 30 years. They have four daughters.
Members will have an opportunity to meet Tom Intven during the President’s Reception, from 4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m, followed by awards night at the Doubletree Hotel, during Congress 2010 from Jan. 12 to 14, www.locongress.com.