“My company, through my dad and myself, had known Neil and dealt with his nursery for many years. Besides our long-standing business association, we also became strong friends. Neil was always a gentleman and a man of vision loved by his clients and staff. Very knowledgeable in many fields and a community leader, he was a good mentor for our industry and a great citizen of this country. He will be missed.”

“I had the privilege of working for Neil for three years when I was in my late teens and early 20s. He empowered us as staff, always putting our suggestions into practice for the betterment of the company. He mentored me even when I started my own business. Neil always had a listening ear, and I admired his great leadership skills. He was a very close lifetime friend. I miss him very much.”

“Neil’s lifetime of experience and true enjoyment of people in general made whatever he did successful, and he always had a sense of ease with a smile. Neil is not remembered for what he said but by what he did and how he did it. ”

“Dedicated to horticulture and Landscape Ontario, Neil constantly supported research, education, professionalism and mentored so many in our industry. My first copy of DIRR was a spontaneous gift from Neil many years ago when Peter and I visited on our Southern Ontario nursery tour. Neil’s leadership and tenacity built NVK as well as our industry.”