For the past 25 years, JENNY DeRAAF has been a part of life’s biggest moments.
As the owner of Holland House Flowers, DeRaaf has seen people graduate high school, get married, have children who grow up and then come to her for their wedding flowers, as well.
“Being open for so long you really see it all. You have the highs and lows of the economy and the growth of the city. You meet so many people in the community and create arrangements for really important events,” says DeRaaf.
“You really kind of become part of the story of the city.”
DeRaaf trained in floral design at Olds College in the ’90s, eventually spending some time in the Netherlands learning European techniques. In 1999, she decided to bring a high-end floral shop to Airdrie, finding the perfect space by the Airdrie CO-OP.
Over the years, DeRaaf has seen trends come and go. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, she says plants became popular, helping drive sales during a challenging period.
“For the past 25 years, Jenny has proven to be an important part of this community, sharing her knowledge of plants and flowers and supporting the floral culture of Airdrie,” says nominator Valerie Unrau.
DeRaaf has no plans of slowing down either and hopes to continue serving Airdrie for many more years to come.