The Loyalist College Continuing Education Professional Florist Certificate program offers expanded learning opportunities through the new facilities at Rosehips Studio’s Trenton location. Owned and operated by Sheila Fernley, the new studio provides the ideal environment for students enrolled in the certificate program to develop their skills in a florist’s retail setting. The program is composed of a series of part-time courses designed to prepare participants to enter the retail florist industry.
“The studio will allow students to have a real-life experience learning in a functioning flower shop versus a classroom where we would have to recreate a flower shop using props,” explained program instructor Sheila Fernley. “The studio is brand new but I have been teaching the program for nine years. I developed and designed the certificate program curriculum to meet the industry’s standards. Flower shop owners and employers look for certification. We place students at local flower shops for the practicum portion of the program and have developed a great rapport with local shop owners.”
“Loyalist is proud to have one of the region’s top floral designers coordinating the program,” said Trudie Lake, Continuing Education Manager. “This certification prepares graduates for many different options which could include a second career or employment at a greenhouse, florist shop or as part of an event planning team. Others have opened their own floral business. Ongoing starts throughout the fall semester enable students to choose a timeframe that works well for them. Loyalist is an approved testing site so students can fulfill both their theoretical and practical components here. At the conclusion of the program, students receive a Loyalist College Professional Florist Training Certificate of Achievement and then have the opportunity to write the Basic Skills and Floral Design Level I exams applied toward the Flowers Canada Accreditation.”
The program’s primary focus is on the elements and principles of floral design, technique, form composition, colour and construction. Students are also introduced to business skills such as customer service, pricing, packaging and visual merchandising.
Those interested in learning more about the program can visit http://www.loyalistfocus.com .
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Media Contact: Marilyn Warren, Communications, Loyalist College (613) 969-1913, ext. 2332, e-mail: mwarren@loyalistc.on.ca, or Trudie Lake, CE Manager, ext. 2408