Our History

Sheridan Nurseries has been in business since 1913. We got our name when we opened our first nursery in a small town just west of Toronto called, Sheridan.

In 1913, Sven Herman Stensson, (a gardener at Kew Gardens in England, and formerly chief gardener for the Crown Prince of Denmark at Knuthenborg Castle) answered an ad for a Nursery Manager and came to Canada with his family. Herman and all his children were active in the business until their retirement.

The family tradition continues as three of Herman's grandchildren are actively involved in the business today.

Bill Stensson is our Chief Executive Officer. Bill joined Sheridan Nurseries in 1974, working in many areas of the business, including inventroy control, grading, shipping and production. Bill has been active in industry activities serving both Landscape Ontario and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association where he is currently first Vice-President.

Karl Stensson is the President of our company. Karl has served Sheridan Nurseries since 1977. As a dedicated industry supporter for over 30 years, he has served as President of Landscape Ontario and President of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association. Karl has received many industry awards as well as the Landscape Ontario Honourary Life Membership, the highest award Landscape Ontario bestows.

Karen Gazley (Stensson) is our Sales Rep. for the Wholesale Atlantic Provinces division.

Over the years Sheridan Nurseries has been involved with many worthwhile community projects. The Artists Gardens at Harbourfront, the Historical Parkwood Estate in Oshawa, the Glen Williams Town Hall Renovations, ceremonial tree plantings through our local schools and ongoing support of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton are to name a few.

We are proud of our accomplishments and the people who have helped make us successful. Some of these include Constant DeGroot who worked for Sheridan Nurseries for over 50 years, and Manuel Sobrinho who started as a field worker and 40 years later is Vice President of Nursery Sales. Others include Thomas Frank, Mitzi Iwasaki, Lou Sato and Uli Rumpf who have spent most or all of their careers working for the betterment of Sheridan Nurseries.

Herman Stensson & Family - 1918