Foothills Landscaping - Celebrating 60 Years

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BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES START AT FOOTHILLS LANDSCAPING

Written by Rennay Craats

When Foothills Landscaping was established in 1964, Calgary was booming. Henry Heuver saw opportunity in the burgeoning housing market and set out with his tools and a strong work ethic to create a superior landscaping business to accommodate it. His small company grew and he soon transitioned from residential services to providing commercial landscaping to Calgary businesses. Along the way, he passed his green thumb on to the next generations.

Foothills Landscaping • Celebrating 60 years 81

“He really advocated for city specs and standards. He was president of the Canadian Nursery and Landscape Association for a while and he donated a significant amount of money to Olds College to help build their horticulture program to turn the industry into an actual trade,” says Connor Heuver, vice president of internal operations at Foothills Landscaping.

The current team at Foothills Landscaping is proud to carry on its founder’s legacy by giving back to various causes and organizations in the community while continuing to provide great service in the field. To maintain the high standards, employees are encouraged to grow their craft through Olds College’s landscape horticulturist apprenticeship program; if they complete the program and stay with the company for a year, Foothills covers their tuition costs. Just as Henry did before them, the current management team appreciates the importance of education, good training and having pride in a job well done so they invest in their incredible staff to ensure the company stands out in the market.

And Foothills Landscaping stands out not only for incredible results but also for the number of years it has been delivering them. Unlike landscaping outfits that are here one day and gone the next, Foothills has shown it is here to stay and has stood behind its work for 60 years. Built on Henry’s solid foundation, today’s Foothills is resilient and strong, structured to ride out the ups and downs in the Alberta market as it grows organically for the future.

The company has seen it all and has proudly helped define the city over the years, from being the landscapers for the Saddledome and Suncor Energy Centre in the 1980s to shaping developments in Quarry Park and boulevard beautification in several communities across the city today. Whether a client is starting from nothing or revamping an existing property, Foothills delivers expert landscape design that complements the natural landscape while leaving a powerful impression behind. The team takes care of the entire project, completing grading, sodding and planting greenery while incorporating beautiful hardscape elements like pathways, retaining walls and water features.

The team knows what greenery grows well in Calgary’s challenging climate and works with clients to produce the look they want using the hardiest plants and materials for the region. With the push toward drought-resistant landscaping and zeroscapes that feature rock beds and other non-living elements, Foothills has evolved with the times and become a leader in the industry.

“We are the landscaper you call if you want your space to look a certain way and want it to be beautiful as opposed to just looking done,” says Connor, and Foothills proudly goes the extra mile.

Installation is just the beginning of the relationship as Foothills offers extensive grounds maintenance contracts to ensure those stunning spaces remain well cared for. The team handles mowing, weeding, pruning and watering their clients’ landscaped areas and they also design gorgeous Christmas, spring and summer planters as well as colourful entrance beds for communities and businesses, so the sites always look their best. This includes indoor sites too, where the talented team imports and installs tropical plants and trees to create beautiful atria spaces.

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Clients know that they can count on Foothills Landscaping to meet their year-round needs too, offering dedicated 24/7 snow removal for clients. The team clears and hauls or relocates snow from parking lots, sidewalks, loading docks and parkades and sands surfaces to keep areas safe. They pride themselves on doing a thorough job and as a result the company boasts zero claims for slips and falls.

Foothills focuses on quality in all it does, and between high-quality products, incredible maintenance and approachable and reachable management leaders, Foothills has become a first-choice partner for many Calgary and area businesses, large home builders, a growing number of community associations and the City, which is increasingly outsourcing landscaping work. There is little Foothills can’t do.

“We’ve had some pretty bizarre requests in the past. We always say yes. We’ve done goat grazing for clients. We are the Zamboni operators for the University District’s outdoor rink,” says Kyle McLoughlin, vice president of construction operations and co-owner of Foothills. “You have to go outside your comfort zone because if you

Henry & Joan