This fourth-annual competition featured 20 competitors showcasing their floral design talents to the public.

The fourth-annual Maple Leaf Cup floral-design competition was held April 5, 2019, in Edmonton, Alta., at West Edmonton Mall. For the fourth consecutive year, FTD sponsored the grand prize and the runner-up prize. The winner, Brenna Quan, AIFD, a freelance designer from Burnaby, B.C., took home $1,250, and the runner-up, Bruno Duarte, owner of Fresh Floral Creations in Toronto, Ont., took home $300.

In addition to receiving the cash prize and the coveted Maple Leaf Cup Trophy, Quan will be sponsored by Smithers-Oasis Company to compete in the prestigious Sylvia Cup Design Competition, held during the Society of American Florists (SAF) annual convention in Amelia Island, Fla., in September.

This year’s Maple Leaf Cup comprised three design categories. The competitors were not given any information about the categories until one hour prior to the competition. The categories were 1) a floral headpiece, 2) a designer’s choice arrangement to reflect the word “BOLD” and 3) a hand-tied bouquet using an armature or other type of structure. The contestants had three hours to complete their designs.

The flowers used by the contestants were donated by United Flower Growers, Florists Supply Ltd. and Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers. Supplies were provided by Smithers-Oasis Company, Accent Décor, Odyssey Imports and Lion Ribbon Company. The competition was judged by two former winners: Paul Jaras, AIFD, CFEJ, from Kamloops, B.C., the 2018 winner, and Lea Romanowski, AIFD, CAFA, CAFD, Designing on the Edge, Calgary, Alta., the 2017 winner.

 

Freelance designer Brenna Quan, AIFD, from Burnaby, B.C., was the winner the 2019 Maple Leaf Cup.
Bruno Duarte, owner of Fresh Floral Design in Toronto, Ont., was the runner-up, in a close second-place fi nish.
Emceeing the 2019 Maple Leaf Cup, held at the West Edmonton Mall, was the competition’s founder and organizer, Heather de Kok, AIFD, AAF, PFCI, CFEJ.

Heather de Kok, AIFD, AAF, PFCI, CFEJ, has been in the floral industry more than 25 years. She got involved with flowers at an early age when her family started Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers. Today, she owns Heather de Kok Floral Design Inc., in Edmonton, Alta., Canada
She was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers in 2007, Professional Floral Communicators International in 2008 and the American Academy of Floriculture in 2009. Heather created the Maple Leaf Cup competition to showcase Canadian floral design talent to the world.