A long-time Swift Current greenhouse received some prestigious local recognition last week.

Riverdene Garden Centre was awarded the Small Business of the Year during Friday night's Swift Current & District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards Gala.

Winning the illustrious hardware caught Riverdene Garden Centre Co-Owner Jennifer Speir by surprise.

"We're very thankful for the community for their support," she said. "For allowing us the opportunity to win this award." 

The business situated along the Swift Current Creek was created in 1954 by Vern Smith. It was acquired by Speir and Ashton Redden in the summer of 2020 from Sherman & Doreen Lyngstad. Since the facility has undergone extensive renovations since.

"We're continually trying to grow and expand and offer new services to the community," she said.

To be eligible for the small business honour, companies must employ no more than five full-time staff. Alongside Speir and Redden, their staff consists of seven part-time seasonal workers from February to July.

Something unique the business carries out annually is planting over 100,000 plants.

"They just come as tiny baby plugs, so just like a germinated seed basically," she explained. "We just fill the trays with dirt and plant the plants into the new dirt. It's quite an undertaking."   

Their five-year goal is to be open year-round and include more giftware and tropical plants for customers.