October 23, 2024
International friendships blossom at IGCA 2024 in Quebec
BY ANNE KADWELL
CNLA - BLUE BUS CAPTAIN
Smiles, laughter and teamwork filled the air as garden retail business owners from 19 countries came together for an unforgettable week of connection and growth at the International Garden Centre Congress (IGCA), which took place Aug. 25-31. Our tour bus bustled with constant discussions and the sharing of ideas and insights throughout the event.
The group of 175 international delegates enjoyed five days of travelling in and around Québec City and Montreal, to visit 11 exceptional garden centres, with each location turning the visit into an extravagant event or a memorable competition between bus groups, such as a ball hockey tournament at Jardin Dion, or a scavenger hunt at Jardin2m.
Delegates in our group also experienced exquisite restaurants, with a major highlight taking place on the St. Lawrence River where we enjoyed dinner on a boat followed by a dance party on the deck. A gala on Aug. 30 had the awesome band, Sonic 5, playing a range of ballads from various musical genres, and who kept being hauled back on stage for encore after encore. The entire group wasn’t yet ready to accept the conclusion of this incredible event.
Thank you to all the delegates, sponsors, retail garden centre hosts, the IGCA board, bus captains and IGCA Congress event organizers. Together, we made this an outstanding event that celebrated excellence in Canadian and Québécois garden retail. I’m already counting down the days for another exciting adventure at the IGCA Congress scheduled to take place Oct. 19-25, 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Photos and videos from this incredible, week-long Québécois adventure can be found on the IGCA Facebook page at facebook.com/igca2024canada.