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Flowers & Sense is owned by sisters Marie Belcourt and Marilyn Ruyter.
Marie Belcourt is a Graduate of the Humber College Floral Design Program (two
year program). She has been designing since 1979.
Marie started her career in Toronto, and then moved with her family into
Northern Ontario. Over the next fifteen years while raising
her family of three, she worked in flower shops in Sault St. Marie, Timmins and
Kapuskasing.
Marilyn Ruyter with her husband, Kees Ruyter are a successful business
entrepreneurs in Barrie for last 30 years. They started married life in Kees'
family
market farming and growing Gladiola and Tulips. In 1989 they started and
continue the running of a successful
industrial and commercial cleaning company - Action Plus Commercial Cleaning
Services Inc.
Marilyn attended Georgian College in the Graphics and Fine Arts Program. Marilyn
continued with her creative endeavors while
raising a family of four daughters, through one man shows, seminars and private
home showings.
After Marie and Marilyn had many home showings of floral creations, art work and
sewing projects and also many conversations over the kitchen table they decided to open their own flower shop. With the help
of their families they opened Flowers & Sense in
September 1999. Marie and Marilyn quickly specialized in weddings and events
utilizing Marie’s great traditional experience in the
floral industry and Marilyn’s innovative ideas to make Flowers & Sense a shop
with unique designs for any occasion.
Marilyn and Marie continue their education in the floral arts by attending
seminars and workshops in Toronto, Niagara and Upper
New York State. In the summer of 2007 they completed a Master class for
accomplished designers with Hitomi Gilliam, AIFD and
Seneca College in Neo Tropica. Marilyn and Marie were also privileged to attend
a workshop with world renowned designer Shane
Connelly, designer for the Royal Family.
