Earlier in the fall our President Nathan Helder hosted a BBQ & cocktail event to celebrate Gelderman’s 60th anniversary.
We would like to thank all of the guests who joined us in celebrating. For those of you who weren’t able to join us, thank you! We would not have reached this milestone without you.
Nathan’s speech from the event is reprinted below, and click on the photo above to view more pictures from the event.
### Message from the President of Gelderman Landscape Services
Sixty years is a milestone – an occasion certainly worth celebrating. As we reminisce over the last 60 years, we can’t help but be thankful for all that has been achieved to get to this milestone in history.
From our humble beginnings in 1955 of the late Jan Gelderman to the present time, we have been blessed with dedicated staff, clients, and suppliers. Gelderman has gone from one Jeep Willys and a few tools to a large fleet of trucks that are driven by over 100 employees, as well as now having two locations.
A lot of variables are what contributed to this growth, a few I would like to make mention of this evening.
Our customers. Our customers have helped us to reach this milestone. Thank you for putting your trust in us to design, build or maintain your properties.
Thank you to our staff, who work tirelessly, doing their part in making sure that our motto: Caring is in our nature is what is demonstrated in all their work.
Thank you to our suppliers, whether it was providing us with materials or fixing our equipment to make sure we can get the job completed for our customers. It has been neat to see the success of our suppliers who have also transitioned their businesses to the next generation: [Waterdown Collision](http://www.waterdowncollision.com/), [Connons](http://www.connon.ca/), [Ike Vanderwoude](http://vanderwoude.ca/), Kamstra’s, Mike’s Landscaping to name a few.
Thank you also to the greater community in allowing us to grow and prosper here in your backyard. It’s nice to see that MP David Sweet, MPP Ted McMeekin, Councillor & Deputy Mayor Judi Partridge, Mayor Rick Goldring, LO Exec Director Tony DiGiovanni, FCC Arend Kersten, and Burlington Chamber of Commerce Keith Hoey could be present for this occasion.
Thank you to Hank Gelderman, for seeing in me what I didn’t see in myself. Thank you for helping me along the way the last 9 years. If I had known at the 50th Anniversary that it would be me standing here at the 60th, I probably would have paid more attention to what was going on.
Thank you to my wife Michelle, for all that you do behind the scenes. You are my sounding board and I am so thankful for your support. Seeing how much you are there for me, tells me that not only should Jan and Hank be mentioned, so should the wives of Jan and Hank, Oma and Jacoba. This business could not have reached this milestone if Jan and Hank did not receive the support at home – thank you to the both of you for also supporting your husbands while they started and grew this business.
Thank you to [Compass Creative](http://compasscreative.ca/) for setting up this event which included the caterers, the band, the photographer, and especially Sarah for taking care of the little details.
Lastly, it is our God that we need to give all our thanks to. He has blessed Gelderman Landscape Services the last 60 years and we pray that He will continue to do so. After all, it is not Jan’s, or Hank’s, or my business. It all belongs to Him.
