About US
Our Mission
To improve the health of local communities by providing beautiful, resilient, and high quality plants to both individuals and landscapers.
OUR HISTORY
Our Clean Plant Certified tree farms, located just east of Calgary, Alberta, are family owned and operated. 1979 is the year Phil Paxton came to the Calgary area to work in the landscape industry. In 1985, he pursued his dream of growing beautiful trees that are suited to our harsh prairie climate for the landscape industry. We’ve since grown to include multiple local tree farms, with our Wheatland Trees & Garden Centre location near Strathmore opening in 2006 to serve both wholesale and retail customers.
From the very beginning, our business has been run by individuals who not only love trees, but who also strongly believe in the power of plants to improve quality of life and contributing to biodiversity and sustainability. Almost 30 years later, our dream of creating greener, healthier communities is more alive than ever: Growing above & beyond!
Meet the Team
Phil Paxton
Founder & Dendrophile
My passion for the landscape industry never seems to end, and I am convinced that our work delivers a key component of urban health. As a volunteer with the Canadian Nursery and Landscape Association (CNLA) and Landscape Alberta, I regularly encourage communities to engage with the contributions of the green industry. A Journeyperson Red Seal Landscape Horticulturalist and Certified Horticultural Technician and Manager, I am continually working provincially, nationally, and internationally on exciting new programs that will lead to improved horticultural solutions. It is my hope that you will profit from both my passion and my years of experience as you cultivate your own landscaping business or your landscape with Wheatland Trees & Garden Centre onside.
Torquil Paxton
President
Having been involved in our family business from an early age, I developed a passion not just for the plants we grow, but also for our safe operations - becoming a COR Certified Auditor. I look forward to providing a level of customer service that will help your business flourish and succeed. We understand that things change rapidly in the landscape industry, so we pride ourselves on being able to react quickly to accommodate your needs.
In addition to providing you with the best chinook-hardy trees and shrubs from our local farms, I would be pleased to chat to you about any other contributions that Wheatland Trees & Garden Centre can make to your landscaping and restoration projects.
We are here to help!
Call me direct at: 403-921-3448..
Dr. Stacey Gibb
Grower & Research
2025 is my eighth year working as part of the Wheatland Trees & Garden Centre team. I am engaged in several facets of the business, and active in the Western Nursery Growers Group (WNGG). Constantly learning, searching for, and researching new ways to enhance every aspect of growing the best quality trees and shrubs is my passion. I hold a Bachelor of Physical Education, a Bachelor and Master of Science, plus a PhD. Combining my love of the outdoors and natural sciences, my work is to ensure our trees and shrubs are grown to meet high city standards using innovative soil management and root pruning techniques. The results are full and healthy trees with uniform shape and exceptional roots. I am also keen to grow specialty trees to meet your needs; feel free to reach out with your requests.
Vishu De Silva
Corporate Accountant
With a sharp eye for detail and a passion for financial harmony, I thrive on ensuring Wheatland Trees & Garden Centre runs as smoothly as a perfectly balanced ledger. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Applied Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration and love delving deep into the numbers to uncover meaningful insights that drive growth, not just financially, but holistically. Beyond the spreadsheets, I am constantly seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and refine my skills. Rooted in my belief that growth happens through passion and persistence, I am committed to helping both our plants and our business thrive.
Kassia Toll
Garden Centre Manager &
Research Assistant
Growing up, I developed a passion for plants inspired by my dad, a talented landscape designer, and our gorgeous home garden. My enthusiasm blossomed while immersing myself in the world of plants, sustainable growing practices, and customer service at Wheatland Trees & Garden Centre, so I committed to honing my skills and knowledge by pursuing a Diploma in Horticulture Technology from Olds College. With a deep-rooted love of the environment and a keen eye for design, I am dedicated to helping you find the plants best suited to your needs, so you can cultivate beautiful and functional landscapes for your projects.
Lisa Wheatley
Office Manager &
Delivery and Custom Planting
Coordinator
When you call us or drop into the office at Wheatland Trees & Garden Centre, chances are you'll be greeted by Lisa. If you ermail us or send in an online quote request, you guessed it, Lisa is usually the one replying! As our office manager, Lisa's a genius at keeping everything organized and running smoothly. This will be her fourth year coordinating our delivery and custom planting calendar, and she always makes sure we fit everyone into the busy landscaping season, while at the same time accommodating changes in our customers' schedules.
Donnie Brandt
Class 1 Driver & Head of Equipment Maintenance
Donnie is one of our experienced crane truck operators responsible for safely transporting and delivering our beautiful trees, shrubs and other plants for our customers. He is also in charge of equipment maintenance - overseeing regular maintenance as well as repairs. We see him as our very own "Swiss army knife": Anything you can think of, he can fix it!
David Renshaw
Class 1 Driver
With over 35 years of experience operating cranes and handling deliveries, I bring a deep respect for nature, a strong work ethic, and take pride in delivering our trees, shrubs and other plants with the utmost care and attention. I’m known for going out of my way to keep customers happy and finding a safe, efficient solution to complete a delivery—no matter how tricky the location. Protecting the product and the customer’s property is always my top priority. I’m joined on the road by Charlie, my almost two‑year‑old Yorkie, who loves meeting new people and happily accepts all the attention he can get!
Custom Planting Crew
Our team specializes in planting trees, shrubs, and perennials for projects of every size. Whether it’s a single backyard, lot planting a new subdivision, a commercial build, or a golf course installation, this crew brings skill, efficiency, and genuine pride to every planting. From machine‑assisted tree placement to hand‑finished detail work, our team focuses on proper soil prep, correct planting depth, clean alignment, and long‑term establishment. Landscapers, architects, developers, builders, and homeowners trust us because we show up prepared, work cleanly, know prairie-hardy plants, understand job‑site logistics, and take satisfaction in creating something that will grow for decades.
Farm Crews
Our farm crews at Strathmore (pictured) and Langdon are the heartbeat of our operation. For up to eight months at a time, they leave their families and homes to bring their skill, strength, teamwork, and perseverance to our tree farms. Their positive attitude never wavers, even on the toughest days. They plant trees, care for the ones already growing, and prepare orders with pride for our customers.
Every day they inspire us more than they know.
Annemarie van Oploo
Social Media & Website
Combining my love of nature, creativity, learning, and community-building, I'm delighted to be sharing about the beauty of plants and trees, plus their importance to the environment and our well-being, all while promoting Wheatland Trees & Garden Centre through our evolving on-line presence. I bring a unique blend of experience to this work, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Certificates in Labour Relations & Human Resources, Digital Marketing, and Greenhouse Practices & Operational Fundamentals. I'm also a certified yoga teacher and expressive arts facilitator, integrating forest therapy and therapeutic horticulture through current studies.
Frederick
Field Inspector & Rodent Control
My title is, actually, Lord Frederick Bartholomew Pinktini of Wheatland Trees. And, I take great pride in overseeing the running of the Estate. I am enrolled in ongoing studies as a Rodent Control Technician at the College of Cattitude. You may see me monitoring the fields when you come to visit, but most likely I will be napping!