Sunnyside's History

Sunnyside Greenhouse Ltd. (Sunnyside) was established in 1918 by Bob McCullough and was named for the Calgary community in which it was located. In 1930, Mr. McCullough employed Jens Jensen and Neils Hansen after they had emigrated from Denmark. Jensen and Hansen bought Sunnyside in 1946. 

 

 

In 1953, Jensen gained sole ownership of Sunnyside. His son, Gordon, worked full-time with the company after earning his high school diploma. Sunnyside harvested a wide variety of crops, including potted and bedding plants, cut flowers, and hot house tomatoes. Their great success with small grocery stores and florists required additional land for growth, so in 1965 Gordon purchased a 3.49 acre site in the community of Bowness.

 

 

Sunnyside was transplanted to Bowness and it became a corporation in July of 1965. Within one year, a private residence and greenhouses were constructed on the new land and Gordon and his wife, Betty, moved into the residence with their sons, Warren and Grant. Gordon, Betty, and Gordon's parents worked together to establish the business in the new location while continuing to supply wholesale accounts.

Sunnyside adapted to Calgary's growth and city-wide changes. In 1966, business shifted from wholesale to retail, as most customers came to shop at the newly developed greenhouses. Sunnyside focused on the growth of spring crops, rather than the growth and sale of hot house tomatoes and Christmas crops. These changes, as well as the introduction of new product lines, contributed to the transition from a farming company to a gardening retail environment.

 

 

In 1978, Warren followed his father's footsteps, working full-time with the company after high school, and Grant did the same two years later. Over the next twelve years, Sunnyside underwent massive renovation and expansion. The construction of bulk bins, a pet store, and an office, as well as the reconstruction of the original greenhouses contributed to the company's furthered success, allowing for year-round operation. A parcel of land was purchased to house a warehouse in Cochrane and in 1991, Sunnyside began importing international products from China, Vietnam, Germany, and Holland. Also, a perennial building was constructed in 1992 and Sunnyside began purchasing all plants for resale from a variety of suppliers. In 2004, the Jensen residence was moved off-site to facilitate further expansion and renovation.