Don Salivan, owner of Salivan Landscape Ltd., and a founding member of Landscape Ontario, passed peacefully with his family by his side on March 14 in Sarasota, Florida. Don had a passion for life, family, work, golf and the Toronto Maple Leafs. When he was a boy he had the largest paper route in Toronto, delivering to more than 500 homes per day on his bicycle which laid the foundation for his future success. Don was an accomplished violinist and played in his father’s orchestra. As a young man Don worked hard at various jobs and trades while helping his father and grandfather with the small family gardening business in Rosedale and Forest Hill.
With the passing of his father in 1957, Don took over the family gardening business which is now operating in its fourth generation of family ownership. Don was also one of the proud founding members of the Ontario Garden Maintenance and Landscaping Association (OGMLA) and Landscape Ontario. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends but will always be remembered through the wonderful stories of this incredible man.
Gord Shuttleworth of Delaware Nursery in London, remembers Don Salivan as a well-respected businessman, who was a leader in the industry. Explaining that Don was instrumental in the creation of Landscape Ontario, Gord says, “When we were trying to combine three associations in the early 70s to create LO, Don was a staunch supporter of the OGMLA and didn’t want to lose its voice by joining with the landscape contractors and nurserymen’s associations. In the kindest way possible Don became a devil’s advocate for the process and made us reach further than we thought possible to create a better organization in the form of Landscape Ontario. Don had a vision for this organization that it could be better than any of us imagined, and by persevering with us, he helped create it.”
Don is survived by his loving wife Norma of 49 years, his children Gregg, Dina, daughter-in-law Susie, and his three grandchildren Grant, Kirsten and Aidan.
The funeral was held at Leaside United Church, in Toronto, on Thurs., Mar. 20. Donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 2300 Yonge Street, Suite 1300, Toronto, Ont. M4P 1E4, would be appreciated. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.
