January 6, 2022
In Memoriam — John (Hans) Berchtold
He was a master graduate from Oeschberg Gartenbauschule in Switzerland and a professionally trained landscape designer, horticulturist, arborist and stone mason.
John immigrated to Canada from his native Switzerland in 1953 and settled in Brampton, Ont.
He and his partner, Alfred Knecht, started their business in Brampton and have built countless landscapes in and around the GTA. In later years, Knecht & Berchtold Landscape Design and Construction changed its focus from landscaping to the manufacturing of landscape related concrete products and became known as Alpha Precast (ALfred Plus HAns = ALPHA). The products can be seen in countless communities across Canada and the U.S.
Berchtold was also a founding member of Landscape Ontario.