March 18, 2024
In Memoriam — Marc Thiebaud
Marc Thiebaud served as Landscape Ontario's third president back in 1975 and continued to volunteer for another four decades.
Born in Switzerland, Marc moved to Canada in 1952 when he was a young boy. Four years later, Marc started working for his father, Rene, who founded Oshawa Garden Service in 1953 in Oshawa, Ont. Later, Marc’s two brothers John and Rene also joined the company. Renamed OGS Landscape Services, the company began its path to becoming an award-winning company. In 1993, the company was divided among the three brothers to form the OGS Landscape Group, with Marc taking on the role of president of OGS Grounds Maintenance Specialists.
Marc was a prominent and respected member of the landscape industry. He was one of Landscape Ontario’s original board members when the provincial association formed in 1973, and later served as the association’s third president in 1975. For Marc’s many years of service to the industry, he was awarded an Honorary Life Member (the highest award given by Landscape Ontario) in 1991.
Marc became the Ontario representative to the Canadian Nursery Trades Association (CNTA), known today as the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) and went on to assume the role as president from 1980-83. Marc was instrumental in the restructuring of the CNTA. He was later recognized for his many contributions to the provincial and national associations with the CNLA President’s Award.
Marc was also a longstanding member of Landscape Ontario’s Building Management Committee, which purchased the first LO building on Matheson Road in Mississauga, Ont. Marc continued to work on the committee throughout the purchase of the Milton property. He was involved right up until a major renovation began in 2018 to realize the committee’s long-time vision of creating a world-class training, education and networking facility for members and staff of LO and CNLA.
Marc was also on the board of the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation — a registered charity that funds industry research and landscape and horticulture scholarships for Ontario students.
Marc was a devoted member of his local community, serving as president of the Oshawa Kinsmen Club in 1980. The historic Parkwood Estate, in Oshawa, Ont., was also very dear to him as he sat on its Board of Directors and served as head groundskeeper for many years.
Marc’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nursing staff of Lakeridge Gardens for their devoted care. Donations may be made to the MS Society of Canada.
For more articles on Marc’s extensive career and industry participation, visit horttrades.com/marc-thiebaud.