About Us

Olivia Cass is a passionate entrepreneur and the driving force behind Living Harmony Landscapes, a business dedicated to creating beautiful outdoor spaces. Born and raised in Victoria, Olivia's journey into the world of landscaping began at a young age when she started gardening for her mom's friends. Little did she know that this humble beginning would sow the seeds for her future career.

Olivia enrolled at The Pacific Horticulture College in 2014. Over the next few years, she immersed herself in the study of landscape horticulture, earning her Red Seal certification by 2019.

What sets Olivia apart is her genuine love for both the artistry of horticulture and the creativity of entrepreneurship. For her, running this business isn't just a job; it's a passion that she's fortunate enough to turn into a fulfilling career.

Committed to Growing our Knowledge and Skills

One of Olivia's greatest joys is sharing her knowledge and expertise with others. She is deeply committed to educating and empowering the Living Harmony team, nurturing their growth and development within the industry.

"It's a powerful feeling to pass on the knowledge and watch each crew member learn, build their knowledge and become a confident professional." - Olivia

Proud Member of Victoria’s Community of Gardeners and Plant Nerds

Eager to expand her own knowledge and skill set, Olivia has also pursued additional courses in beekeeping, permaculture and business administration.

When Olivia is not out working in gardens around Victoria, she can be found in her own home garden, growing veggies from seeds in her greenhouse, caring for her bees, or planning her next adventure to gardens around the world.

Our Team

Kaylynne Sparks

Senior Lead Horticulturalist

  • Originally from Fort St. John, Kaylynne moved to Victoria in 2014 for university. She graduated from UVic in 2019 with a BA in Environmental Studies and Anthropology. Shortly after, she discovered a passion for plants while working at a garden center, realizing she had stumbled upon a future career.

    Since then, Kaylynne has explored many facets of gardening, including maintenance, yard overhauls, new installations, and design. She recently earned her Horticulture Red Seal certification, further deepening my knowledge and commitment to the field. Her approach to gardening focuses on intention.

    She believes that every garden reflects a unique vision, whether it's a pollinator haven, a peaceful retreat, a vibrant sanctuary for birds, or just a certain aesthetic. Her skill set bridges the gap between a client’s intention and science-based, best-practice gardening, bringing those dreams to life.

Landscape Gardener & Adminstrator

Cydney Culligan

  • Cydney has been working in residential and commercial landscape maintenance since moving to the island in 2023. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from Carleton University in Ontario, where she grew up, and has always loved working outdoors.

    Living Harmony feels like a place where she can continue growing while contributing to work that reflects her passion for sustainability, thoughtful design, and caring for the environment.

    Outside of work, Cydney spends most of her time with her partner, our two cats, Edie and Gravy, and our dog, Tim. She loves cooking, hiking, and paddle boarding whenever she gets the chance. She considers herself someone with hobbies. At the moment she’s enjoying singing, sewing, embroidery, learning piano, and reading (mostly fantasy). Lately I've been learning bead weaving, bonsai, and how to build rockeries. I especially enjoy restoring or repurposing old things, whether that's refinishing furniture, building garden beds from scratch, or turning something forgotten into something beautiful again.

    Overall, she loves working in all the beautiful properties around the lower island and honing her horticulture skills!

Lead Horticulturalist

Erica Reeves

  • Growing up in the prairies; learning about edible plants and bushwhacking with her grandpa Erica cultivated a lifelong passion for working with plants.

    After moving to Victoria to finish university, Erica graduated from the University of Victoria with a degree in anthropology, with a focus on ethnobotany and primate-plant relationships.

    With 10 years in the industry and a lifetime of plant knowledge, Erica loves finding unique solutions that centre native plants and create whimsy in the garden. This manifests in being able to diagnose harsh microclimates and provide a unique (weird and cool!) plant that will thrive

Ari Westhaver

Newsletter Manager

  • Originally from the Fraser Valley, Ari grew up surrounded by vast blueberry fields, lush coniferous forests, and the comforting ebb and flow of the Fraser River. From a young age, Ari showed a keen interest in ecology, food, and politics. The desire to understand the intersection of plants and people led him to begin working on organic vegetable farms in 2016 and later earn a Bachelor of Horticulture Science from Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

    Since finishing his undergraduate degree, Ari has taught organic crop production and integrated pest management at the Tsawwassen First Nation Farm school, done policy advocacy with the National Farmers Union, farmed at Glorious Organics Cooperative Farm, worked as the Lead Hand at Living Harmony Landscapes, and now balances his time between offering farmland access support through the BC Land Matching Program, writing the LHL newsletter, and building towards starting his own urban micro-farm.

Landscape Gardener

Gabriel Junker

  • Growing up as a farm kid in the west Kootenays, Gabriel has always had a passion for agriculture and the outdoors. From a young age Gabriel was raising his own chickens, ducks, pigs, and eventually cows. Always pushing his parents to find new, sustainable ways to raise their own food. This passion is what pushed him to obtain his diploma in environmental planning from Selkirk College in his home town of Castlegar, and later a bachelors degree in Environmental Science from Royal Roads University. His goal is to one day work with and discover new ways to not only farm sustainably but regeneratively, by using traditional farming practices to restore ecosystems back to their traditional setting.

     

    In Gabriel’s free time, he enjoys caring for his garden and indoor plants, spending time in nature with loved ones, and finding new ways to be self-sufficient. His curiosity drives him to learn as much as he can about the natural world and how all living things connect to one another and play a key role in shaping our world. 

Contact Us

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