She’s an unassuming citizen, but the closer you look the more accomplishments you’ll find.  Born and raised in the Red Deer area, Gloria Beck built Parkland Garden Centre up from her father’s hobby into a major Central Alberta business which is internationally renowned.  There were only 3 employees at Parkland Garden Centre when she took over the business from her father in the early 1980’s.  Now at peak season there can be as many as 80 employees serving tens of thousands of garden enthusiasts from near and far.

While she was building up Parkland Garden Centre, Beck was among the very first female members in Rotary here in Red Deer.  She remains the only woman to become President of the Downtown Rotary Club.   And she broke through some glass ceilings in her industry as well, becoming the first female president of the International Garden Centre Association as well as the first non-European to hold that position.

Watch and share this profile of Gloria Beck, 2017 Red Deer Citizen of the Year.