Mountain-grown success

Nature's playground drew Pamela and Tyler Tetrault to Golden, and Mountainside Gardens has allowed them to work where they play

What started as a seedling of a business has grown into success for the Tetraults. — Trevor Crawley photo

Overlooking the Rocky Mountain Trench and the town of Golden sits Mountainside Gardens, a local landscaping and greenhouse operation that has grown into a successful business.

Pamela and Tyler Tetrault are the driving force behind the business, which was created five years ago after the couple moved to Golden because of the lifestyle opportunities. Both love the outdoors; Pamela grew up ski racing and was a program director with the local ski club in Red Deer, Alberta, where the Tetraults used to live, and the family—Pamela, Tyler and their two boys, Isaac and Jacob—take frequent camping trips.

“We wanted to move back to the mountains and do something where we could create a lifestyle where we could be at home with our kids,” said Pamela.

Most of Pamela's family is in Red Deer, and while Banff is a great tourist destination, the couple felt Golden was better for raising a family because of its laid-back atmosphere—yet it is still close to relatives in the neighbouring province.

The move started as a camping trip to scout out the community, and as the Tetraults did more and more research, the appeal of Golden kept growing on them.

In Red Deer, Tyler worked in the municipal formal gardens, and armed with a journeyman landscape gardening certificate, Pamela and he set up their home-based business after the relocation.

The local ski resort was one of those subconscious reasons for relocating as well, and Pamela has since gotten involved in helping to train and coach the Golden Kicking Horse Alpine team.

“(Kicking Horse Mountain Resort) is one of the nicest ski hills I’ve ever skied at,” she said. “I’ve worked out here with the ski team for the last two years in the winter and do (Mountainside Gardens) in the summer, so it’s a nice balance to be able to do both.”

The Tetraults also appreciate the sense of community that exists in a smaller town like Golden, as it seemed they were always running around in Red Deer instead of slowing down to enjoy life.

Through their business, the couple offer landscaping work and maintain a greenhouse operation that produces annuals, trees, shrubs, perennials and herbs. A retail space with gardening equipment and planting seeds is the latest addition to the business.

Workshops are also offered, covering topics such as vegetable gardening and growing with hanging baskets. Events such as Seniors Day on May 19 and Father’s Day customer appreciation on June 19 are meant to give back to the area and show appreciation for community support.