FLORISTRY DESIGN DIPLOMA
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Ready for that life change you’ve been promising yourself? Whether you’re a flower lover, a gardener eager to discover new ways to bring your beautiful blooms into designs, someone serious to hone your skills as a hobby floral design, or explore floristry as a career, Burnaby Continuing Education offers hands-on, immersive floristry courses that are perfect for aspiring florists or flower lovers, no matter your experience level.
Burnaby Continuing Educations Floristry Diploma Program consists of five individual courses to register and complete. Each 3.5-hour session includes an immersive 75-minute theory and demonstration, followed by 2 hours of hands-on designing that you can take home to display. And you can take your beautiful arrangement home after each session!
The full diploma consists of the following 5 courses:
- Foundations of Floral Design Level 1
- Intermediate Floral Design Level 2
- Advanced Floral Design Level 3
- Winter & Holidays Floral Designs
- The Business of Floristry
FLORISTRY – ALL IN A YEAR
Over the course of 48 Lessons, Students will complete all lessons required to receive their Floristry Design Diploma & be invited to participate in Burnaby Continuing Education Graduation Ceremony in June (June 23, 2027).
Classes will be held on select Saturdays (9:30am-4:30pm) and will cover all lessons in Foundations of Floral Design Level 1, Intermediate Floral Design Level 2 (Celebrations, Sympathy & Gifts) Advanced Floral Design (Weddings, Corporate Events & Installations) Winter & Holidays Floral Designs & the Business of Floristry .
Course fee includes instructional manual and supplies for the first Session, For each of the remaining sessions, a $115 fee per session will cover cost of all supplies, is payable to the instructor one session in advance. Instructor will provide a detailed payment schedule.
NOTES: – Students are required to purchase a tool kit from the instructor at the first class, at a cost of $90 (cash or etransfer) The tool kit is a one-time purchase and will be used for all the Floral Arranging courses. A payment plan is available…please contact Continuing Education directly for information. This course is for adults only.
COURSE OUTLINES
Foundations of Floral Design Level 1
Learn about floral design in a relaxed, fun, and collaborative community setting. This hands-on, immersive course is perfect for those with a general interest in floral design, those curious about exploring a career in floral design or simply seeking to cultivate deepen their appreciation for flower art. Over 11 sessions, we’ll explore the tools of the trade, care and conditioning of cut flowers, focusing on the principles and elements of floral design and the essential techniques of floristry needed to create basic floral designs. In each 3.5-hour session Students will create beautiful everyday floral arrangements, including introductory vase and floral foam designs, and three styles of bouquet constructions. On the first day of Level 1, you’ll receive your own professional tool kit so you can keep practicing between classes.
Course fee includes instructional manual and flowers for the first session. A cost of $50 supply fee per session (payable to the instructor, one week in advance), will cover flowers and other materials. This course is for adults only.
Note: Students must purchase a tool kit from the instructor at the first class ($90 cash). The tool kit is a one-time purchase and can be used for all the Floral Arranging courses
Intermediate Floral Design Level 2
Celebrations, Sympathy & Gifts- Apply the elements and principles of design while discovering intermediate floristry design techniques and applications, including European & Oriental practices, traditional & foam free mechanics & foliage manipulation. Students will advance their personal design style concepts with the use of textures, dried materials & non-floral products into an arrangement, all the while learning to analyze their floral compositions. Each session will cover various traditional sympathy designs used in funeral (standing sprays, wreaths, tributes and casket designs), current design in the retail industry, floral design for special occasions, seasons and holidays (wreaths, indoor plants, tropical flowers)
- Prerequisite: Foundations of Floral Design Level 1
Course fee includes instructional manual and flowers for the first session. A cost of $65 supply fee per session (payable to the instructor, one session in advance) will cover flowers and other materials. Students with equivalent knowledge & experience are welcome to register with prior permission from instructor. This course is for adults only.
Advanced Floral Design Level 3
Weddings, Corporate Events & Sustainable Installations – Building on skills learned in Foundations of Floral Design Level 1 & Intermediate Floral Design Level 2 students will explore more complex designs, with emphasis on industry standards in the event, corporate and wedding floral design sectors. In each 3.5-hour session students will take a deeper dive into Identify traditional and contemporary design styles, using knowledge of geometric designs common to weddings and the mechanical techniques used to execute those designs. Discuss current trends, colour theory and selection of wedding flowers for each season. 4 different bridal hand-held bouquets, bridal party flowers, flowers-to-wear, and sustainable floristry mechanics required for larger floral installations corporate or gala events
- Prerequisites: Foundations of Floral Design Level 1 & Intermediate Floral Design Level 2
Course fee includes instructional manual and flowers for the first session. A cost of $65 supply fee per session (payable to the instructor, one session in advance) will cover flowers and other materials. Students with equivalent knowledge & experience are welcome to register with prior permission from instructor. This course is for adults only.
Winter & Holidays Floral Designs
The holiday season comes to life with fragrant, long-lasting decorations for both inside and outside homes and business. Explore working with fresh BC Grown pine, fir, cedar, Cones, berries & others seasonal botanicals. Seasonal designs included table centerpiece, wreaths, door hangings, outdoor statement urn & novelty pieces.
Course fee includes manual and flowers for the first session. A cost of $50 supply fee per session (payable to the instructor, one session in advance), will cover flowers and other materials. Students with equivalent knowledge & experience are welcome to register with prior permission from instructor. This course is for adults only.
- Prerequisite: Foundations of Floral Design Level 1
The Business of Floristry
This course introduces the business aspects of the floral design industry, including the intricacies of the wholesale flower industry, insights into sourcing local and imported floral production and purchasing, effective sales and marketing techniques, industry standard costing, mark-up principles and pricing with integrity, floral industry management, retail and entrepreneurial skills. Each session will include group discussions on floral business fundamentals that aspiring floral entrepreneurs can implement to develop their own buying process & the essentials on how to be a profitable florist. Guest Speakers including past students who are now operating their own thriving businesses and local industry guests who will share their wisdom, tips, tricks and hacks that can only be learned from years of learning, failing, relearning and experimenting in floral art. Four different projects (written and practical) will be evaluated to receive the floristry design diploma.
- Prerequisite: Foundations of Floral Design Level 1 & Intermediate Floral Design Level 2 (can be taken concurrently with Intermediate Floral Design level 2 enrollment). Students with equivalent knowledge & experience are welcome to register with prior permission from instructor. This course is for adults only.
Course fee includes instructional manual and flowers for the first session. A cost of $55 supply fee per session (payable to the instructor, one session in advance), will cover flowers and other materials.
STUDENT FEEDBACK
I thoroughly enjoyed the high quality of the course, the clarity and detailed guidance of her teaching, and her careful selection of flowers and beautiful color matching. The material was presented in an engaging manner, with clear and thoughtful guidance throughout. Larissa’s patience and her ability to address every question and the classroom’s atmosphere was always calm and pleasant, undoubtedly a reflection of her wonderful personality and her genuine love for flowers.