Fire Destroys Historic Garden Business in Southern Ontario County

Fire crews were called out to the Ryerse Garden Gallery in Simcoe Country on June 20. The fire destroyed the business's garden centre. Courtesy OPP

An Ontario community is offering sympathy to a local business owner after a fire destroyed the Ryerse Garden Gallery in Simcoe. The business has been in the community since 1912.

Fire crews responded to a call around 4:30 a.m. on June 20 about a structure fire on Norfolk Street, fire chief Gord Stilwell told The Epoch Times in an email.

“First responding crews arrived on scene to a fully involved structure fire,” he wrote.

Forty firefighters from five stations in the area responded, and Chief Stilwell said they did an “excellent job” containing the fire and limiting damage.

He said there were no injuries related to the fire and no one was in the building at the time. The Ontario Provincial Police was also involved responding to the incident, and redirected traffic so the emergency could be managed.

No cost estimate of the damage was available.

A post on the Ryerse’s Flowers shop website said the business had suffered a “devastating fire,” which caused “extensive damages” to facilities. The post said updates would be provided as soon as possible.

“Thank you for your understanding and support during this challenging time,” it said.

The shop is currently owned by David Rusling and is a family-owned and operated business with one location for all of Norfolk County, the website says.

The Ryerse name dates back to the late 1700s when Samuel Ryerse, who also went by the surname Ryerson, moved into the area with his family. Mr. Ryerse built a sawmill and a gristmill, leading to the beginnings of Port Ryerse.

Members of the community expressed their thoughts about the news, including the MP for the area, Leslyn Lewis.

“Overnight, tragedy struck our community,” she said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “The thoughts and prayers of all residents of Haldimand-Norfolk are with the Rusling family and the whole team at Rysere’s Flowers at this time.”

“Our hearts go out to Dave, his family, and team of Ryerse’s Garden Gallery which has been a mainstay of our community for years,” Karen Matthews, executive director of the local Chamber of Commerce, told The Epoch Times in an email. “Our community shares in his loss.”

Norfolk County Mayor Amy Martin said the community is “deeply saddened” by the news.

“Our thoughts are with the Rusling family and employees at this time. Norfolk is on standby to support them whenever they are ready,” she wrote in an email to The Epoch Times. “Special thanks to our first responders for keeping our community safe, we are pleased there were no injuries.”