A passion blooms for Mother's Day
May 8, 2026
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For the floral department, Mother’s Day is the busiest and most exciting time of the year. Weeks before the big day, the team is hard at work. They plan beautiful displays, order mountains of fresh flowers, and prepare countless vases. It takes a coordinated effort to fill the store with colour and joy. For Zehrs Stratford’s Flower Shop Manager Krista Dona, it’s a labour of love. “Everyone genuinely enjoys being part of something bigger,” she says. “There’s a shared sense of excitement and pride in what we create.”
This dedication is fueled by Krista’s lifelong passion for flowers, a dream that began over 31 years ago. While working as a cashier at her local Loblaws, she saw the plans for a new store that included a flower shop. It reminded her of how much a simple bouquet had lifted her spirits after a surgery several years before. She recalled that feeling and knew she wanted to bring that same feeling to others.
Krista’s passion led her to take a floral design course where she graduated top of her class. She’s been working with flowers ever since. And five years ago, when she noticed the Flower Shop Manager position open at her local Zehrs, she couldn’t wait to join.
Today, that passion is the heart of her work. “I’m incredibly passionate about what I do here. What I love most about being a Flower Shop Manager is the people—both my team and our customers,” Krista explains. She loves sharing ideas with her creative team and building friendships with her customers that make work feel like home. For Krista, the job is a perfect mix of creativity, business, and connection. She enjoys everything from designing bouquets to learning about the farms where the flowers are grown.
Her deep sense of care creates lasting bonds with customers. Whether helping them find flowers for occasions such as Mother’s Day or finding the perfect plant to decorate their home, Krista takes the time to understand their tastes and becomes part of their most meaningful moments. One of her most memorable customers was a man named Richard, who would drive from another town just to have her create arrangements for his wife. He would jokingly call and say, “I’m looking for a really good florist—do you know any?”
When Richard passed away, his daughter called Krista with a final, touching request. He wanted her to make one last all-white arrangement for his wife, with a card that read, “I am always with you and will love you forever.” Being entrusted with such a personal moment is something Krista will never forget.
Krista’s newest favourite addition to the floral shop is the Lisa Vanderpump collection which features two unique bouquets and two flower arrangements. It’s the perfect addition for Mother’s Day with its signature pink roses and feminine, luxurious feel. “I’ve ordered a strong assortment of this line for Mother’s Day, they stand out as something special and elevated that I just know our customers will be drawn to.”
As families come in to choose the perfect gift, Krista and her team are there to help make the moment meaningful. “It’s especially heartwarming to see dads bringing in their small children to pick something special for mom,” she says. It’s a reminder that behind every beautiful bouquet is a story of love, made even more special by a team that shares its passion with every customer.
