Turley’s story began in 1937, when brothers Walter and John Turley founded Turley Brothers Ltd. In 1946, they purchased the property at 60 Terminal Avenue, now home to Turley’s Florist. At the time, they used the site for dumping rock tailings from the construction of the Branch 10 Legion building on Wallace Street.

In 1947, Walter’s son Frank Turley turned the site into a business producing concrete blocks, bricks, and drain tile.
That enterprise continued until 1959, when Frank built the building that still stands on the property today. From 1959 to 1961, the space was occupied by a Benjamin Moore store and a garden centre. While the paint store later moved on, the garden centre remained. In 1961, Frank and his wife purchased a 2.5-acre property on Bruce Avenue and began growing nursery stock to support the business.

In 1962, Frank attended Hutchison’s School of Floral Design in Portland, Oregon. From there, Turley’s Florist became a reality.

At that time, four flower shops operated in downtown Nanaimo: Guilfords, Malaspina, Benson’s, and Penny’s. Guilfords closed in 1962, Benson’s was acquired by Turley’s in 1966, and the other shops eventually closed, helping establish Turley’s as a lasting part of Nanaimo’s floral community.

In 1975, Frank and his wife partnered with his son John Turley and John’s wife, Marianne. Together, they helped the business grow and adapt through changing times, introducing new systems, marketing efforts, and special projects along the way. One memorable highlight came in 1994, when they organized and produced the floral work for the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, including the bouquets presented to medal winners.

In 1991, Frank and his wife retired and sold their shares to John and Marianne, who continued running the store for many years. Then, in 2018, Bill Grace stepped in to carry the Turley’s Florist legacy forward.

Today, more than 60 years after Turley’s Florist first began, we are proud to continue serving Nanaimo with creativity, care, and community spirit.