Facility Services gardener awarded for exceptional service beyond maintaining McMaster’s gardens

When you take a walk-through McMaster University, you will notice its lush gardens and picturesque landscapes, but it does not come without the maintenance and upkeep by a dedicated team in Facility Services.  

Christopher Neill, a gardener at McMaster, has recently been recognized with a President’s Award for his outstanding service and contributions to the community, particularly his willingness to support his colleagues.  

Neill’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the natural beauty of McMaster’s outdoor space has garnered him respect and admiration. “Chris truly loves taking care of the campus beautification,” said Luke Vlatkovic, Grounds Department Manager. “He inspires us all with his pleasant personality, endless energy, enthusiasm and passion for his work.” 

Neill’s impact on the McMaster community extends far beyond his exceptional horticultural skills and the beauty of the gardens he tends.  

Neill frequently attends horticulture certificate courses to help enrich his work and improve the impact of his efforts around campus. He brought a new approach to trimming large grass areas that he learned in one of his courses. After training the appropriate crews in the technique, his innovation allowed the grounds team to trim significantly more surface area while saving on materials and time.  

Throughout summer Neill also supervises and mentors multiple students working in Facility Services.    

“Chris goes out of his way to teach the students new skills and always encourages them to be better humans,” said Vlatkovic. “He treats the students exceptionally well and they’re always excited to work with him.”  

The responsibility of the grounds team involves maintaining the beauty of the outdoor spaces on campus, planting trees and shrubs, servicing machinery and monitoring the growth of horticultural areas. 

“This is well deserved recognition for Chris, congratulations on the achievement,” said Debbie Martin, Associate Vice-President, Real Estate, Partnerships and Ancillaries. “We extend our sincerest appreciation to the entire grounds team for their endless dedication and commitment to making our campus beautiful.”  

During the winter months the grounds team shifts to winter operations. They work diligently to ensure our campus is clear of snow, ice and debris. They also implement winterization to safeguard the landscape for the seasons to come.   

Learn more about Facility Services on https://facilities.mcmaster.ca/.