Fleuriste XO Flowers & Gifts

01/17/2025

❗️CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER❗️
Keeping our staff safe at home.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Be safe!

01/16/2025

Yesterday the shop was full of hope, excitement and love ❤️
We were so happy to be a part of introducing these newcomers to our wonderful community! Thank you Niverville Citizen for being a part of the event! Et grow merci à la SFM pour l’invitation! ❤️
The Citizen
Brenda Sawatzky
SFM - Société de la francophonie manitobaine

LOCAL NEWS
NEW IMMIGRANTS TOUR IDC

Jan 16, 2025
Brenda Sawatzky, Local Journalism

A group of new French-speaking immigrants from Africa take a tour of Île-des-Chênes. Brenda Sawatzky
On January 15, approximately 40 new immigrants descended on the community of Île-des-Chênes. For some, it was an opportunity to consider relocating their family to a community outside of Winnipeg. For others, it was simply a chance to see more of what Manitoba has to offer.

For every one of these French-speaking, African-born newcomers aboard a charter bus, it was an opportunity to see and do something completely new.

The rural community tour program is created by the Société de la Francophonie Manitobaine (SFM) through an initiative they call Accueil francophone. The program seeks to act as a welcoming arm to French-speaking new arrivals.

Janelle Howatt has been an agent for the SFMs Accueil francophone program for the past two years. Her job is to plan a monthly tour to one of Manitoba’s many francophone communities.

“Basically, it’s to show them life outside of Winnipeg,” Howatt says. “When they arrive here, most of them are settled in Winnipeg and they don’t get to see outside of [the city].”

Since she’s been involved in the program, quite a number of the newcomers on her tours have relocated to rural areas.

The newcomers on Howatt’s bus tours have typically been living in Manitoba for only a few weeks or months. They’re curious, eager, and excited to learn to integrate.

Every one of Howatt’s excursions includes a guided tour around the community, a visit to the local division scolaire Franco-Manitobaine (DSFM) school, and a tour of a local bilingual business.

Attendees of the Île-des-Chênes (IDC) tour were treated to lunch at the TC Energy Centre where presentations were made by the St. Pierre-Jolys employment and bilingual centres as well as a local rural realtor.

“We do a bus tour of the town, so we have a [local] ambassador that shows us around,” Howatt says. “On this tour, we had two high school students jump on the bus and give us a tour of the town.”

The tour ended at Fleuriste XO Flowers, IDC’s bilingual flower and gift shop. Brenda Chaput is the owner and head florist at the shop located on Meadowlark Boulevard. She says she was thrilled when Howatt asked her to be part of the tour.

Tour guests piled into Chaput’s premises, where she offered them a formal welcome. She indulged them with details of her business’s history and why it was important to her to offer bilingual services to the region.

“It’s so important for our clients to know that they can access bilingual services here, because the clients we have are not only passionate about their French history, but they want to be able to express themselves in French in the communities where they live and work,” says Chaput.

She was very intentional when choosing her business name back in 2019, when she first opened shop in IDC. In fact, it was the use of the word fleuriste that led Howatt to reach out in the first place.

Chaput says she’s excited about programs like the SFM tours. Not only do they help familiarize newcomers with rural Manitoba, but they also encourage growth and prosperity in the province’s francophone towns.

“It’s important in rural Manitoba to live community,” Chaput says. “To be a part of the growth, the trials, the events, and the celebrations. Business ownership in a rural community means supporting other small rural businesses and making the effort to promote each other.”

The Accueil francophone tour program is funded by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, a branch of the federal government

01/01/2025

Dear Fleuriste XO Flowers Community! (Customers, supporters, vendors, artists, friends and family!)
We CANT thank you or love you enough for giving us the opportunity to participate in your lives this past year ❤️
We we are blessed!
All the-
~anniversary celebrations
~wedding unions
~heart warming nostalgia (even trusting us with your most precious antiques!)
~glamorous events
~ art exhibits
~tributes to beautiful lives lived ❤️
~early early morning radio interviews (in blizzards with a brother chauffeur!)
~fundraisers and community initiatives
~design classes for you and for us!
~ recitals for the most adorable and talented little dancers and musicians

**** BUT MOST OF ALL…. Thank you for making us a team and for walking with us on this amazing journey of small town, women operated, community minded entrepreneurship ❤️

We can’t wait to do 2025 with you!
Love and happy New Year to you all,
From the Fleuriste XO Flowers Team ❤️

12/11/2024

🎄Oh what fun it is to ride…🛻🚘🎄Check out these fabulous and festive custom fresh winter wreaths built around a hub cap! We love it when we’re given a creative design challenge!

12/09/2024

Today definitely feels like Christmas!
And it’s that time again to reserve your favorite, festive, fresh florals!
Let us send some holiday magic to your someone special!
DAILY DELIVERY service in the Rural South East and the city of Winnipeg.
Call 431-977-0777
Or visit our festive little boutique at 597 Meadowlark blvd, Ile des Chenes.
Just minutes south of the Perimeter, off Lagimodiere blvd (Hwy 59)

https://www.xoflowers.biz/christmas

11/24/2024

We’ve got just the Holiday Cheer you need!
Visit our holiday boutique for *complimentary* hot apple cider, ring jingling tunes, and lots of Christmas spirit!
We support OVER 75 LOCAL artists and small entrepreneurs!
Purchasing their products supports families in your community this Christmas!
Here are just a few of our favourites…
Soy Harvest Candles
Night Shadow Soy Candles
Casa Terra Candles
Crescent Acres
Smooch Bath and Body
PERK Coffee Bar
DC Sauces
Utoffeea
Spice World
Sweet Petals Farm
Flour & Flower
Prairie Kitchen Catering
Natural Serenity

597 Meadowlark blvd
In the Meadowlark Mall
Île des Chenes
431-977-0777

11/17/2024

Well Ste. Anne…
You sure are a good time!!
Thank you Ste. Anne Lions Club for inviting us to host a wreath making class!Nous nous sommes bien amusés!
Look at all these talented floral artists! ❤️

10/09/2024

Soooo grateful! We are surrounded by ALL the Fall Feels and Fragrances! Designers extraordinaire & .olfert are busy creating floral art using our fave fun fall products like Sorghum, Broom Corn, Pumpkin on a Stick, Pampas, Oats & Wheat! Perfect Thanksgiving Floral Décor! 🌻🍁🍂

10/02/2024

Ste. Agathe!
We’re coming to you!
Join us and Ritchot Recreation for this fun Pumpkin Centrepiece making!
Friday October 25th at 6:30pm
Click the link for info and to register:

https://app.amilia.com/store/en/municipality-of-ritchot/api/Activity/Detail?activityId=xwZzlN8

10/02/2024

Hey Grande Pointe!
We’re coming to you Oct 22nd 6:30pm!
Register for this fun class at the Grande Pointe Community Club!
Ritchot Recreation

Click the link below:

https://app.amilia.com/store/en/municipality-of-ritchot/api/Activity/Detail?activityId=ym0JJaG

10/02/2024

Join us and our friends at Dawson Trail Motor Inn - LB for-
Wine! Dine! & Flower Design!
Two fun classes you can join!
Click the links to register-

THURS OCT 24- Autumn Wreath
https://www.xoflowers.biz/event-details/autumn-wreath-2

WED OCT 30- Pumpkin Centrepiece
https://www.xoflowers.biz/event-details/pumpkin-patch-2

09/25/2024

Ecstatic to be invite to design with CREE-Lagimodière once again!
Nous sommes excités pour cette activité amusante!

****SOIRÉE COMPLET ****
Une soirée parents est offertes le 3 octobre à la Bibliothèque Taché Library . Un atelier d'arrangement floral sera animé par Fleuriste XO Flowers & Gifts .
Inscription auprès du lien suivant :https://forms.office.com/r/mKPCRF81jq

Merci à nos partenaires :
Comité Culturel de Lorette Bibliothèque Taché Library CREE-Gabrielle-Roy

09/25/2024

Ready for a fun night out??
Fall classes are here!
Check out these 2 fun floral designs and sign up today! Space is limited!
To register online:
https://www.xoflowers.biz/classes

09/23/2024

Autumn is here! And for us that means pumpkin floral arrangements! 🎃🌼🍂
Available in a variety of colours and sizes, call or come in store to check them out!

08/03/2024

‼️NOTICE‼️
We are closed next week for our annual staff summer break! 🌼🏖️🍷
We RE-OPEN TUESDAY AUGUST 13 at 9:30am
Thank you for all your support, love and understanding ❤️

07/12/2024

Thank you for being the reason our store front is summer!!
So many beautiful planters to choose from! We LOVE ours!

07/03/2024

[DRAW WINNERS BELOW] 🎓A huge congratulations to all the 2024 graduates! And a big thank you to everyone one who chose us to outfit their special day with a corsage or boutonnière! All the grads who did were entered into a draw to win one of these awesome local gift packs with products from our shop!
The winners are: Amelia Lemoine and the graduate of Christine Plourde! 🌹