One of Sturgeon County’s most iconic businesswomen is taking a step back from the thriving Morinville Greenhouses, an operation she built from a bare field more than 40 years ago.
Alissa Marles is passing the spade to her son, Greg, to spend part of the year at her Airbnb on Vancouver Island. Marles, and her husband, Jim, purchased the six-acre ocean-front property at Mill Bay in the '80s.
“We were planning to retire there. But Jim passed away in 2009. He had cancer behind the eyes,” said Marles.
Even though son Greg is taking over administrative responsibilities, he suspects his mother will continue coddling plants around the greenhouse.
“She’s always been energetic and restless. She’s never not worked seven days a week in her entire life. If you don’t work, what do you do?” he asks.
