Lakeshore Tree Farms is a four-generation family business with roots stretching back to 1936, when our Great-grandfather, J.M. Dyck, and our Grandfather, George Krahn, began planting fruit trees on the open prairie near Wilson Lake, west of Struan, Saskatchewan. What started as a hopeful experiment during the Great Depression soon gained attention across the region. By 1937, J.M. Dyck had budded 1,000 hardy trees and began selling them by mail to customers throughout Canada.

In its earliest days, Lakeshore operated a modest nursery with only simple tools: a horse-drawn cultivator and hand tools. The first catalog—a four-page flyer—offered rugged, prairie-tested fruit trees like the Heyers #12 apple, Dolgo crabapple, Dandy and Pembina plums, and Opata cherryplum. These resilient varieties quickly gained popularity and are still grown today. As the business took off, a half-ton truck and walking tractor were added by 1941, helping to scale operations and reach more communities nationwide.

After J.M. Dyck’s passing in 1953, George Krahn and his wife Antonia (“Tony”) moved the nursery to Saskatoon, purchasing Weaver’s Nursery—the oldest site of its kind in Saskatchewan. Despite challenges with sandy soil and dry years, George expanded Lakeshore’s reach, built lasting ties in the horticultural community, and introduced new plant varieties like the Thunderchild Flowering Crab and Honeywood Saskatoon. He was also a founding leader in the Saskatchewan Nurserymen’s Association and Prairie Association of Nurserymen, reflecting his commitment to advancing prairie horticulture.

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In 1974, George’s sons—Richard, Robert, and Victor—took over the business, marking a new chapter in Lakeshore’s growth. At that time, the nursery encompassed 80 acres and a retail outlet selling bare root plants. The 1980 purchase of 160 acres near Moon Lake in the RM of Corman Park enabled expansion into flood-irrigated seedling and caliper tree production. A further 90 acres, added in 2005, supported Lakeshore’s steady growth into one of the region’s most trusted suppliers of hardy plant stock.

Today, Lakeshore Tree Farms covers over 250 acres of field-grown trees and shrubs, along with several acres of containerized inventory. While we’ve evolved into a wholesale nursery serving landscape professionals across Canada, the U.S., and beyond, we haven’t lost sight of our roots. Under the leadership of Victor, Lee, and Aaron, Lakeshore continues to serve with the same integrity and purpose that shaped our early years. We specialize in zone 2–3 hardy species and custom-grown stock for ecological and naturalization projects.

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For almost 90 years, we’ve remained committed to growing quality plants and cultivating strong relationships. Whether you’re planning a large-scale landscape or seeking advice on what thrives in your region, we’re here to help. Lakeshore is proud to support those working to enrich their surroundings through thoughtful planting and purposeful design. Visit us to learn why we’re a trusted name for landscape professionals

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