Ben grew up on the Isles of Scilly, a small cluster of islands off the southwest coast of England where the weather is unforgiving, the community is tight-knit, and you learn early that hard work speaks louder than words. It’s the kind of place that quietly prepares you for just about anything — which turned out to be useful.

 

His early career was spent underwater as a commercial diver, working in places like Honduras, Turkey, and the British Virgin Islands. Over the years, Ben worked as a dive instructor and commercial diver on salvage projects, pipelines, mooring systems, and even a bit of treasure diving. It was adventurous, demanding, and required doing things properly — shortcuts weren’t an option when you were 100 feet below the surface.

 

While working in the British Virgin Islands, Ben met his wife — also a dive instructor. In 2014, he followed her to Canada, where he trained as a commercial helicopter pilot in Calgary, reinforcing a clear pattern of choosing careers where attention to detail really matters.

 

During immigration delays, Ben returned to Scilly to fish crab and lobster commercially, before moving back to Canada for good in 2016 and settling in the Okanagan. When his first daughter was born, priorities shifted. Rather than chasing work that kept him away for weeks at a time, Ben chose to stay closer to home. He worked in vineyards, running equipment and gaining a deep respect for how land, weather, and timing shape successful outcomes.

 

After his second daughter arrived, Ben stepped back from full-time work and spent time at home with her — a season that brought clarity as much as chaos. It slowed things down just enough to rethink what he wanted work and life to look like long term. That pause led him to enroll in the horticulture program at Okanagan College, where he combined formal training with years of hands-on experience, and ultimately laid the groundwork for what would become Bourdeaux Lawn and Landscape.

 

In 2022, Ben founded the business with a clear goal: to build landscapes that actually make sense for the Okanagan. What started as a small local operation quickly grew into an award-winning landscaping company with a loyal and growing client base. Ben is known for thoughtful design, reliable execution, and climate-appropriate landscapes that look great without excessive water use or ongoing maintenance.

 

Today, Ben lives in Okanagan Falls with his wife, their two daughters, and their dog. He brings the same mindset to landscaping that guided him underwater and in the air: plan well, respect the environment, do the job right, and don’t cut corners — because fixing mistakes later is always harder than doing it properly the first time.