Indigenous entrepreneur George Aleck overcame a troubled past of homelessness and addiction to establish and successfully manage One With The Land Lawn Care and Landscaping—a business dedicated to creating nature-oriented and sustainable outdoor spaces, based in Greater Victoria.
Aleck’s primary urge to start up was not just financial stability or supporting his family, but a sincere aim to offer an alternative to those trapped in poverty and addiction, a condition he was once a victim of. He envisioned One With The Land as a hand of hope, extending an opportunity for such individuals to connect with nature and reshape their lives.
Aleck fell into a detrimental cycle of homelessness combined with addiction. His defining moment of enlightenment came with the optimism of the thought: “If I could assist someone as I wished someone would have assisted me, perhaps I could make an impact.” His journey towards recovery was largely steered by his now-wife, who relentlessly motivated him to chase his dreams.
Aleck’s turning point was enrolling himself in I-CEDAR, a dedicated initiative for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Graduating from the program in December 2023, Aleck utilized the knowledge gained from this program to foster his venture, gradually, from its infancy to its inauguration.
Emphasizing his unique approach in engaging with nature, Aleck stated, “I approach guys and say, ‘Want to get high today? I can demonstrate how to get high for free.’ Work with the earth; that’s the best high you can ever experience.” His philosophy leads him to believe that offering people a chance to work on land can offer them the same degree of purpose that they might garner from addiction treatment centres.
Aleck believes many of these individuals possess potential skills such as hard work, relationship building, and salesmanship. They simply need a mentor to guide their energies in a constructive direction. His mission, encapsulated in his motto: “Giving back to Mother Earth,” reflects his eagerness to give back to the planet that has given humankind so much. He implies a beautiful analogy, “Be kind to your mother, and she will treat you well.”
Being an indigenous man, Aleck aspires to support others suffering from similar stereotypes he has encountered. He strives to aid the First Nations through One With The Land. In his specific words, he said, “Some reserves are often criticised for being messy. I’m here to spearhead the cleanup of our communities and others by embracing our profound history of working with the land to create beautiful, sustainable spaces.”
One With The Land adopts an eco-friendly approach without deploying any toxic chemicals. The business endeavour takes pride in creating splendid spaces for clients, enabling them to appreciate their property’s beauty and establish a deeper connection with nature.
Looking ahead, Aleck wishes to expand his venture with the aim to assist as many people as he can, be it in improving their lives or maintaining their lawns. The current services offered by One With The Land include hedge trimming, lawn mowing, weed whacking, pressure washing, and basic gardening, with plans to diversify their services in the near future.
