Meet Nicola Paviglianiti | Legendary Lawns Owner & Operations Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicola Paviglianiti and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicola, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I wanted to have something I could control, and where I could be my own boss. I also wanted an avenue where I could leave my own legacy, and shape and grow something. Every day is new and exciting, and it gives me flexibility to focus on things I enjoy.

Being a business owner also allows me to dedicate time and structure my life where I can pursue some of my other passions – I am a Team Canada Powerlifter, as well as direct a Charity in Zimbabwe. I also enjoy travelling, and my business allows me to work remotely.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Legendary Lawns is a family owned and operated lawn care and snow removal company serving residents of NW Calgary. The idea began in 2015 when Jordan (my brother) recognized a local need and niche to offer simple mowing services in his home community. Slowly increasing offerings and helping community members, he engaged myself (his older sister) to be a part of it and before we knew it we were incorporated and a formal business.

“Fake it Until you Make it” never rang more true for me. I had no experience in any sort of property maintenance, business, nor customer relations. But I was motivated to learn, with being open to making mistakes and learning from them I was able to continue to grow. Youtube videos, staying up late answering emails, getting up super early to shovel snow for 16 hours I did it all.

What sets me apart I believe is my caring for the people I serve. They aren’t a customer number or paycheck to me, but someone with unique needs. Born and raised in the community we serve, we understand the local needs and prioritize fostering relationships. The majority of our customers are seniors, and our customized year-round services ensure properties are safe and maintained, supporting residents mental and physical health. Aging at home allows our customers to continue to be active, engage in social participation, and maintain social networks with family, friends, and community members. Enabling home living rather than in an institution also saves individuals and the government money. Plain and simple, we care about our community (many of our customers we consider family!) and take pride in the services we provide.

Healthy Lawns, Healthy Lives, Healthy Planet. Legendary Lawns has big goals of becoming Calgary’s first zero emissions property maintenance company – using all battery powered equipment by late 2022/early 2023. We see ourselves as leaders in the industry with a responsibility to share and grow environmentally friendly services. We want to continue to create healthier more sustainable communities, and further opportunities for others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Calgary is a great city to visit any time of the year. First stop would be the Calgary tower in downtown Calgary, where you can get a 360 view of the city (and also enjoy some great food!). You’ll see the various communities from above, downtown below, and the majestic mountains in the background. Next stop would be a stroll through Kensington, discovering the hidden gems of food places, unique shops, and boutiques. Being active is a big part of many Calgarians lifestyle, with parks and trails spread out throughout the city. One of my favourite parks is Nosehill park in the NW of the city. You get great views, and if you have a dog its absolutely perfect as the majority of it is off leash. The evening you can head back to downtown, and explore Stephen Avenue. Calgary’s only pedestrian mall, Stephen Avenue features a year-round pedestrian experience featuring shopping, restaurants and entertainment venues. There is always something going on! Live performances, buskers, music, festivals, artists and culture galore you can spend the rest of the evening eating, drinking, and exploring.

If you are visiting Calgary in the summer, make sure to time it with the Calgary Stampede. A world-class event with concerts, amusement rides, pancake breakfasts, rodeos, and so much more. The whole city goes into “wild-west” mode.

Make sure you visit the Mountains as well when you are in town. A short hour drive away and you will be in the Rockies, a big contrast to the flat plains of the other side. Banff and Lake Louise are must visits for post-card worthy photos. If you are there in the winter you can hit up one of the many ski hills (like Fernie, Panorama, Nakiska), and in summer explore many of the hikes (Johnston Canyon, Heart Mountain, Plain of Six Glaciers Trail are a few of my favs!)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My inspiration comes from my brother, Jordan, who got into the landscaping field seven years ago. Witnessing his innovation and risk taking and building a life for himself motivated me to do that for myself as well. As a female in the lawn care and snow removal business is out of the norm, he mentored and encouraged me and helped me build what Legendary Lawns is today. I’m also a competitive powerlifter, and my athletics have taught me that anything is possible with hard work and determination, and putting in the work day in and day out.

Website: https://legendarylawnscalgary.ca/

Instagram: @storiesnotselfies , @llawnscalgary

Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/npaviglianiti

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegendaryLawnsCalgary/