If there’s a word of advice Carson Arthur has for Humber Polytechnic students, is to seize the opportunities provided to help you gain an edge while at Humber.
He did - and look where it’s taken him.
Arthur, a landscape designer, television host, author and owner of Carson’s Garden and Market, is a 2004 graduate of the Landscape Technician program. He’s hosted HGTV’s Green Force and Critical Listing and appeared as an expert on Home to Win.
He’s penned two books – Vegetables, Chickens & Bees: An Honest Guide to Growing Your Own Food Anywhere and Garden Design for Outdoor Living: Social Gatherings – and is a brand ambassador for DEWALT and Craftsman tools. He’s also previously served as Canada’s ambassador for Save the Children.
“I was able to take advantage of the opportunities presented by Humber,” said Arthur. “I never thought I would ever be on television but then I had the chance, and I thought it could be something really fun - and look at where it’s taken me. For all the Humber students, pay attention for these opportunities and don’t be afraid to explore them.”
As a proud Humber alumnus who found his inner you, Arthur has remained connected to the polytechnic following graduation. He was nominated by Humber in 2022 for a Premier’s Award, which are given to graduates from colleges across the province in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments. Both the winners and the nominees have attained professional success after graduation while being actively involved in the community and making notable contributions to their respective sectors.
Arthur periodically comes back to his alma mater to share his knowledge and experience with the next generation of students. Last year, he appeared at Humber’s Spring Open House.
“Ultimately, I wouldn’t be sitting here with the career I’ve had and my own garden centre in Prince Edward County without the education and exposure I received at Humber,” he said.
Arthur also credits Humber for helping him get his start in television.
As a newcomer to the program, he jumped at an opportunity presented to final-year students when nobody else did. The professor told the class there was a work-integrated learning position on a television show and asked if anyone in the class would be interested in it.
Nobody but Arthur was.
“It sounded different and a little bit outside of the norm,” said Arthur, who appeared regularly as an outdoor and gardening expert on CityLine and 580 CFRA, an Ottawa talk radio station, while hosting a radio show on Belleville radio station 800 CJQB.
He served as a personal assistant to the host of the program Get Growing on the W Network and used the knowledge he acquired in class to help with the show. He did such a good job, the producer told Arthur about a new reality garden makeover show called Room to Grow looking for a host and Arthur landed the position.
Arthur is an ambassador for green living and uses his platforms to share his voice and focus on eco-friendly spaces and green initiatives that can be incorporated into people’s everyday lives. He’s helping lead the conversation on climate change while serving as an example of creating a healthier planet.
Humber Polytechnic is more than just a place for higher education. It's a place where students come to reach their full potential; where they can find the person they knew was in them all along. In this Spotlight Series, part of Humber's The You You Knew Was In You campaign, we're highlighting current students and alumni who found the you that was in them, and gained their edge at Humber. Learn more by visiting humber.ca/you.
