Christopher Dardarian

Early life

Following high school, Christopher Dardarian studied economics at Wilfrid Laurier University. Later in life, his academic interests would expand to include horticulture, leading him to complete a program in that discipline at Niagara College.

As a young man, travel also played an important role in Dardarian’s personal and professional development, as he spent extended periods in Latin America, including time in Costa Rica and Guatemala. During this time, he lived and worked on several permaculture farms, gaining hands-on exposure to planting practices while learning about ecology and sustainable land stewardship.

His time abroad also allowed him to gain exposure to different cultures and ways of life. Christopher Dardarian has described these experiences as formative influences in his life that served to strengthen his interest in landscapes, agriculture, and the intimate relationship between people and the environments they live in.

Career

Before entering the landscaping industry, Christopher Dardarian worked in the construction finance sector as a surety bond broker. While fulfilling that role, he helped contractors and condominium developers secure and finance public and private construction projects, providing him with abundant experience in budgeting, risk assessment, project planning, and the operational side of construction work.

Dardarian went on to embrace his entrepreneurial instincts and set out to build a business of his own. He opened The Bellevue, a downtown Toronto restaurant known for its bustling brunch and dinner service and collaborations with guest chefs. This experience helped him cultivate critical skills like team leadership, customer service, and the creation of welcoming environments for guests. The restaurant also maintained relationships with local farms, further piquing his interest in agriculture and food production.

After leaving The Bellevue, Christopher Dardarian returned to school to study horticulture at Niagara College in southern Ontario, a decision that helped lay the foundation for his eventual career in landscape design.

Drawing on all the lessons learned through the various phases of his professional life, Dardarian founded Stema Gardens in 2021 intent on helping homeowners realize the full potential of their outdoor spaces. Based in Etobicoke, a borough on the West side of Toronto, the company operates as a design-build landscaper for clients in the Greater Toronto Area. They oversee projects handling planning and design, budgeting, construction, and final installation.

As head of the company, Dardarian prides himself on maintaining a hands-on role and remains closely involved in all projects. He has described his approach to design as “garden-focused and contemporary,” combining lush, extensive gardens with durable materials. His aim is to create elegant outdoor spaces that are both visually appealing and practical for everyday use. He has strong beliefs in the virtues of thorough planning in all aspects of a project before any ground is broken. His overall goal is to create outdoor spaces that balance visual appeal and practical use, built to stand the test of time, both from a foundational and stylistic perspective.

Christopher Dardarian is also proficient in both Spanish and French, speaking both languages fluently.

Net Worth

Information about Christopher Dardarian’s net worth is not publicly disclosed.