“The best reason to hire Exact Landscapes is for the experience,” states company President Jamie Carriveau. “Our team, from design to the final product to our aftercare service, will take you through a rewarding arc that’s professional, educational, and fun.”
Carriveau, born in North York and raised in Ottawa, learned to appreciate landscaping while working a summer job during his university and college years. “I loved being outside,” he recounts, “plus, helping to build some amazing projects. I also looked at the owner’s situation and realized that this was a business you could find success in.”
Inspired, the enterprising Carriveau turned his back on his original stream of study, criminology, and set off on the path to Exact Landscapes. The company started in 2005 as Exact Interlock, specializing in interlock installations. Over the next twenty years, it expanded into more complex hardscaping, pools, outdoor kitchens and living spaces, and end-to-end services. Exact’s premium on individual attention, contractor-client collaboration, and project accountability has earned the company several industry awards, making its mix of personalized service, cutting-edge technology, and affordable efficiency the preferred choice of Ottawa’s commercial and residential property owners.
“When I started in this industry,” Carriveau remembers, “it had a bit of a bad reputation. Estimates were done according to square footage, safety standards were low, and the business was looked upon as a seasonal job for young males.” All situations that concerned Carriveau corrected. Today, Exact Landscapes relies on advanced budgeting, estimating, and time-tracking software to accurately price jobs. It’s also completely digitalized its health and safety and is in the process of attaining its COR Certification, affirming its adherence to the highest industry standards. In addition, the company’s varied, full-time salaried staff enjoy benefits and RRSP plans, the cornerstones of a long, successful, and lucrative career.
As for Exact Landscapes clients, the company invests the same level of care it offers its employees. “We look at all of our clients as long-term clients,” Carriveau equates, “whether it’s a residential design build project, or a commercial project.”
The executive team at Exact Landscapes manages the company’s operations, including design, project coordination, commercial contracts, and seasonal services like snow and ice management.
In the early days, Exact took care of walkways, driveways, and patios. Once their reputation grew, however, bigger and more complex jobs came knocking, including municipal and commercial landscaping.
For Carriveau, that kind of growth was both welcome and challenging. He found himself having to integrate specialists, the next move in keeping the company competitive without compromising quality. “All these new positions—office admin, bookkeeping, design, truck drivers, marketing, project coordination and management—contributed to us being able to design, price, build, and manage some of the largest landscape jobs in the region.”
It also helped to vary the company’s range of services. Seasonal work is all well and good but try keeping a landscaping company economically viable year-round, especially in wintry Ottawa. As a result, Exact branched out into commercial snow and ice management, another field in which they’ve found distinction. “This service gives us the ability to continue our relationship with our commercial clients and property managers,” Carriveau explains. “Our goal is to be quick, efficient, and to receive no complaints. It can be a tough business but making sure that the workload is manageable is key to keeping your clients happy.”
Exact prides itself on the provision of another type of happiness as well: assisting local charities. “Being involved in the community is a huge part of our company culture,” says a proud Carriveau. The company sponsors sports teams both professional and amateur, inviting employees and their families to attend many of the games. Exact is also involved with Caring and Sharing, a charity that prepares holiday-themed food baskets for local families, to whom the staff deliver these much-appreciated necessities.
The Exact Landscapes team stands outside the company’s Ottawa office. Over 20 full-time employees operate a fleet of trucks and equipment for projects across the region.
As for Carriveau’s happiness, it’s seeing clients express their satisfaction with Exact Landscape’s legendary expertise and aftercare. “While it’s extremely rewarding to see the completion of any style of project,” says Carriveau, “nothing is more rewarding than seeing a homeowner who’s committed the largest investment outside of purchasing their home get handed their new backyard oasis.”
Carriveau, and Ottawans, are in for a lot more thrills. Exact Landscapes is committed to providing professional, educated, and pleasurable experiences to residential and commercial properties across the city.
“Exact’s plan is to keep getting better at what they do by continuing to invest in the business and their staff. This includes new training, new technology, AI, new equipment, and more. Expertise in all areas of the business is important to our success. The market has always been competitive but the companies doing the right things, like constant advancement, are the ones that are being rewarded.”
By: Dan Lalande Photography by: Nicolai Gregory
