Canadian Garden Heroes

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Canadian Garden Heroes

Let’s celebrate the Canadians who stand out in the Canadian gardening community

There are many dedicated and inspiring individuals who Live the Garden Life and through their leadership, are improving the culture of gardening in their communities.

The gardening community is fortunate to have members who are not just gardening enthusiasts, but people who nurture the community spirit and pass on their knowledge and passion.

This program also highlights the valuable work that gardening organizations across the country do in their communities. Now is the time to choose your Garden Hero and allow your community and the country to honor them.

Selection and submission of the application

We invite you to choose YOUR Garden Hero. Any society, organization or association, any club, garden, gardening or horticultural committee or any group of volunteers and any ‘garden-friendly’ non-profit gardening organization in the country (hereinafter referred to as ‘garden organization’ can choose ONE Garden Hero. You are completely free to choose whoever you want. Your Garden Hero will be recognized by Live the Garden Life as a member of the Garden Heroes of Canada.

Garden organizations are asked to register their Hero on the Live the Garden Life website.

Celebrating Canada’s Garden Heroes

Garden Heroes will receive a digital certificate of recognition as Canada’s 2023 Live the Garden Life Garden Heroes.

The names of the Garden Heroes will be listed on the Live the Garden Life website.

We invite gardening organizations to celebrate their Garden Hero at an appropriate time.

We also invite you to contact your municipality, especially if it has proclaimed 2022 the Year of the Garden, and is recognizing itself as a Garden-Friendly Municipality, to propose that the mayor or the council celebrate all the Garden Heroes in your municipality.

We know that our gardening culture depends on the leadership of our members and volunteers, so let’s celebrate them!

Please find below some guidelines to help you select your 2023 Live the Garden Life Garden Hero

This could be someone who has been active in your gardening organization for at least a year and stands out in any of the following ways:

demonstrates exceptional leadership in furthering the mission, goals and objectives of your garden organization.
makes an outstanding contribution to a project or activity.
plays an instrumental role in the development and growth of your gardening organization.
contributes to the development of the gardening culture of the community.
illustrates the mission of the gardening organization within the community.

2023 Live the Garden Life Garden Heroes of Canada

Alberta

Brian Rottenfusser Calgary Rose Society,
Calgary

Member of Calgary Rose Society
Brian is a long time member of our rose society and is always willing to share knowledge and information with other members. He is leading the charge on locating and propagating cultivars that are no longer commercially available so that they donâ€™t disappear from Calgary gardens.

He also leads our annual members-only rose event where a selection of commercial roses that are not readily sourced in Calgary are brought in and made available for members to acquire for their gardens.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Gary Stedman
Daniel Walker Friends of Reader Rock Garden Society,
Calgary

Member of Friends of Reader Rock Garden Society
It would be my honor to nominate Mr. Daniel Walker for special recognition with your â€œGarden Heroes 2023â€ program. Daniel is employed as a City of Calgary Parks gardener, assigned to this National Historic Site, Reader Rock Garden; he performs his duties with such dedication, passion, and care. Additionally, his work practises offer â€œabove and beyondâ€ the call of duty; his diligent commitment to sustainable horticulture and the Reader Rock Garden is indeed commendable! Star ambassador & leader!

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Diane Dalkin
Susan Parker Edmonton Horticultural Society,
Edmonton

Member of Edmonton Horticultural Society
Susan is the Outreach Director and Program Lead for the Valley Zoo Gardens and the Garden Festival with the Edmonton Horticultural Society. Susan works tirelessly for the Society attending events to educate and inform the public about our Society, attending to 10 gardens at the Valley Zoo twice a week and organizes our annual Garden Festival all while attending to her own very large garden and working with the community garden in her neighbourhood. Susan truly exemplifies the gardening life.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Debbi Dickson
Val & Neil Carleton Carstairs Community Gardens,
Carstairs

Member of Carstairs Community Gardens
Neil and Val Carleton are truly the inspiration behind the success of our community gardens and are, without a doubt, Garden Heroes. It is our pleasure to recognize their remarkable dedication to organize and sustain the Community Gardens in Carstairs, AB. Under their leadership the garden area has flourished and is a very popular space to grow together. We love what they do and cannot thank them enough!

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by The Carstairs Community Gardeners

British Columbia / Colombie-Britannique

Esther Brysch Hope Communities in Bloom,
Hope

Member of Hope Communities in Bloom
Esther runs the Hope Community Garden. She has a world of priceless gardening knowledge ; teaching the young school students and seniors and nurturing all gardeners. She organizes work bees with the high school leadership program and members, schedules everything from pumpkin weigh-ins to manure and wood chip delivery, and a maintenance schedule for pruning and seed collecting. Esther is an integral force behind Seedy Saturday, garlic and produce sales. One hard-worker! An inspiration to all!

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Teresa Williams
Jill Wright Richmond Garden Club,
Richmond

Member of Richmond Garden Club
Jill Wright, a member of Richmond Garden Club, and a master gardener was the impetus behind adopting Paulik Neighbourhood Park perennial gardens in 2008. She approached the City of Richmond in 2008 to look for a project for Richmond Garden Club. The City gave us the 2 acre perennial gardens in Paulik Park to maintain. Under her leadership we have continued to engage volunteers, create and design new beds and put all of our focus on planet-friendly gardening.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Lynda Pasacreta
Lyn Collis Upper Lonsdale Garden Club - ULGC,
North Vancouver

Member of Upper Lonsdale Garden Club - ULGC
We nominate Lyn Collis, founder of our ULGC (1989) North Vancouver, BC, a Garden Hero 2023. For the past 34 years Lyn has been an enthusiastic force in ULGC's growth & development from her home to now in our local recreation centre with over 60 members. Through horticulture presentations, local & away field trips Lyn continues to inspire & educate our membership. Lyn is truly a Master Gardener, has worked with professionals, volunteers & is a noble environmentalist & caring community gardener.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Heidi Holmer and Krista Wilson
Pam Erikson Langley Garden Club,
Langley

Manitoba

Mason Mager St Vital Horticultural Society,
Winnipeg
Pat Veldman Carman Community Garden,
Carman

Member of Carman Community Garden
Pat Veldman was the creative force behind the formation of a community garden in Carman, now in its 5th year with over 70 enthusiastic gardeners. She continues as president, working hard to make it the best place for everyone physically and psychologically. She enthusiastically promotes the garden and inspires the gardeners to grow nutritious and beautiful plants. Her tireless work inspires all of us every year again. Carman's garden is the best!

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Elizabeth DeWit

New Brunswick / Nouveau-Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador / Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador

Linda Hickey Red Hat Society,
St Johnâ€™s

Member of Red Hat Society
I am nominating myself for a gardening award recognition because of my unwavering commitment to cultivating not just plants but also a deeper connection to the environment and the community. Through years of dedicated effort, I have transformed my garden into a thriving oasis of sustainability and beauty including patio pots gardening in my back yard.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Linda Hickey

Annie English Peterborough Horticultural Society,
Peterborough

Member of Peterborough Horticultural Society
Annie is a long time, a behind-the-scenes tireless worker who gets things done. She is dedicated, reliable, and consistent and has been such an amazing contributor for so long that she's a natural to be awarded the "Garden Hero 2023" designation for our Society. She volunteers weekly at Fleming Park, the city park that our horticultural society maintains for the city. Well done, Annie!

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Mary-Jane Pilgrim
Betty Scribbens Lindsay and District Horticultural Society,
Kawartha Lakes

Member of Lindsay and District Horticultural Society
The Lindsay and District Horticultural Society is pleased to nominate Betty Scribbens as our Garden Hero for 2023. Betty has been a member of the Society for over 15 years. She has organized the Plant Sale for the majority of this time and has always contributed over 100 plants to our plant sale. She is a long term flower show exhibitor, Board member and is on the garden maintenance committee as well.

Betty contributes many volunteer hours to our club every year.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Patty Carlson
Connie Walker Minden Horticultural & District Society,
Minden Hills

Member of Minden Horticultural & District Society
Connie Walker took the reins of the presidency of our club following our society nearly collapsing from the COVID crisis. She worked with the few who did not want to see it collapse either and kept us focused and worked tirelessly with all that needed to be done to bring it back to life. She worked with each committee to help fulfill its' objectives and brought new enthusiasm to our club. Our garden society is growing as a result of her leadership.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Nancy Barnes
David Collins Paris Horticultural Society,
Paris

Member of Paris Horticultural Society
David was one of the founding members of this society in 1986. He has served as president, produced the monthly news letter for years and has been secretary for over 20 years now. He sits on the public planting committee and helps plan projects and works at every event that happens.

David has a large beautiful garden of his own and is regularly asked to be on garden tours by different organizations. He has taken the local fair grounds under his wing and maintains their gardens regularly.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Douglas Hanna
Donna Hunter Omemee Blooms Garden Club,
Kawartha Lakes

Member of Omemee Blooms Garden Club
Donna, a member for 21 years, is always ready and willing to help in the 12 gardens in Omemee with special attention to the Legion bed. She has organized the winter containers on the Main Street for many years gathering the greens and other materials and removal in spring. She helps out with the planting, watering and dead heading of the summer containers. A multi talented person, sewing 29 aprons for members use, demonstrating and competing in floral designs as well as garden tour participant.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Sue Lajeunesse
Freda Godby Barrhaven Garden Club,
Ottawa

Member of Barrhaven Garden Club
Freda, President of the Barrhaven Garden Club for 25 years. Under her leadership the Club has gone from a few members to an interesting vibrant and thriving Club. Undertaken many projects, participated in the Butterfly Garden at CHEO, projects with Friends of the Farm, joined with the Barrhaven Community Association to encourage young people to take up gardening. and in November present ""Holiday Florals"" where holiday arrangements are raffled and proceeds donated to Barrhaven Food Cupboard.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Mary Kealey
Gladys McKay Painswick Garden Club,
Innisfil

Member of Painswick Garden Club
Gladys McKay's invaluable support to the Painswick Garden Club, extends beyond her generous offering of her front lawn for our plant sales. Her infectious spirit, wit, and dedication inspire every member, making our gatherings memorable and driving our collective success. Her encouragement pushes gardeners to explore new horizons, and her behind-the-scenes work ensures our club's endeavours always shine.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Alexandra Lee
Glenda Rebelo Stittsville Goulbourn Horticultural Society,
Ottawa
Gloria Broks North York Garden Club,
North York

Member of North York Garden Club
Gloria Broks has been a member of the North York Garden Club for 23 years (since 2000!). She also served as an Associate Director of District 5 of the Ontario Horticultural Association for 15 years. Gloria was President of the North York Garden Club twice (in 2002-2005 and in 2018-2019).

She belonged to the North York Garden Club, The Hamilton/Burlington Rose Society, The Canadian Rose Society, The Toronto Botanical Garden and the Ontario Horticultural Association . As a Canadian Rose Judge for 15 years, Gloria's expertise and discerning eye have contributed significantly to maintaining the highest standards within the industry.

Gloria Broks, thank you for inspiring us all with your unwavering passion and dedication!

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Patrizia Cappelli
Greta Van Den Bossche Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society,
Richmond Hill

Member of Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society
Greta has been a member of the Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society since 2016. Over the years, she has taken on many roles in our Society helping with the Spring Plant Sale, opening her garden for both member and public tours, and jumping in to help contribute on several committees and teams when needed. She has been honing her skills and knowledge of native plants. She propagates many of these and grows them for our plant sales and the public gardens she helps to maintain.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Doreen Coyne
Ian and Sandi Deslauriers Ennismore Garden Club,
Selwyn

Member of Ennismore Garden Club
Ian and Sandi's vision of a garden around the foundation of a century old barn has become the beautiful "Secret Garden", through their mentorship. This project has brought community members from councillors to Girl Guides to work in the garden and visitors from around Ontario to visit and sit awhile. Their vision has become a gem in the community.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Susan Newton
Joan Stover Grafton Green Thumbs Horticultural Society,
Alnwick/Haldimand

Member of Grafton Green Thumbs Horticultural Society
Joan has been an on going board member in various capacities , and is always involved in the activities of the club. As a committee member of various projects she ensures the successful completion and that the experience is enjoyable for everyone. Currently she heads our successful sunflower contest these past years. Joan is involved in our flower shows and social events. Currently Joan is our deputy mayor, she time and energy to promote our club and to encourage residents to garden.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Edith Kift
Joanne Hoelke Eganville and Area Horticultural Society,
Bonnechere Valley Township

Member of Eganville and Area Horticultural Society
Joanne has been our planting chair for a few years, and she leads the committee who are responsible for beautifying our village by organizing plants, and volunteers to fill the flower boxes and planting our showcase garden, The Welcome Hill. Personally, Joanne has a spectacular vegetable garden by which she feeds her family and friends. She is an active volunteer and a good friend to many in the Eganville and Area Horticultural Society. She is a shining example of a garden hero in our village.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Connie Matthews-Cull
Kathy Bruce Lake Simcoe South Shore Horticultural Society (Lake Simcoe Gardeners),
Georgina

Member of Lake Simcoe South Shore Horticultural Society (Lake Simcoe Gardeners)
Kathy Bruce is a gardening phenomenon in Georgina. She is a well known gardening personality as a result of being the volunteer host of Georgina Blooms, the local Rogers Cable TV stations's gardening program. She has been involved in numerous gardening projects, plantings and educational programs in our community. She is also a long time member of our gardening club, and has served on the executive (including a stint as president during the difficult COVID years).

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Anthony Snider
Liz Chapple Stoney Creek Garden Club & Horticultural Society,
Stoney Creek

Member of Stoney Creek Garden Club & Horticultural Society
Liz has been an active member of our club since 2009. She has held many positions on the board including President. Liz organized our annual plant sale for many years and found interesting speakers for our membership meetings. Liz is extremely knowledgeable about plant life and has offered advice on planting in sun or shade to our members. She has also been in charge of maintaining the outdoor flower containers at one of our local library branches. Liz has volunteered for many other events.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Marian Heil
Lois McKenzie Bruce Station Horticulture Society,
Township of Plummer Additional

Member of Bruce Station Horticulture Society
Lois goes above and beyond in any project is becomes involved with her Community garden she maintains for our Society is exceptional and she is always changing it up with new plants to maintain the interest of all the people who pass.

For our plant sale she contributes over half of the entries with as much variety all coming from her yard or grown from seed that she has gathered (she does this for St.Joseph Horticulture Society as well).

Lois is a DS Butterfly Ranger with many native species.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Anne Cranston
Loretta McCarrol Barrie Garden Club,
Barrie

Member of Barrie Garden Club
Loretta is a member of our Barrie Garden Club! She is our volunteer coordinator and is always involved in our many community projects and gardens. She is dedicated to preserving our garden history at the Fort Willow Pioneer Garden where she helps preserve the generations of garden techniques and seeds used since the 1800's. Loretta also spends time working in our downtown Library rooftop garden to make it a stunning sanctuary for humans and pollinators. She is an asset to our community!

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Kimberley Sturge
Marg Perry Norwood & District Horticultural Society,
Township of Asphodel-Norwood

Member of Norwood & District Horticultural Society
Marg was a founding member (2009) of our Civic Beautification Committee. The planting of 100+ trees at our Community Centre and encouraging annual memorial plantings. Other sites include Flora St. Garden and Millpond Park. Marg is an active member within our Society and continues to be encouraging and supportive. Thank you Marg for all you have done and continue to do. Mentoring our members helps keep our sights on future developments.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Maria Bogdan
Maureen Andersen Chatham Horticultural Society,
Chatham

Member of Chatham Horticultural Society
Maureen is always willing to take time to answer gardening questions and gardening concerns of club members or the public. As president of the Chatham Hort Society, she actively promotes the clubâ€™s activities and reasons for joining. She volunteers her time to help out with the plantings around the city and community gardens.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Russ Talbot
Pauline Hewitt-White Almonte & District Horticultural Society,
Almonte

Member of Almonte & District Horticultural Society
Pauline has been a member for over 25 years with a small break in between. Pauline has been so generous over the years with donations of plants to the plant sale and offering her spectacular backyard garden to garden tours. She rarely misses a town beautification work session and has donated not only common pollinator plants but unusual and interesting ones to our pollinator gardens behind the public library. She can even tell you all the Latin names of the plants. A real asset to our town.NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Cindy Zorgel
Peg Fraczyk Watford/Warwick Horticultural Society,
Watford,Warwick

Member of Watford/Warwick Horticultural Society
As a member and secretary of WWHS Peg devotes countless hours to organizing, scheduling, and participating in gardening activities in the community. Her dedication ensures our planters and gardens reflect the personal, and gardening culture of our community. Peg brings us together to learn, share and grow in our horticultural knowledge as we plant, nurture and protect our flowers and foliage. Peg goes above and beyond to engage members in the quest to keep Watford/Warwick community beautiful.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Holly Watson
Rebecca Last Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton,
Ottawa

Member of Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton
Rebecca has been as Master Gardener since 2005, and is currently our Executive Coordinator. She is also an active Board member of the Ottawa Horticultural Society. In her spare time, she publishes her blog Gardening at Last. She grows over a dozen varieties of heritage tomatoes, and grows extra ones for plant sales. A talented speaker, Rebecca is often asked to give talks. Rebecca has a positive attitude to life, loves her garden, and is happy to share homemade jams with her gardening friends.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Julianne Labreche
Renate Wells Galt Horticultural Society,
Cambridge

Member of Galt Horticultural Society
Renate Wells is a long time GHS member & Board member. She is a former school teacher & Chair of our Children's Workshops Committee. Each spring she works with children teaching them how to plant seedlings. She holds Halloween pumpkin decorating workshops. Renate also does mini Christmas tree decorating workshops, where children can decorate their own tree and she talks about different type of evergreen trees. This year she is holding a Mugwamps book reading/activity for children as well.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Lynne Goulet-Smith
Rob Brandon Ottawa Horticultural Society (OHS),
Ottawa

Member of Ottawa Horticultural Society (OHS)
Rob Brandon has a long, distinguished history of involvement with the OHS. He currently serves as our OHS Treasurer. He was also instrumental in applying for a federal grant in 2023. This funding will greatly assist the OHS to create hybrid technology for our program of garden talks, thereby better serving our members. This spring, Rob offered his beautiful garden as a setting to host volunteers who organized our big plant sale. He is an avid gardener who generously gives back to the community.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Julianne Labreche
Sheila King OHA District 2,
Ottawa

Member of OHA District 2
Sheila has been an integral part of the Manotick Horticultural Society and community since 1997. She is a floral design and horticultural judge who enters and wins many awards at the Society, District and Provincial levels. As an educator, she willingly share her knowledge with Societies and community groups across Eastern Ontario, with talks and workshops.

Sheila has been on the Didtrict Board most of the time from 2003 to present andvv can is currently Assistant District Director-at-Large.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Anne Harbord
Steve Svarckopf Smiths Falls Horticultural Society,
Smiths Falls

Member of Smiths Falls Horticultural Society
Steve has been board member and ethusiastic participant in our Society for many years.

For the past few years, he has organized and managed our Food Bank Garden â€“ scheduling volunteers to ensure that the garden is watered, weeded and harvested each week. He visits local businesses, asking for donations of materials and plants. He personally prepares the soil each year. His efforts have enabled donations of approximately 1/2 a ton of produce to the Smiths Falls foodbank in the last 2 years.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Anita Frigan
Susan Morley The Chinguacousy Garden Club and Horticultural Society,
Brampton

Member of The Chinguacousy Garden Club and Horticultural Society
Susan has been a member for 15 years. She is a great supporter of Native Plants and has insisted we put some categories in our Fall Flower Show. She is our board secretary and does a great job of keeping us organized. She is involved in our plant sale, and enters our flower shows. She runs the Zoom for our general and board meetings. She chairs our committee for our Volunteers Award recipient as she calculates the club's Volunteer hours for the Annual Report. she put in over 200 hours.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Ruth Bender
Tammy Nagy Durham and District Horticultural Society,
Durham

Member of Durham and District Horticultural Society
Tammy, as a member of the Durham & District Horticultural Society, has for many years taken care of the Durham Hospital Gardens. She has transformed them from being completely overgrown to beautiful gardens filled with perennials and annuals. These gardens are a pleasure to see for our local hospital patients and the hospital and clinic staff. Our society would like to honour Tammy as our 2023 Garden Hero.

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Susan Papineau

Quebec / Québec

Sandra Beauregard Jardins communautaires St Basile le grand,
St Basile le grand

Member of Jardins communautaires St Basile le grand
Sandra Beauregard has played a pivotal role in taking back control of the two community gardens in our city. Previously, under poor management she has stepped up as president of the organization and turned things around. She spends hours working the shared parts of our garden and is ever ready to share her knowledge. She has shown great leadership by her communication skills and by rallying the members of our club. She is very deserving of this recognition. Merci Sandra!

NB: Garden Hero descriptions are uploaded as sent by the submitter.

Nominated by Susan Leclair

Saskatchewan

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Canadian Garden Heroes

2023 Live the Garden Life Garden Heroes of Canada

Alberta

British Columbia / Colombie-Britannique

Manitoba

New Brunswick / Nouveau-Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador / Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador

Northwest Territories / Territoires du nord-ouest

Nova Scotia / Nouvelle-Écosse

Ontario

Quebec / Québec

Saskatchewan