The Canadian Garden Council proclaims Year of the Garden 

Gardens in Quebec

MILTON, Canada: Michel Gauthier, executive director of the Canadian Garden Council cannot think of a more appropriate way to honour the Centennial of Canada’s ornamental horticulture sector than dedicating a full year to commemorate Canada’s rich garden heritage, to celebrate today’s vibrant garden culture, and to create legacies for a sustainable future.

Gauthier invites all members of Canada’s garden-family to start thinking about how they will join the “Year of the Garden 2022” celebrations via existing marketing and promotional campaign and activities and how they will engage Canadians to join them in celebrating the Year of the Garden 2022 celebrations.

Gauthier is delighted that the government has expressed its support for the initiative. In a speech earlier this year, MP Vance Badawey of Canada’s House of Commons said, “Gardens and gardening contribute to the development of our country, our cities, and the lives of Canadians in terms of health, quality of life, reconciliation, inclusion, and environmental challenges. We recognise 2022 as Canada’s Year of the Garden marking the centennial of Canada’s ornamental horticulture sector on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.” He added that the event makes Canada the first country to celebrate the Year of the Garden.  The country’s Ministry of Agriculture will also provide a range of support.

The wider horticultural community is gearing up for the event. “Canadians are showing a renewed passion for gardens and gardening not only for the beauty that they bring but also to address mental and physical wellbeing. As a leader in lawn and garden products, Scotts Canada Ltd. is proud to be a founding partner of the Year of the Garden 2022. We look forward to celebrating the wonderfulness of gardening and inviting all Canadians to join Canada’s garden-family,” says Karen Stephenson, Director, Regulatory Affairs & Stakeholder Relations, Scotts Canada Limited.

PremierTech and Proven Winners are also among the headline sponsors.

Founded in April 2014, in collaboration with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA), in order to foster awareness and development of Canada’s garden experience sector, the Canadian Garden Council is a not-for-profit corporation with board representation from all parts of the country. Council membership reflects partnerships among all sectors of the horticulture, public garden, gardening, tourism and associated industries on a regional, provincial and territorial basis, enabling the Council to address the full range of issues facing the garden experience sector.