Dec. 15, 2009, Vancouver – Kwantlen Polytechnic University recently received a $75,000 grant from the Real Estate Foundation of B.C. to support the research, public and professional education programming of the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture (ISH).

The funds will contribute to a B.C. Regional Innovation Chair position at the ISH established by a grant received from the Leading Edge Endowment Fund.

“Kwantlen has been building our support network for the ISH for several years now,” said Kwantlen president and vice-chancellor David Atkinson. “It is truly encouraging and gives us a great sense of pride to know that an organization such as the Real Estate Foundation has chosen to support the Institute.”

The ISH is a partnership between Kwantlen, B.C.'s horticultural industries and the community to support British Columbia in meeting demands for a higher level of sustainability and environmental responsibility in horticulture, silviculture, forestry and urban landscapes.

“Our board of governors was impressed with the Institute’s level of performance and community engagement to date,” said Real Estate Foundation of B.C. chair Stephen Mullock. “The Real Estate Foundation has a long history of leadership in the land use and conservation sectors and we are proud to join the Institute’s growing list of environmentally concerned donors and partners.”

In October 2009, the ISH opened its new leading-edge research facility with a grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation that will focus on innovations in biocontrol and on developing commercial applications for products to help build a sustainable and secure agri-food system with a mandate of strengthening the economic, social and ecological vitality of urban and peri-urban agricultures.