Jan. 5, 2010, Vancouver – Dr. Deborah Henderson, director of Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Institute of Sustainable Horticulture (ISH) was named Educator of the Year by British Columbia Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA).

“I was surprised and delighted to receive the Educator of the Year award from the BCLNA,” said Dr. Henderson. “For many years I’ve enjoyed working with growers and the public in both a service capacity and in sharing research results.”

Dr. Deborah Henderson, at left, receives BCLNA’s Educator of the Year Award from Michelle Pain on behalf of award sponsor TerraLink Horticulture.

The award recognized her work in educating the industry and public about horticulture industry, products and services. She is dedicated to the potential for integrated efforts in conservation, biological pest control and sustainable landscaping.

Dr. Henderson, along with Kwantlen’s School of Horticulture and ISH, established a conservation biocontrol trial garden, or “Bug Garden,” which has proven to be a valuable resource in providing class materials and a living lab for students to practice horticulture activities and study plants, pests and beneficial insects and the relationship between them.

Under her direction, ISH recently established a lab and pre-commercial scale production incubator for microbial insect pathogens, providing growers and landscape care providers with biological solutions to pest problems. This “incubator” facility is a first for Canada and has the potential to put B.C. in the forefront of development of new microbial biocontrol products.

Dr. Henderson also helped to establish PlantHealthBC, an organization that provides an accreditation program that assures consumers that their landscape professionals operate – in accordance with integrated pest management practices – on an educated and preventative basis to keep gardens pest-free, and to use pesticides only as the last resort.

Dr. Henderson’s award reaffirms Kwantlen’s leadership in providing industry-relevant education and innovative research in horticulture.

Kwantlen’s Institute for Sustainable Horticulture (ISH) is a partnership between academia, B.C.’s horticultural industries and the community to support British Columbia in meeting demands for a higher level of sustainability and environmental responsibility from horticulture, agriculture and urban landscapes.