March 20, 2012, Burlington, Ont. — Nineteen botanical gardens and
arboreta across Canada will plant the seeds for increased sustainability
as they turn their attention to a new collaborative initiative.
March 20, 2012, Burlington, Ont. — Nineteen botanical gardens and arboreta across Canada will plant the seeds for increased sustainability as they turn their attention to a new collaborative initiative.
This initiative will significantly develop and engage new audiences and directly benefit the Canadian tourism industry. Led by Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario, the two-year project, entitled “Cultivating Our Market: Growing Awareness of & Visitorship at Canada’s Botanical Gardens,” is made possible by a generous grant of $595,000 from the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Investment Fund.
Participating organizations include:
• Niagara Parks Botanical Garden
• Royal Botanical Gardens
• The Arboretum, University of Guelph
• Tofino Botanical Garden
• Toronto Botanical Garden
• Toronto Zoo
• University of Alberta Devonian Botanic Garden
• Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Gardens
• University of British Columbia Botanical Garden
• VanDusen Botanical Garden
• Calgary Zoo & Botanical Garden
• Fredericton Botanic Garden
• Groundswell Network Society
• Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens
• Humber Arboretum
• Jardin botanique de Montreal
• Jardins de métis/Reford Gardens
• Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Gardens
• Milner Gardens and Woodland
• Muttart Conservatory
“Cultivating Our Market” will undertake research into the ways in which botanical gardens can and may provide benefit to the Canadian public, with particular emphasis on shifting demographics and world conditions and the opportunities for service arising from these contexts. The information gained will then support the creation of marketing tools that will assist the participants in finding better ways to increase engagement through attendance, membership and financial support.
CULTIVATING OUR MARKET
“Cultivating Our Market” sprang from discussion with members of the Canadian Botanical Conservation Network (CBCN), many of whom are participating in the project. Royal Botanical Gardens also gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association in achieving project goals by contributing as the sole horticultural industry partner on the project.
“Botanical gardens and arboreta are wonderful cultural resources for Canada,” notes Dr. David A. Galbraith, President, Canadian Botanical Conservation Network and Head of Science, Royal Botanical Gardens.
“Their educational programs, research undertakings, park spaces, and plant collections represent important regional, local, and national resources that people can use to improve their well-being. This project will help botanical gardens across Canada reach out to the public and also improve their financial sustainability.”
The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association "is excited to be partnering with the Botanical Gardens on this project; we believe strongly in their mission to bring together people, plants and nature,” said Bill Hardy of CNLA. “We look forward to working with them to inspire and educate the public about the many benefits of horticulture.”
ABOUT ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS
For over 80 years Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) has been an ecological jewel at the western tip of Lake Ontario. Conceived and founded through the tireless efforts of early conservationist Thomas Baker McQuesten, RBG lands were set aside to create the region’s first botanical garden.
Patterned after Kew Gardens in England, RBG was created to serve as both a regional botanical tourism site and an environmental agency.
Click here to learn more about the Royal Botanical Gardens.
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