May 25 2021 - Year of the Garden 2022 News

We are now moving into the Planning Phase of the Year of the Garden 2022. The next 7 months will be important to engage Garden-Family members with this unique celebration of horticulture, as we prepare to invite the public to celebrate the numerous benefits of gardens and gardening. Not everything is decided yet which is a good thing, but as you can expect things will go quickly, since our goal is to start the marketing campaign in the fall of 2021 leading up to the Year of the Garden 2022.

We want you to participate so we can promote you and the Canadians can easily Add Garden to Life.

We have created a first Year of the Garden 2022 Resource Guide to facilitate your engagement. Check it out!

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or suggestions. Thank you to those that have!

If you have not yet expressed your support to your local Member of Parliament, please do it now, asking for an official designation of the Year of the Garden 2022 and cc the Canadian Garden Council. Click for a sample letter.

We are still getting letters of support. More quotes from these letters:

“What is particularly important to us is that the Canadian Garden Council is committed to celebrating the contribution that gardens and gardening have made to the development of Canada and these cities, and to the lives of Canadians, in terms of health, quality of life, inclusiveness and environmental challenges.”

Tim Briercliffe - Secretary General, International Association Horticulture Producers (AIPH)
Ron van der Ploeg - Chief Editor, Flora Culture International (FCI)

“Gardens play an important role in creating a safe and healthy place to bring people together and connect us with Canada’s world of plants. The Year of the Garden 2022 would be a vital community catalyst for greater learning, exploration, and connection for Canadians of all ages supporting our organizations’ mission.”

Lawrence Spencer, Treasurer, Fall River Garden Club

“Gardens and gardening bring people together, foster community development, build healthy lifestyle habits, and help further our awareness of the environmental challenge we face and provide a nature-based solution to climate action. There is a need to educate and inspire Canadians, especially children to include gardening and gardens in their lives. It is important to celebrate the centennial of Canada’s horticulture sector which has and continues to contribute to the development of Canada and our values.

As a member of the Yarmouth Garden Club, we ask that you urge the Federal Government to endorse and support this initiative and officially recognize 2022 as Canada’s Year of the Garden for the benefit of Canadians and Canada.”

Sheila Lewis, president, Yarmouth Garden Club

“Designating 2022 as “the Year of the Garden” presents an excellent opportunity to promote an activity widely accepted as improving mental and physical fitness while supporting the growth of Canada’s ornamental horticulture sector - a vast and growing contributor to Canada’s economic stability.
Canada’s ornamental farmers, gardeners, and the general public all stand to benefit from designating 2022 as the year of the garden. We strongly endorse the year of the garden initiative and encourage the Canadian Government to officially declare 2022 the Year of the Garden.”

Andrew Kuyvenhoven, President, Flowers Canada Growers

“On behalf of the Manitoba Horticultural Association, please accept this letter confirming our endorsement of the Canadian Garden Council’s initiative to have 2022 declared Canada’s Year of the Garden.

Never before has the need for an appreciation of gardens and plants been more apparent than during these unprecedented times of COVID pandemic.”

Hugh W. Skinner, President, Manitoba Horticultural Association

“This last year of COVID has seen an increased interest in gardening, as people stick closer to home and become aware of the advantage of food security. They have also gained personal enjoyment and satisfaction in the process of beautifying their gardens. In proclaiming 2022 the Year of the Garden in Canada, we can build on that energy and hopefully establish a movement of gardening which is sustainable into the future.”

Bernadette Vangool, Treasurer Saskatchewan Perennial Society

On March 22, the Canadian Garden Council proudly proclaimed 2022 as Canada’s Year of the Garden to celebrate the Centennial of the Canada’s ornamental horticulture sector and to honour the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s 100-year anniversary.

The Year of the Garden 2022 invites members of Garden-Family members and Canadians, everywhere in the country, to Celebrate Canada’s garden heritage, celebrate today’s vibrant garden culture and the excellence of our horticulture professionals as well as create legacies for a sustainable future

Please share Canada’s Year of the Garden 2022 Proclamation with your networks and your friends!

Since the last Year of the Garden 2022 newsletter:

• On May 10, we met with the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to table our request for her to be a Champion of the Year of the Garden 2022 request for official government designation and financial support. Her response to our request was very positive. She accepted to put forth a motion to parliament to recognize 2022 as Canada’s Year of the Garden and pointed us toward a few programs for funding.
• On March 25, we have a meeting with Canadian Heritage staff to pursue financial support.

Thank you to our corporate Founding Partners of the Year of the Garden 2022 : Scotts Canada, Premier Tech and Proven Winners

We will soon be releasing a Year of the Garden 2022 Sponsorship program for corporations interested in being associated with this unique year long event and the garden and gardening audience.

“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.”

Karen Stephenson | Director, Regulatory Affairs & Stakeholder Relations, Scotts Canada Limited

“At Premier Tech, the horticultural and garden world is the cornerstone, the very essence of who we are, and we are proud to have contributed to the emergence and growth of this industry in Canada since its beginnings. At the dawn of our 100th anniversary, it is only natural for Premier Tech to be taking part in this celebration of Canada’s horticultural heritage that will be the Year of the Garden 2022.”

Martin Pelletier | President of Premier Tech Growers and Consumers.

“Proven Winners North America is proud to be a founding partner of Canada’s Year of the Garden 2022. We are especially proud because so much of our North American business takes place in Canada. Our propagator partners, Nordic Nurseries in Abbotsford, BC and Sobkowich Greenhouses in Grimsby, Ontario have serviced the Canadian marketplace with Proven Winners annuals plants for over 25 years. In addition, our Proven Winners ColorChoice flowering shrubs and Proven Winners perennials varieties are also widely distributed in Canada. Consumers in Canada love to garden, and we are fortunate to work with so many great retailers and partners in Canada that are passionate about creating beautiful gardens.”

Marshall Dirks | Director of Marketing, Proven Winners