The VHS is active in the community in many ways.
The VHS provides ongoing financial support to the Doris Page Winter Garden at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific. This beautiful garden was named after a past VHS president and active gardening educator of her time who promoted year round plants for our gardens here in Greater Victoria.
The VHS also has instituted two commemorative bursaries set up in perpetuity with the Victoria Foundation, for graduating horticultural students at two local colleges: HCP’s Pacific Horticulture College and Camosun College’s Horticulture Technician program.
The award at HCP, started in 2002, is named after a beloved past newsletter editor and president, Jill Stewart Bowen.
The award at CC is named after three past VHS stalwarts: a well known local nurseryman and landscaper, Harry VanDyk, and Jack and Hilda Beastall, who were cornerstones of the horticultural community here: on the VHS executive, with their Tillicum nursery and as the gardening experts in the local newspaper and on their radio program.
The VHS has been awarding grants to local non-profit groups and organizations whose programs match our mandate: “Share What You Know, Show What You Grow.”
Recent recipients of VHS grants are:
- Lifecycles (a local non-profit providing school gardening programs)
- Victoria High School Garden (for tools, seeds and material supports)
- IPI (Island Pollinator Initiative) taskforce to help save pollinators
In the past, the VHS provided funding to assist in the renovations of Government House gardens, and the formation of the ‘Friends’ group.
The VHS gratefully acknowledges members who have made donations and bequeathments to support our community work.