The Whiteoak Trophy is the Victoria Horticultural Society’s most prestigious award. It is named in memory of Horace Whiteoak who was VHS president in the 1930’s and died in 1938 in his mid forties.
The trophy is awarded to the person who is deemed to have made the greatest contribution to the Society that year. It can be won only once by an individual and the current president and secretary are not eligible. All members of the Society can make suggestions for recipients of the award through the Suggestion Box at the regular meetings, or by contacting any member of the Executive.
Past Whiteoak Trophy Recipients
| 2018 | Jennifer Howard-Gibbon |
| 2017 | Alimay & Robin McNeil |
| 2016 | Margaret Hantiuk |
| 2015 | Rafe Mooney– for years of serving as Secretary & Programs Director, contributing to the Lucky Draw, presenting VHS Scholarships at the HCP, curating the HCP Winter Garden honoring past VHS president Doris Page, and completing the Neil Knowlton memorial project. |
| 2014 | Gordon Robe – for years of editing and producing the Gardenry newsletter and serving on the VHS Executive. |
| 2013 | Bill Spriggs |
| 2012 | Ann Widdowsen |
| 2011 | Jacqueline Bradbury |
| 2010 | Dick Bullard |
| 2009 | Kathy Palmer |
| 2008 | James Leigh & Fred Kramer |
| 2007 | Francis Fink |
| 2006 | John & Delphia Scratchley |
| 2005 | Tom Leahy & Denise Brown |
| 2004 | Mike Hutchins |
| 2003 | Chris Palmer |
| 2002 | Joan Jamieson |
| 2001 | Don & Bobbi Johannessen |
| 2000 | Mark Wright |
| 1999 | Gary White & John Veillette |
| 1998 | Jill Stewart Bowen |
| 1997 | Pat Robertson |
| 1996 | John Ewing |
| 1995 | The Elliotts |
| 1994 | Carolyn Herriot |
| 1993 | Geli Bartlett |
| 1992 | Jean Williams |
| 1991 | Freda Loro |
| 1990 | Hector Bussiere |
| 1989 | Diane Plant |
| 1988 | Bryce Fradley |
| 1987 | Diane Bussiere |
| 1986 | Jean Webster |
| 1985 | Rowly Inglis |
| 1984 | Rodger Whitlock |
| 1983 | Neil Knowlton |
| 1982 | Win Foubister |
| 1981 | Walter Williamson |
| 1980 | Tom Hutchinson |
| 1979 | Primrose Stevens |
| 1978 | John Linnell |
| 1977 | Elizabeth Whitlock |
| 1976 | James Smith |
| 1975 | Miss M. Laing |
| 1974 | Mrs J.R. Bell |
| 1973 | Harry Leake |
| 1972 | Ken Barnes |
| 1971 | Miss E. Sartain |
| 1970 | Mrs G. Reid |
| 1969 | Mrs. S. McMinn |
| 1968 | D. G. F. Barton |
| 1967 | Harry van Dyk |
| 1966 | F. Blakeney |
| 1965 | Mrs R.S. Bevan |
| 1964 | T. Weekes |
| 1963 | A.R. McMinn |
| 1962 | Alan Littler |
| 1961 | Mrs T.T. Vaulkhard |
| 1960 | D.A. Weir |
| 1959 | Miss Doris Page |
| 1958 | Mrs E.W. Carey |
| 1957 | W.J. Roper |
| 1956 | S. Lang |
| 1955 | C.J. Freeborn |
| 1954 | Mrs Ena McCabe |
| 1953 | Alex Gray |
| 1952 | T.J. Sawyer |
| 1951 | Miss M.S. Hamer |
| 1950 | Mrs C.J. Freeborn |
| 1949 | K. Robinson |
| 1948 | T.E. Perry |
| 1947 | Alex Main |
| 1946 | F.E. Boulter |
| 1945 | not awarded |
| 1944 | F.W. Waller |
| 1943 | W.H. Warren |
| 1942 | Mrs R.H. Ludbrook |
| 1941 | M.O. Mayhew |
| 1940 | Alex Mitchell |