For the past 6 years I have been a member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Burlington/Hamilton. I was appointed as a representative of Halton Regional Council in 2005 at a time when the RBG was in deep financial difficulty. I am happy to let you know that those dark days are over and the RBG is better than it has ever been. The lastest editions include the Camilla and Peter Dalgleish Atrium, The Aldershot Escarpment Garden, the Helen Kippex Garden and the renewed Hendry Park Gardens.
The RBG is an institution of provincial and regional significance. As such it is funded by the Province of Ontario, Halton Region and the City of Hamilton. Apart from being the largest tourist attraction in Halton, it also carries out significant botanical research and is an educational facility for throngs of students all year round. In addition it has 2000 acres of natural lands and is a wonderful place to go for hike around Cootes Paradise or through the Grind Stone Creek valley.
Last year Belinda Gallagher, a resident of Georgetown, was named the Head of Horticulture at the RBG. I was delighted at this development as I had been working with Belinda for about 8 years on the development of the Old Seed House Garden in Georgetown. Belinda has done a tremendous job of leading the Horticultural staff and you will find the Gardens have never looked better.
On May 27th, I attended the RBG's fundraising gala. The photo is of Belinda Gallagher and myself enjoying the festivities in support of the Gardens.
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