Toronto, Canada ... Tuesday, March 17, 2015 ... Today at the North American Garden Tourism Conference, the Canadian Garden Council is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Canadian Garden Tourism Awards which were presented by The Honourable Peter Kent, MP, Thornhill, Ontario.
“As baby boomers age, garden tourism in Canada will be on the rise for the next decade,” predicts Dr. Richard Benfield, author of ‘Garden Tourism’, and chair of the International Garden Tourism Network.
Garden Tourism Awards are presented to organizations and individuals who have distinguished themselves in the development and promotion of the garden experience as a tourism attraction. Now presented annually, the inaugural Garden Tourism Awards were bestowed at the 2011 North American Garden Tourism Conference held in Toronto, Canada. To view past winners, visit www.gardentourismconference.com and click on the ‘media’ tab.
In the spirit of highlighting Canada’s most dynamic garden experiences and Garden Tourism’s limitless potential, in consultation with a Canadian jury network and with thanks to the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association for sponsoring the 2015 Awards Program, the Canadian Garden Council is honoured to announce the 2015 recipients of the Canadian Garden Tourism Awards.
CANADIAN GARDEN TOURISM AWARDS
1. Garden of the Year
Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, NS
Sponsored by: Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
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10. Destination Garden Centre of the Year
Rideau Woodland Ramble, ON
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2. Botanical Garden of the Year
Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden, NFLD
Sponsored by: VIA Rail Canada
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11. Community of the Year
Town of Boissevain, MB
Sponsored by: Communities in Bloom
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3. New Garden Experience of the Year
UBC Botanical Garden Greenheart Canopy Walk, BC
Sponsored by: Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
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12. Initiative of the Year
Misa Tours International, QC
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4. Garden Destination of the Year
Niagara Falls, ON
Sponsored by: Baxter Travel Media
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13. Website of the Year
The Butchart Gardens, BC
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5. Garden Festival of the Year
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, BC
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14. Person of the Year
Brian Minter, BC
Sponsored by: Baxter Travel Media
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6. Flower Festival of the Year
Canadian Tulip Festival, ON
Sponsored by: VIA Rail Canada
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15. Journalist of the Year
Steve Whysall, BC
Sponsored by: Enterprise Canada
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7. Garden Event of the Year
Allan Gardens at Christmas, ON
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16. Media of the Year
Canadian Gardening Magazine, ON
Sponsored by: Enterprise Canada
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8. Flower Event of the Year
MUN Botanical Garden’s Pink Days in Bloom, NFLD
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17. Honourable Mention
Fleurs Plantes Jardins Magazine – 25th Anniversary, QC
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9. Garden Exhibition of the Year
Royal Botanical Gardens’ Earth Art, ON
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18. Honourable Mention
Halifax Public Gardens – Outstanding National Recognition
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The international Garden Tourism Network, in consultation with a global jury network is pleased to announce:
INTERNATIONAL GARDEN TOURISM AWARDS
1. Garden of the Year
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, South Africa
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6. Destination of the Year
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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2. Garden Festival of the Year
Hokkaido Garden Show Daisetsu and Related Garden Movement of Hokkaido, Japan
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7. New Garden Experience of the Year – The Moselle Award
Dubai Miracle Garden, United Arab Emirates
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3. Garden Event of the Year
RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, United Kingdom
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8. Media of the Year
GardenTours.com, The Netherlands
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4. Flower Festival of the Year
Chiang Mai Flower Festival, Thailand
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9. Person of the Year
Paul Redman Executive Director, Longwood Gardens, USA
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5. Flower Event of the Year
Tapis de Fleur, Visit Brussels, Belgium
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The North American Garden Tourism Conference, in consultation with a North American jury is pleased to announce:
TOP 10 NORTH AMERICAN GARDENS WORTH TRAVELLING FOR (in alphabetical order)
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- The Butchart Gardens. Brentwood Bay, British Columbia
- Chanticleer Garden. Wayne, Pennsylvania
- Denver Botanic Gardens. Denver, Colorado
- Desert Botanical Garden. Phoenix, Arizona
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Miami, Florida
- Huntington Botanical Gardens. San Marino, California
- Jardin Botanico de Culiacan. Culiacan, Mexico
- Longwood Gardens. Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
- Montréal Botanical Garden. Montréal, Québec
- Vallarta Botanical Gardens. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
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Canadian Garden Council
The Canadian Garden Council is the national umbrella body for provincial and national garden organizations. Its vision is to champion the garden experience sector’s contributions to the wellbeing of Canadians and the sustainability of our communities and to promote the joys and benefits of gardens, landscapes and green infrastructure.
The Council manages: Garden Days www.gardendays.ca, Canada’s Garden Route www.canadasgardenroute.ca, Garden Tourism Awards and North American Garden Tourism Conference www.gardentourismconference.com
The Canadian Garden Council Board is comprised of members from the BC Garden Tourism Society, Ontario Garden Tourism Coalition, Associations des grands jardins du Québec, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, Communities in Bloom and representatives from public and botanical gardens in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador.
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