VanDusen Botanical Garden to be added to Places That Matter list
Posted May 21, 2014 7:24 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The VanDusen Botanical Garden has been a green sanctuary in this city for nearly 40 years.
Tomorrow, it will be recognized as one of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation‘s Places That Matter.
“It provides something that people really appreciate, a place to get outside and enjoy nature,” notes past president Brian Clark.
VanDusen is best known for its yearly plant sale and as a home to special events like the All British Field Meet car show.
But Clark says none of that would be possible today, without a push from the public to preserve the greenspace back in the early 70s. “There [was] strong lobby towards the city to retain a green belt and to do so as a botanical garden, so the province and the city, combined with Mr. W.J. VanDusen to purchase the property.”
The lands on which the gardens sit were owned by CP Rail and leased to the Shaugnessy Heights Golf Club.
When that lease was up, neighbours pushed the city and the province to keep some of it as greenspace.
Nearly four decades later, Clark says the result is a one of kind destination for Vancouver.
“Its representation of plants from around the world [is] just not duplicated elsewhere in the city,” Clark says.
Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the 22 hectare gardens.
VanDusen will mark the 75th Places That Matter with a plaque presentation.
The ceremony is set for 1:00 p.m. Thursday.
