The National Capital Region is the home of one of the world's most beautiful national capitals. But it is still one of just a few without a Botanical Garden.

It's time for that to change with your help.

Botanical Gardens enrich communities in many ways. for instance:

• As a haven of beauty and peace within the city, where people can relax and rediscover nature
• As a tourist attraction that will bring money to the community
• As a scientific research centre for horticultural studies and plant conservation
• As a display area for newly-discovered or exotic plants
• As an educational centre where people of every age can learn more about the environment, horticulture, and trees
• As a the setting for cultural events such as concerts and art exhibitions
• As a source of jobs and training for people in the community.
  

So why don't we have one?

Not because no one thought of it. The idea of a botanical garden has been on the drawing board since 1886, when Parliament passed the Act which established the Central Experimental Farm. The arboretum and botanic garden was established in 1887 and developed until the First World War. Since then, it has diminished over time because of reduced attention. Now there is an opportunity to see a re-birth and funding.

A recent federal consulting study which surveyed public opinion stated that a botanical garden would be a prime choice for the land between Prince of Wales Drive and the Rideau Canal.

What's needed now is one concerted push by the community and private citizens, horticultural societies, business and educational institutions.

To provide this push a group of citizens has formed the Ottawa Botanical Garden Society, a registered, non-profit organization. Its goal is to re-establish, develop and manage the botanical garden.

Contact the OBGS for copies
of these documents.
info@ottawagarden.ca