Glendale Gardens & Woodland

Did you know that Glendale Gardens & Woodland has hundreds of volunteers that create and maintain 28 demonstration gardens and a conservation area? For over 31 years, the sweat and passion behind their efforts has transformed 103 acres of farmer’s fields into a world-class, public garden just 9 km from downtown Victoria.

“Glendale provides an important social connection for volunteers in a beautiful setting, and a healthy recreation activity for our regulars,” says Head Gardener Michael Dowling.

A grant from the Victoria Foundation made it possible to buy a golf cart and create wheelchair friendly pathways to increase access for those with physical disabilities. Not only did it make the gardens accessible to visitors but volunteers as well. “We had volunteers in wheelchairs that were in the office every week for many years and had never actually visited the garden,” says Dowling.

“If our slogan is Connecting People to Plants, then it is clear that our task is not only to be accessible, but to have the resources to reach out to educate and involve new groups and individuals,” states Kari Frazer, Director of Development.  In addition to groups from Canada World Youth and Garth Homer Society, volunteers also come from the Royal Oak Rotary, John Howard Society, the Single Parents Resource Centre, and Reynolds High School. Often, the individuals are youth or disadvantaged.

Glendale Gardens & Woodland is an excellent example of reciprocal relationships and the importance of linkages and partnerships for the benefit of the broader community.