Members of Landscape Ontario’s London Chapter have a long history of taking a leadership role in multi-year projects and initiatives that result in lasting memorials and tranquil outdoor spaces to benefit members of the local community. 

Veterans Memorial Parkway (VMP)

On Sept. 30, 2011, a unique and historic agreement was signed between the City of London and Landscape Ontario that solidified a six-year plan to plant 8,000 trees and install 15 commemorative rocks to establish a 10-km long living tribute to the men and women who have served in Canada’s military.

The agreement not only solidified a partnership between business, government and the private sector, but was the first time the city gave up control of a project.  

The next day, over 100 volunteers joined LO members to plant and stake 200 trees in just three hours. Subsequent plantings were held and the final one took place Oct. 4, 2014.
Volunteers at plantings were typically composed of LO members, residents and a large contingent of landscape horticulture students from nearby Fanshawe College.

In 2013, Barry Sandler, executive director of the Veterans Memorial Parkway Community Program, stated, “I think by the end of this we’ll have the largest commemorative feature to veterans in the country, if not the world.”

The project garnered a lot of attention from local media and was praised for being a shining example of Landscape Ontario’s values and commitment. 

Battle of the Atlantic Memorial

In October 2016, over 50 London Chapter volunteers transformed a barren hillside memorial into a tranquil space for friends, family and veterans on the forks of the Thames River at HMCS Prevost. 

The Battle of the Atlantic Memorial began as just an idea about two and a half years earlier to provide accessibility and an aesthetic setting to an important part of Canada’s naval history. 

A landscape design, $20,000, trees, shrubs, flowers, a small irrigation system and post-installation maintenance were all contributed by London Chapter and its members.

Golf tournament

Since 2006, the Chapter’s annual golf tournament has raised funds to support many local greening initiatives to plant trees, build gardens and outdoor classrooms at many schools, and to support the VMP project.

Alex’s butterfly garden

After suffering the unimaginable loss of their third daughter, Alex, in 2005, Gordon and Lesley Hart wanted to make a lasting difference at the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario. Thanks to members of London Chapter, Alex’s Butterfly Garden in honour of prenatal and infant loss was completed in 2008, transforming a dreary, lifeless patch of grass into a beautiful oasis for healing, respite and reflection. 

Women in Landscaping

On March 2, 2018, the inaugural event for Women in Landscaping (WIL) was held at Fanshawe College in London. The newly formed group was founded by London Chapter members, Carla Bailey, Pam Cook and Michelle Peeters, the organization continues to grow within the community with its annual Touch-A-Truck event attracting thousands of local visitors. In 2024, the Touch-A-Truck event was adopted by four other LO Chapters, expanding it across the province.

Plant Symposium

Started in 2017, the annual Plant Symposium is a pre-spring event to inspire gardeners, students and landscape professionals about all things plant related. 

The one-day event includes several expert speakers and a marketplace, and is one of the few chapter events that combines industry, students and the general public. 

Indwell residence

On June 18, 2023, a final planting and opening ceremony was held to complete a three-and-a-half year journey to establish a $140,000 community garden at Indwell Commons – a new $22 million supportive housing building located at 740 Dundas St.

“I’ve been a Landscape Ontario member for 35 years and what I’ve seen again and again is how dedicated landscape people are to gardens and to having a positive impact on people’s lives,” said longtime Chapter member and volunteer Jay Murray. “We’ve done three or four projects this big in the last 15 years and there’s a lot of generosity there, which says a lot about the kind of people who are in the landscaping industry.”
 

---

---

READ MORE ABOUT: