The Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society is pleased to announce that Jayden Chung, a graduating student of Richmond Hill Secondary School, is the winner of the 2026 Willem Schurman Scholarship, and recipient of the $500 bursary. 

While maintaining his school studies, Jayden was also the president of the school greenhouse and oversaw the planting and harvesting of plants in the indoor greenhouse and an outdoor garden. As well, he initiated the construction of a wheelchair accessible garden bed. A teacher noted Jayden to be an exemplary student who, “Possesses the intellectual capacity to thrive and the character to contribute.”

Jayden is currently attending the Rotman Commerce Programme at the University of Toronto. His focus is on learning the fundamentals of marketing, sales, distribution, and product development because he hopes to use his entrepreneurial skills within the horticulture industry one day.

The Willem Schurman Scholarship, named after one of our society's Past Presidents, is made available each year to a student graduating from any Richmond Hill secondary school. For more information, click here.

Following months of planning, planting and maintenance; on the sunny afternoon of Tuesday, September 1^st, the Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society (RHGHS) held an Opening Ceremony at the Central Library Courtyard Garden (CLCG).

Guests included Mayor David West, garden designer Chris Kingdon, as well as Rob Messervey from Native Plants in Claremont. RHGHS Team Leader Diane Wilmot was presented with a ceremonial garden fork to mark the occasion. And, RHGHS President Heather Ann Lowry noted the garden was the result of the combined efforts of RHGHS members and the City of Richmond Hill.

The Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society is pleased to announce that Paola Mercado, a student at Seneca Polytechnic, has been endowed with the 2026 Bert Card Memorial Award, providing for a bursary of $1,000 towards her tuition costs.

Paola is currently studying Environmental Landscape Management at Seneca Polytechnic and endeavors to build a career that blends landscape and interior design, creating spaces that feel thoughtful and connected to both people and the natural environment. We wish Paula much success in this objective.

Albert (Bert) Card is a beloved Past President of both the Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society and the Ontario Horticultural Association. For more information about the scholarship created in his name, click here.

During the March 3rd General Meeting of The Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society (RHGHS), Director Diane Wilmot announced a collaboration with the City of Richmond Hill to revitalize an area of the Central Library now referred to as the Courtyard Garden.

Initial discussion about this initiative began in summer 2025, and a Collective Garden Agreement with the City was signed in September 2025. Planning and plant materials discussions are now in progress, with site work scheduled to begin in May 2026.

Information about other Garden collaborations can be found at this link.

The Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society is pleased to announce that Melissa Lin, a graduating student of Richmond Green Secondary School, is the winner of the 2025 Willem Schurman Scholarship, and recipient of the $500 bursary. 

Melissa has a reputation for problem-solving, as well as a strong work ethic and leadership skills. As the President of the EcoTeam, she led impactful environmental projects such as WWF fundraisers, hydroponics/vertical farming, and raising awareness about sustainability. She also proposed a Green Classrooms initiative, applying for grants to integrate plants within classroom environments to help raise awareness of climate change. These efforts have been successful in encouraging others to actively participate in creating a greener environment.

Melissa is now attending the University of Toronto, where she is studying Computer Engineering with a strong interest in emerging technologies such as automation, sensor networks and artificial intelligence. She aims to explore how these innovations can be leveraged to drive sustainable solutions.

The Willem Schurman Scholarship, named after one of our society's Past Presidents, is made available each year to a student graduating from any Richmond Hill secondary school. For more information, click here.

The Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society is pleased to announce that Caster Anin, a student at Seneca Polytechnic, has been endowed with the 2025 Bert Card Memorial Award, providing for a bursary of $1,000 towards his tuition costs.

Caster, who began participating in Seneca’s Environmental Landscape Management program in the Fall of 2023, has a strong history of volunteerism, dedication to helping others and the environment, and excelling at school studies, both in Canada and overseas. We look forward to hearing about Caster’s future positive contributions to horticultural practices, landscape architecture and environmental sustainability.

Albert (Bert) Card is a beloved Past President of both the Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society and the Ontario Horticultural Association. For more information about the scholarship created in his name, click here.

Additional information about this year's scholarship recipient will be available to our society's members in the May-June 2025 edition of The Garden Post.

Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society President, Heather Ann Lowry, is pleased to announce publication of the ‘RHGHS Recommends!’ Book List at the Richmond Hill Public Library (RHPL), visible online (click here) and featured in local branches as one of the Library’s Earth Month initiatives.

This Book List collaboration stems from a recent request that our society recommend 10-15 fiction and non-fiction books that might be of interest to gardeners in our community. Click here for a brief YouTube video of Heather Ann introducing the book list.

Other RHPL Earth Month Initiatives include an upcoming Seedy Saturday event, during which our society will give away an assortment of seeds and answer gardening questions posed to our volunteers.  Click here for more information.

The Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society is pleased to announce that Owain Langford, a student at Seneca College, is the inaugural recipient of the Bert Card Memorial Award, providing for a bursary of $1,000 towards his tuition costs.

Owain, who emigrated to Canada from Wales in 2021, is in his third year of studies in Seneca’s Environmental Landscape Management program, which includes courses covering traditional types of landscaping, ecology, the impact humans have on the environment, and how to protect and restore natural landscapes.

Our society is committed to repeating the Bert Card Memorial Award selection and awards process in conjunction with Seneca College for the next four years.

Albert (Bert) Card is a beloved Past President of both the Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society and the Ontario Horticultural Association. Upon Bert’s passing in 2022, his estate bequeathed funds to our society which have been transformed into an educational scholarship program in his name.

More information about the scholarship program and this year's recipient will be available to our society's members in the May-June 2024 edition of The Garden Post.

The Richmond Hill Garden & Horticultural Society is pleased to announce that Michelle Quah, a graduating student of St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School, is the winner of the 2023 Willem Schurman Scholarship, and recipient of the $500 bursary.

Michelle is now attending the University of Toronto Scarborough’s Physical and Environment Sciences Co-op program. Michelle endeavors to major in Environmental Chemistry, and Conservation and Biodiversity to pursue a dream of using organic and inorganic chemistry to solve major environmental problems. More specifically, she wishes to apply her future expertise in environmental chemistry towards restoring and reviving aquatic ecosystems in lakes and oceans.

The Willem Schurman Scholarship, named after one of our society’s Past Presidents, is made available each year to a student graduating from any Richmond Hill secondary school. For more information, click here.

Society President, Doreen Coyne, is thrilled to announce the launch of a YouTube channel showcasing our society's activities and the gardening interests and endeavors of our members.

Initial content includes a video about our society and another about the importance of pollinators. 

"Stay tuned" for more content from our members!