VICTORIA, British Columbia, August 31, 2006 -- For more than a century, the Butchart Gardens have been one of the premier attractions on Vancouver Island and a monument to Robert and Jennie Butchart's imagination and energy. Today, the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, formally commemorated the gardens as a national historic site of Canada with the unveiling of a Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque.
"The Butchart Gardens hold an important place in Canada's horticultural history and I am pleased to formally welcome it into Canada's family of national historic sites," said Minister Ambrose. "The setting, the views, the complexity of the gardens - very few places illustrate such an exceptional achievement in concept, design and execution as do the Butchart Gardens."
The Butchart Gardens were recognized as a national historic site of Canada for representing the remarkable combination of three aspects of Canadian gardening history. First, they represent the traits of an early twentieth century estate garden through their use of different types of gardens such as the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, the Italian Garden and Jennie Butchart's Private Garden. Second, they evoke the early twentieth century beautification movement as expressed through the Sunken Garden. And third, they rely on the Victorian bedding-out system to achieve outstanding floral displays. These three aspects of the Butchart Gardens have been consistently conveyed through the successive visions of Butchart family members.
Originally conceived by Jennie Butchart in 1904, the Butchart Gardens offer 55 acres of spectacular floral display from the many paths that meander through the four main gardens. The gardens were created in a worked-out quarry site left behind by Robert Pim Butchart's pioneering efforts in the manufacture of Portland cement. Operated as a private family-run business by the Butcharts since that time, the gardens are a thriving commercial enterprise that attracts over one million visitors a year. Each year, over 1,000,000 bedding plants in some 700 varieties are used throughout the Butchart Gardens to ensure uninterrupted bloom from March through October.
"The Butchart Gardens are a window into another world, a place of respite where we can drink in beauty, breathe deeply, and refresh our spirits," added Minister Lunn. "The designation of the Butchart Gardens by the Government of Canada will ensure that this very special place is appreciated for generations to come."
Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of the Environment about the national historic significance of places, persons and events that have marked Canada's history. The placement of a commemorative plaque represents an official recognition of their historic value. It is one means of educating the public about the richness of our cultural heritage, which must be preserved for present and future generations.
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Information:
Ryan Sparrow
Associate Director and Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441
Steve Langdon
Superintendent
Coastal B.C. Field Unit
Parks Canada
(250) 654-4048
