The Garden Clubs of Ontario

The Garden Clubs of Ontario

The Garden Clubs of Ontario is an association of garden clubs in the Province of Ontario, Canada, founded and incorporated in l954.
The GCO comprises 8 independent garden clubs;

and The Garden Clubs of Ontario Judges' Council

Each member club is self supporting and raises funds for their community projects through sales, flower shows and private donations.

The Garden Clubs of Ontario member clubs promote horticulture and the floral arts in their communities
•    with teaching programs for both members and the general public.
•    by holding public flower shows, church flower festivals, plant and craft sales.
•    by the construction and support of; gardens for the handicapped, hospitals, historic buildings, libraries, children’s parks and public spaces.
•    by the giving of scholarships for excellence in horticulture and landscape design, in both secondary and post secondary educational institutions.
•    with support of time, expertise and monies to botanical gardens, conservation programs and public spaces.
The Garden Clubs of Ontario aims to encourage knowledge and love of gardening among amateurs, to aid in the protection of native plants, trees, birds and soil, to encourage civic planting and promote responsible ecological care of the environment and to promote flower shows.

About The Garden Clubs of Ontario

The purpose of the Garden Clubs of Ontario is to stimulate knowledge of horticulture and the art of floral design.

Remember the Ten Neat Things about a Garden Club:-

CAMARADERIE – meeting people with similar interests
LEARNING SKILLS – watch for our new Education Committee.
WORKSHOPS - Each club has workshops on subjects pertaining to Horticulture,the Art of Floral Design and associated craft skills.
SPEAKERS - The opportunity to hear lectures on subjects of related interest.
DEMONSTRATIONS - The ‘How To’ part of a club.
OUTINGS - The opportunity to go to places of interest often not available to the general public both here and abroad.
NEW HORIZONS - Having exposure to new ideas both horticulturally and design wise, by being part of Judges Council, through flower shows, decorating of public buildings and church festivals.
HELP THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT - Doing our part through outreach to improve local amenities within our speciality.
UNDERSTANDING THE LOCAL HABITATION - Both flora and fauna – will it grow here?
BEING PART OF A WORLD ORGANISATION - learning and understanding other cultures, their art, their traditions their flora and fauna.

GCO President's Message

On a warm and sunny day in June, the Garden Club of London, hosted members of the Garden Clubs of Ontario (GCO) for their Annual General Meeting. Our guest presenter was Darren Heimbecker, Owner and Creator of the award winning Whistling Gardens in Willsonville, Ontario.
The Garden Club of London, treated us royally to a mid-morning brunch and a pleasant lunch catered by “YOU make it cafe” a purposeful organization put in place to assist youth in developing a career in the catering and restaurant service business.

It is my honour as incoming President to announce the GCO’s newly elected Executive and Board and to give appreciation and thanks to retiring members.

2025 - 2027 GCO Executive and Board :
Angelique Ellerton, President
Margaret Betts, Past-President and International Liaison
Michael Erdman, Vice-President
Jeanne Anne Goldrick, Treasurer
Lynne Schmidt, Secretary
Lillie Haworth, Archivist
Michelle Goff, Member at Large
Anne Harbord / Mary Ann Vercammen, Judges Council
Jacqui Miller, Member at Large (Website)

The retiring Executive and Board members are:
Barb Bedell, Past-President and International Liaison
Judy Lewis, Treasurer
Judy Zinni, Secretary
Elizabeth Pigott, Member at Large
Lil Taggart, Judges Council

As we move into full summer mode and entertain all the rewards of this growing season, I give thanks to all the volunteer members of each Garden Club, who contribute to their community’s well being. I recognize their hard work and also their joy in participating in club activities. As an Executive we look forward to an agenda that will be robust in planning and providing solutions to all ongoing issues and concerns that challenge the effectiveness of our collaborative programs. I wish the very best to our five members who will be attending the WAFA Australia Seminar in August/September of this year and I extend warm wishes to you all for a summer of good health and relaxation.

Please note that a further late summer message will be sent, outlining the upcoming season that will begin with a GCO - General Meeting on Monday, November 3rd., hosted by the Georgian Bay Garden Club.

Angelique Ellerton
President of the Garden Clubs of Ontario.

Past Presidents of the GCO at The Garden Clubs of Ontario - General Meeting April 7th 2025

Margaret Betts, Barbara Bedell, Jana Heemskert, Wendy Downing, Beverly Hargraft, Helen Skinner, Lillie Haworth, and Elizabeth Coons

Eight Past- Presidents of the GCO at the 70th Anniversary and Annual meeting of the GCO - hosted by the Garden Club of Toronto

Back - Bev Hargraft, Claudette Smith, Wendy Downing, Jana Heemskert, Barbara Bedell, Margaret Betts. Front - Lillie Haworth, and Maureen Naylor

PAST PRESIDENTS OF GCO IN ATTENDANCE AT THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Listed from left to right sequentially: Mary Kernohan, Janice Maciver, Jane Heming, Kay Thorfinnson, Helen Skinner, Beth Frost, Marisa Bergagnini - President, Pat Harris, Peg Spence, Ann Diebel, Elizabeth Coons, Lil Haworth, Maureen Naylor Beverly Hargraft and Elaine Mayo were present at the events but missing in the photo

Website Coordinator
Jacqui Miller millerjacqui@hotmail.com