 Ann Diebel and Elizabeth Coons
GCO Honour Award Recipients 2016
presented at the 62nd Annual General Meeting June 6, 2016 Elizabeth Coons Elizabeth has been a member of Garden Club of Hamilton since 1972 and held executive positions of assistant project chair, project chair, vice president, president, past president, archivist and librarian. She also held executive positions in The Garden Clubs of Ontario: as president she wrote and sent newsletters three times a year to members and clubs; she served as past president and as registrar of Garden Clubs Canada wrote, produced and sent newsletter to member organizations. She served on first selection committee of the CGO Honour Award. Presently on past president's committee investigating formation of a National Organization, and a member of GCO Nominating Committee. She is a judge of floral design and horticulture, member of GCO Judges Council and ex officio executive when GCO president. She has judged at garden club flower shows, horticultural society shows and Canada Blooms as well as an exhibitor and show committee member and chair plus a class convenor. She entered WAFA 1990 Flower Show in Paris, France and organized a day trip to Niagara for WAFA Seminar Toronto prior to WAFA Canada 1993. She demonstrated and taught for Garden Club of Hamilton, was co-chair of "Dundurn Delights" flower show at Dundurn Castle and "Springtime Serenade". She participated in St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, sesquicentennial, and Christ's Church Cathedral, two festivals. She served on the organizing committee for "Gloria" for St. John's Anglican Church in Ancaster May 2016 for their 200th anniversary celebration. She organized floral designs in an Ancaster home for Prince Philips's visit. Ann Diebel Ann has been a member of Garden Club of Kitchener-Waterloo since 1979, having served as president 1988-1990 and 204-2006 and went on to serve as president of The Garden Clubs of Ontario 1991-1993. She was ex-officio to WAFA Canada Committee 1990-1993 and attended all executive meetings and world flower show meetings. She is an accredited design judge, 1996. She became an honorary member of Garden Club of Kitchener-Waterloo in 1997. She served as Judges Council chair for Garden Clubs of Ontario 1998-2001. She was flower show chair, Garden Club of Kitchener-Waterloo, "Autumn Tapestry" in 1998 and flower show co-chair, Garden Club of Kitchener-Waterloo, "Splendour in the Park" 2011. She served as Flower Show Chair, GCO "Celebration of Design" 2004. She exhibited locally and also regularly at Garden Club of Toronto. One of her designs is featured in 'The Canadian Flower Arranger' book. She represented GCO at Chelsea 1992 and earned a bronze medal and at Barbados 1997 won a gold medal. At World Flower Show in Durban, South Africa 1999 she won a silver medal, and worked on the Canada Honorary Exhibit at the Sixth World Show. At Canada Blooms 1999 she won a silver medal in the invitation International Class. At the Seventh World Show hosted by Great Britain, she attended Seminar 2000 in York. At the Glasgow Scotland show she was one of the Canadian judges. She represented GCO at 1400th hundred anniversary of celebration of Christianity at Canterbury Cathedral in 1997. She was chair of the design portion of OJES for Horticulture and Floral Design 2003. She is currently a member of the Education Committee, GCO. She is a pleasant, humble, hardworking garden club member who leads by example GCO Honour Award for Outstanding Contribution
The recipient of the GCO 2013 Service Award for Outstanding Contribution is Helen Skinner.
Helen Skinner has been a long-time member of the GCO executive and was President from 1983 to 1985. She is an experienced and available mentor to countless floral designers and has been very active in Garden Club work at all levels, both provincially and internationally. Her work, advice and acumen are always outstanding. Activities:
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