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GCO Honour Award (see GCO History Book for further information and details)
The first GCO Honour Awards were presented at the June 4, 2007 Annual meeting hosted by the Garden Club of Toronto. At this meeting, President, Kay Thorfinnson, reported the approval by the Executive of an award to be presented in the year of the Triennial Flower Show to a member of The Garden Clubs of Ontario who has made an outstanding contribution to the aims of The Garden Clubs of Ontario. The criteria for the award are that: the nominee must be a member of a Garden Club and/or Judges' Council and must be nominated by a minimum of 2 members. Previous winners are eligible for nomination again after 15 years. Members of the current Executive of GCO are not eligible. The Selection Committee will be composed of members of GCO and will be chosen by the Executive of GCO. The committee will consider contributions of an extraordinary level of time and energy to promote the organization through specific activity and/or a significant contribution through a variety of activities. Longer term service of 15 years or more will be given priority. The Garden Clubs of Ontario Honour Award Recipients to Date First presentation at the June 4, 2007 AGM
 Shirleyan English
Shirleyan English
Shirleyan joined the Garden Club of London in 1994 and immediately became involved in many different committees showing her passion for her club, she was appointed president in 1999. Still a vibrant member of her club, she has been a mentor and teacher over the years sharing her expertise in floral design and horticulture being both an Accredited Design and Horticulture judge. It is believed that Shirley has volunteered to serve as convenor of almost every position offered during her 28 years within her club. Shirleyan served as vice president, president and past president of the Garden Clubs of Ontario from 2001 to 2007, very busy years, celebrating their 50th Anniversary under her guidance. In 2005 she created and edited the Perpetual Diary which turned out to be a major fund raiser for GCO. She has co authored ”Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz, Memories of Ontario Farmerettes”, being a farmerette herself, furthering our knowledge of this important event in Canadian history. An accomplished designer, Shirleyan has represented us at WAFA shows in Scotland, Japan, Boston, Ireland, Barbados and entered Chelsea. Shirleyan continues to share her vast skills and gives unselfishly to anything and everything pertaining to her club and the aims of the Garden Clubs of Ontario.  Wendy Downing
Wendy Downing
Wendy has been a valued member of the Garden Club of Hamilton for 25 years holding many important positions from co chair of Dundurn Castle decorating committee, Club President in 2006, co founder and chair of the Education committee offering workshops in design and horticulture and the GCO Basic Floral design course. An accredited Design, Horticulture and Rose judge she is knowledgeable, enthusiastic and always faithfully involved in club activities being a mentor to members new and old. She is currently writing the well received club newsletter to keep members in touch and informed over the pandemic. Over a period of 13 years she has served for 11 in every executive position on the board of GCO, being president from 2017/2019 and for 2 further years sat on the executive as chair of Judges’ Council. She has represented us by attending WAFA shows in Boston, Ireland, Barbados and India and was honoured to be judging in both Boston and India. She participated in the countless meetings working to rewrite the new version of OJES which was published in 2019. She was co principal of the 6thand 7th GCO Schools for Design judges and co principal of the 5th and now the ongoing 6th RBG School for Horticulture Judges. Over many years Wendy has enthusiastically contributed an extraordinary amount of time and energy to furthering the aims of the Garden Clubs of Ontario and her Club. |
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