Garden Tourism Conference Toronto Canada

Garden Tourism Awards 2011by Press ReleaseMarch 27, 2011
Last week’s Canada’s Garden Tourism Conference in Toronto saw both individuals and attractions feted for helping give tourism a greener hue.
The Garden Tourism Awards – one of which was presented by Baxter Travel Media – were given to both organizations and individuals who have distinguished themselves in the development and promotion of the garden experience as a tourism attraction.
Michel Gauthier, chair of the Ontario Garden Tourism Coalition, said, “Given the enormous number of Canadian and American travellers – almost 27 million [according to a government report] – who include visiting Canadian gardens among the top 10 things they want to do while on a holiday, it’s high time that Canada’s many and varied garden experiences are recognized as a tourism product.”
Canadian winners included:
• Garden of the Year: Butchart Gardens, BC
• Person of the Year (sponsored by Baxter Travel Media): Alexander Redford, Que.
• Festival of the Year: Canada Blooms, Ont.
• Event of the Year: Montreal Botanical Garden’s – The Magic of Lantern, Que.
• Initiative of the Year: War of 1812 Bicentennial Peace Garden Trail, USA/Canada
• Achievement Award: Parks Canada, on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary
• International Event of the Year: Taipei International Flora Exposition, Taipei, Taiwan
• Five North American gardens worth travelling for: Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Az.; Kingsbrae Garden, St. Andrews, NB; Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa.; New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY; Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton, Ont.
The Garden Tourism Conference takes place every other year in Toronto.


Read more:http://www.icangarden.ca/document.cfm?task=viewdetail&itemid=9006&categoryid=0#ixzz1HyeEUteA