One evening in mid-November 1909, men and women passionate about gardening gathered at the Chamber of Commerce office. After discussions, they founded the Edmonton Horticultural Society (EHS). They then elected officials for their new organization and set one of its main goals—to improve Edmonton, as reported by edmonton.name.
The Society’s Beginnings and Growth
Walter Ramsey became the first president of the Edmonton Horticultural Society. While he was already serving on Edmonton’s school board, his passion for gardening soon turned him into the city’s most well-known florist and greenhouse owner. The vice presidents were Howe and Slade, while three of the nine elected directors were women: Miss Estbury, Heathcote, and Widdis. The secretary position was assigned to E. Stewart. Within weeks, the society had drafted its first charter and bylaws, officially establishing itself as a respected and influential organization. Over time, it grew deep roots in the community, weathering both periods of prosperity and challenges.
The society’s initial objectives included:
- Encouraging residents to grow flowers, fruits, and vegetables,
- Promoting the cultivation of unused land,
- Beautifying private properties and public spaces.
Promoting Gardening
During World War I, food shortages turned gardening into a matter of national policy. The “Vacant Lots Garden Club,” created in Edmonton in 1916 to transform empty plots into productive gardens, was soon absorbed by the Edmonton Horticultural Society. From 1916 until the early 1990s, the society even changed its name to the Edmonton Gardeners’ Association. Until the 1950s, it managed the leasing of city plots to gardeners. As gardening gained popularity, demand for land surged, increasing the number of plots from 200 in 1930 to 2,200. During the Great Depression, hundreds of plots were offered for free to residents receiving aid.
Alongside the city’s Special Assistance Department, the society organized garden competitions during the hardest years of the Depression. By the 1940s, it was leasing more than 4,000 plots annually.
One of the program’s most passionate advocates was William Cardy, an Edmonton city official who tirelessly promoted gardening’s many benefits. He saw gardens as a public good and gardeners as valuable community members. From 1925 to 1927, Cardy served as EHS president and co-founded the Edmonton Tree Planting Association, which remained active for many years.
Many EHS directors and presidents played active roles in Edmonton’s city beautification efforts. In 1924, Edmonton photographer Gladys Reeves became the first female EHS president. Known for her public speeches promoting gardening and tree planting as a civic duty, Reeves also chaired the society’s advertising committee. She strongly believed that annual vegetable and flower exhibitions were the best way to popularize gardening, support local gardeners, and spread awareness.
Reeves elevated the prestige of these exhibitions by incorporating well-organized entertainment, music and dance performances, and appearances by notable politicians presenting awards. These shows remained a central event for EHS from its inception until the 1960s. However, participation declined, and by the mid-1990s, the exhibitions ceased.
Another long-standing EHS initiative was its annual gardening contest. Even before EHS was founded, Edmonton hosted garden competitions. In 1907, William Reeves, Gladys Reeves’ father and reportedly an EHS member, won the city’s first annual garden contest, sponsored by the Edmonton Exhibition Association. Since the society’s formation in 1909, this competition has remained popular. Over the years, its categories evolved to reflect changing gardening trends.
In the 1940s, one of the contest’s most frequent winners was Hilda McAfee, known locally as Alberta’s “Rose Queen.” Her gardening skills earned her a spot in the Royal Horticultural Society in 1955, making her the first Edmontonian to receive this honor. After Hilda passed away in 1960, her husband Jim remained involved with EHS, serving as honorary president for many years.
Numerous Edmontonians won awards at EHS gardening competitions. In 1972, Ralph and Angela Rosenthal secured their ninth first-place finish in 11 years. In 1979, Mary Shevchuk entered the contest for the first time and went on to win over 50 awards in the next two decades.
Collaboration with the City
Since its establishment, EHS has worked closely with various city departments. The vacant lot gardening program benefited both the society and the city. It provided EHS with a steady income while relieving city officials of the administrative burden of dealing with hundreds of gardeners annually. For years, city officials recognized EHS for its efforts in greening Edmonton.
EHS spearheaded several notable projects, including a model garden at Market Square in the 1930s and a centennial rose garden in Coronation Park, which remained until 1984 when the Space and Science Centre was built. The society’s partnership with the city continues today through various community service programs.
In conclusion, thanks to EHS, Edmonton boasts an abundance of green spaces, contributing to the city’s beauty and quality of life.