Contact by e-mail at: Friends@fghgs.ca
President: Patty Grant
Past President: Ann Wilson
Vice-President: Elspeth Westby
Treasurer: Sandra Fraser
Secretary: Barb Petersen
Membership Co-ordinator: Victoria Craig
Directors:
Gardening: Brian Rogers
Non-Gardening: Patti Shaughnessy
These directors are the liaison between the co-ordinators and the Board.
Directors at Large: Thomas Esakin, Linda Edwards, Lauren Hay, Deborah Shera
Advisors to the Board: Nairn Hollott, Valerie Murray
From left: Sandra Fraser, Patty Grant, Elspeth Wesby, Linda Edwards (second row), Thomas Esakin (back row), Barb Petersen, Patti Shaughnessy, Nairn Hollott (back row), Lauren Hay (back row), Brian Rogers, Valerie Murray
We strive to improve, preserve, and enhance Government House natural areas and gardens. We encourage British Columbia’s residents to actively participate in developing and maintaining the grounds for their continued public use, education, and enjoyment.
Who We Are
- Almost 300 members volunteer in gardening and non-gardening activities.
- Gardening volunteers work from March to October (depending on the weather, volunteers may work year-round).
- Non-gardening volunteers work year-round or, in the case of seasonal activities, from late May until Labour Day
- We are a registered, but not charitable, society. The Society is not managed for profit or gain and receives no government funding.
- The Society’s operating revenue is raised from donations, memberships, and sales of organic vegetables (members-only), plants, floral arrangements, and garden tours.
- These proceeds, in addition to the revenue from the David and Dorothy Lam Garden Sustainability Fund, are dedicated to garden maintenance, as well as the purchase of plants, soil, compost, fertilizer, and tools
What We Do
- We supply the major tools needed to work in the gardens. Volunteers bring their own small hand tools and gloves.
- Each group maintains a different area of the grounds. We usually work in the gardens either, or both, Tuesday and Thursday mornings from March to October. However, depending on the garden area, and the weather, we may work year round.
- Non-garden volunteers work mainly from May to September as greeters, in the tea room, and costume museum. As well, volunteers staff the Friends or Government House archives, both garden and in-House floral design, and the library.
- Expert gardening experience is not required. We are happy to welcome anyone who would like to work with us. Most volunteers join in the spring (when we hold an orientation), but may start at any time of the year.
- You are welcome to volunteer for Friends’ activities, but you are not required to do so to become a member.