Award Recipients

2009

Vivian (Wei) Zhang was the recipient of the 2009 Rosemary Verey Award.  With a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from Beijing Forestry University, China, Vivian enrolled in the UBC Garden Design Certificate to improve her knowledge of local garden design.

Anne O’Grady is a self-employed graphic artist with a diverse portfolio but a strong focus on interpretive display. Anne would like to apply her new skills to interpretive sites so she can design landscaping, structures, select plants and integrate an interpretive aspect to her projects.  Anne was awarded the 2009 George Radford Award.

Sandra Quinn has been an avid and devoted gardener for many years and is the recipient of the 2009 Award for Creative Achievement.  Sandra now plans to set up a practice in the field of garden design.

Honourable Mention
Three students were awarded this distinction: Elaine Ahlgren, Camille Menard and Sarah Thomas.

2008

The 2008 Rosemary Verey Award went jointly to Shelley Brignall and Meghan O’Brian. Shelly’s goals are to improve her design skills and to launch her own garden design service. With a horticulture diploma already under her belt, Meghan intends to shift to a more creative and design-oriented focus in her horticultural career.

Matt Kilburn, a graphic designer aspiring to make the transition to a garden design career, was the recipient of our 2008 George Radford Award. You can view samples of Matt's work on his website.

Nicolas de Haas enrolled in the UBC Garden Design Certificate to strengthen the professional service he provides his clients through his own design business. Nicolas received the 2008 Award for Creative Achievement for his work in the program.

2007

Les Harris was the recipient of the 2007 Rosemary Verey Award. Having retired from an IT and management background, Les now plans to redevelop his own gardens and has established his own garden design business, Spindrift Garden Designs.

With a variety of careers behind her, JR Rendon has ‘always’ been a gardener and hopes this program will help her become a professional garden designer. JR was awarded the 2007 George Radford Award.

The 2007 Award for Creative Achievement went to Cameron Woodruff. Cameron has several goals, including a career in the design field and completing the UBC Master of Landscape Architecture program.

2006

Deborah Buszard is a Professor of Horticulture at McGill University who, while on sabbatical and a visiting scholar at UBC, completed the Certificate in Garden Design. Deborah received the 2006 Rosemary Verey Award.

Our 2006 George Radford Award went to Martha Screaton-Burton. Martha is a graduate of the UBC Master of Architecture program and an intern architect.

Tamaka I. Fisher was the winner of our 2006 Award for Creative Achievement. Tamaka, who has a fine arts background, combines her position as director for an online artists gallery along with garden design projects.

ROSEMARY VEREY AWARD

This award is given in recognition of a student’s outstanding contribution to the program.  Along with academic achievement and creative excellent, they have been an inspiration to the class with their commitment, enthusiasm and passion.

One of the great garden innovators of the last half of the 20th century, the late English garden designer and prolific author Rosemary Verey OBE, helped launch North America’s love affair with English garden history and planting that commenced in the 1980s. Mrs. Verey was a personal friend and mentor to the certificate program founder
Ron Rule, joining him and his students on several occasions to explore Vancouver’s residential gardens. A frequent lecturer in the Pacific Northwest, Mrs. Verey enhanced our self-esteem by favourably comparing our gardening to that in Britain.

GEORGE RADFORD AWARD

This award is given to a student in recognition of their ability to combine academic and practical excellence.

Victoria gardener George Radford, who died in 2005, was one of the most well-rounded garden scholars in the province, with a winning combination of historical knowledge, technical skill and design talent. A superb plantsman and a hands-on practitioner, Mr. Radford was involved with the certificate program since its inception, both as a lecturer and studio critic.

AWARD FOR CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

This award is given to a student in recognition of their high academic achievement and demonstrated excellence in design, graphic presentation and team leadership.