Report to: General Committee                                                           Report Date: 2007-04-16

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Susie Garden Program Update

PREPARED BY:               Nory Takata, Parks Planner, Operations Department

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That improvements to the Susie Garden Award Program as recommended by the Susie Garden Award Program Committee be approved;

 

And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

1. Purpose                     2. Background                      3. Discussion                        4. Financial        

 

5. Others (Environmental, Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units)             6. Attachment(s)

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to update Council on the Susie Garden Award Program and outline format changes brought forth and discussed at recent Susie Garden Award Program Committee meetings.

 

BACKGROUND:

Since 1994, the Susie Garden Award Program has successfully encouraged and promoted the role that residential and commercial gardens play in the overall beauty of the Town of Markham. The success of the Susie Awards is a result of the collaborative efforts of a committee comprised of members of the Markham Garden and Horticultural Society, the Thornhill Horticultural and Garden Society, Town staff from Urban Design, Corporate Communications and Operations, and members of Council.

 

This year, when a request was made for volunteers to sit on the committee, members recommended that changes be made to the existing program format.

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

 The issue of judging was identified as the principal source of contention with the existing Susie format.  The primary difficulties associated with the judging include:

 

  • The amount of time required of judges to evaluate the gardens assigned to them (often requiring the purchase of lunch, as well as travel time)

 

  • The fairness of judging gardens designed, planted and maintained by professionals versus ‘do it yourself’ entrants (not to mention the obvious economic advantage of some entrants)

 

Other difficulties identified with the existing format include:

 

  • The difficulty of maintaining the program’s momentum and profile with the alternating year format

 

  • The Susie Awards becoming somewhat predictable, with a largely static roster of volunteers, entrants and winners
  • The competitive aspect of the Susie Award Program diminished the enjoyment for some participants (non-winners, for example) and possibly discouraged the participation of others

 

In light of this discussion, the general consensus reached by the committee was to recommend changing the Susie Garden Award Program from its current form, as a judged competition to the Susie Garden Program, a recognition and education program. This shift away from a formal garden competition, while reducing the burden on volunteers, could yield other benefits, described below.

 

Potential benefits of this format change:

 

  • The elimination of judging will allow volunteers to act more as ambassadors helping to promote the program and generate interest in gardening, with the added benefit of potentially expanding the membership base of the Markham and Thornhill horticultural societies

 

  • Provide opportunities for thematic changes without creating controversy over accompanying changes to judging criteria

 

  • Education – possibility of holding workshops or lectures related to a given theme (for example: water conservation, habitat creation, pesticide alternatives); promote and support similar events put on by other groups

 

  • This shift towards promotion and education could stimulate interest Markham’s newer neighborhoods and other established, but previously underrepresented areas

 

In order to inform the public regarding current or future changes to the Susie Garden Award Program, some promotional ideas are recommended:

 

  • Explore the possibility of using the Markham Calendar (the printed version) to promote the Susie’s changing theme or focus (target key months with photos or other imagery overtly linked to the given theme/event etc.)

 

  • Create a Susie page on the Town website to promote Susie events as well as Town and community driven demonstration gardens

 

  • Obtain space, where practicable, in local publications to promote Susie events and other initiatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

A key component of the Susie Garden Program will be to promote the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable horticultural practices.

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

The Susie Garden Program aligns with the following corporate goals; Environmental Focus and Quality Community.  

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Staff from Operations, Corporate Communications, Urban Design along with Councillor Alex Chiu, continue to sit, with volunteer members on the Markham Susie Garden Program Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    ________________________          ________________________

                                      Paul Ingham, General Manager,          Peter Loukes, P.Eng.

                                      Operations                                         Director, Operations

 

                                     _________________________

                                     Jim Sales, Commissioner, Community

                                     And Fire Services Commission

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

None.

 

 

 

 

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