Rich history.  Long before the Europeans arrived and changed everything here forever, the indigenous people here were growing much of their food.  The 'three sisters' factored large in their daily diet.  

Welcome!  As European settlement spanned the country in the 1880's, towns located along the Canadian Pacific Railroad competed for the best looking public gardens at railway stations.  The idea was to demonstrate to immigrant families a sense of pride in 'community' and say 'welcome' in bright, colourful displays of flowers.  We still do this, it is called Communities in Bloom and more than 270 communities across the country took part last year.

Cultural Mosaic.  The gardening experience crosses all cultural and religious boundaries.  It is glue for a diverse group of people who form the population of Canada.  At Ben Nobleton Park in Toronto, the community garden provides opportunities for residents in this culturally diverse neighbourhood to work together in a joint effort to grow fresh food.  

Growing tips are shared among volunteer gardeners who come from many faraway places, like the Republic of Congo, Vietnam and Syria.  Communication often occurs between people who do not share a common language, but make themselves understood.

Success Among Adversity.  A successful garden in Canada is entirely possible despite the challenges of severe weather.  Hail on the prairies, excessive rain on the west coast, late frosts in Central Canada (well, anywhere in Canada), permafrost in the Arctic, salt-wind in the Maritimes and solid rock in Newfoundland: these things challenge us and we rise to that challenge. Because we are Canadian gardeners. 

We are social people.  When gardeners get together there is always much chatter.  Take the quietest person (gardener) in the room and put them with other gardeners and you will witness the cure for shyness.  We love to share information, stories and ask questions. 

Gardening is a social experience and, as our Governor General David Johnston said in his landmark book 'The Idea of Canada', "We derive happiness from our wealth of social connections."