The federal government is providing more than $700,000 for the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society (SCBGS) to put in a new building and develop infrastructure around its new garden in West Sechelt.
"We haven't had our own garden, so this is very exciting," SCBGS president Lori Pickering said.
The Society bought the Mason Road property in June. During the summer, it co-ordinated a vegetable garden project which provided more than 400 kg of organic produce to the food bank. Now SCBGS members are eager to move forward with developing the new land, so they can start planting next fall.
"We're trying to create a place where people can come and learn about plants and also a venue for cultural and educational events," Pickering said.
The new funds will go towards building a parking lot and a perimeter road around the property; putting in drainage, a septic field and electrical work; renovating the existing A-frame cottage to create a volunteer centre; and constructing a new building.
"[It will cover] basically all the ground work stuff which will then allow us, once all that's in place, to start planting the plants and doing the gardening part," she said.
The federal money comes through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF), which is part of Canada's Economic Action Plan.
At the Society's annual general meeting on Sept. 23, John Weston, member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea-to-Sky Country, made the funding announcement at the Seaside Centre.
"Investments such as this are creating and protecting jobs, supporting Canadians who have lost their jobs, helping threatened industries, and laying the foundations for our future prosperity," Weston said in a press release. "[This] announcement will help our region emerge from this challenging time prosperous, and stronger than ever. This announcement is all about creating sacred places for residents and visitors on the Sunshine Coast to enjoy."
Pickering said the project is set to create jobs for Coasters.
"There's going to be a lot of people employed doing the project so it will be work for people on the Sunshine Coast over this winter," she said.
