Vimy Oak Tree Planting Ceremony

His Honour the Honourable H. Frank Lewis, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island and the Honourable Wade MacLauchlan, Premier, will take part in a tree special planting ceremony in the Rena McLean Veterans Garden at Government House on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. 

They and special guests will be planting a Vimy Oak.  The tree is a clone of those planted in Scarborough, Ontario 100 years ago using acorns brought from Vimy Ridge following the fateful battle of 1917, where Canadian troops succeeded in taking the strategic location from the Germans.

The Rena McLean Veterans Garden was designed by Government House Garden Committee member Jean Riordon and established in 2007.  The garden is on the site of the former Veterans Hospital at Fanningbank that served the needs of Veterans from the First World War, including some of those who served at Vimy.
"We at Government House, including the Garden Committee, are honoured to be receiving this Vimy Oak," said His Honour.  "The location chosen is most fitting, not only for the location at the Rena McLean Garden, but also because it will be seen by the many people who visit the grounds each year," added His Honour.
The Government House Garden Committee was recognized earlier this year with an award from the Canadian Garden Council.  Fanningbank's gardens were designated as one of the 150 outstanding gardening experiences to celebrate and visit this year in Canada.

The Gardens at Government House are comprised of an Ornamental Garden, Rose Garden, and the Rena McLean Veterans Garden.  The Garden Committee, which meets year round to carry out its work, arranges the layout and plant selection for the gardens each year.

Members of the Committee are Her Honour Dorothy Lewis, Ian Glass, Chair, Dunstan MacDonald , Barbara Jewell, Beth Hoar, Anne Irving, Linda Berko, Krista Rodd and Larry Hughes. The working staff at the Gardens are Head Gardener Larry Hughes and assistants Thane Carter and Keith Fraser.

The gardens of Fanningbank at Government House are open to the public throughout the year. 

Media contact:
Cindy Cheverie
Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island
(902) 368-5480
cccheverie@gov.pe.ca