Niagara This Week Newspaper Articles
NIAGARA THIS WEEK ARTICLES
Horticulture students fare well at Japanese ceremony
By Gareth Vieira, Niagara Falls, Nov 04, 2009
After a five-week adventure in Japan, Charles Hunter, an instructor with the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and School of Horticulture, and his students arrived home to find out they won two prestigious awards.
The students were invited to participate and assist in the construction of the award-winning $1.8-million 3D exhibit entitled “The Man who Planted Trees,” in partnership with Mosaiculture International of Montreal at the 2009 International Exposition in Hamamatsu, Japan.
“The experience definitely left me with an appreciation of the Japanese culture,” said horticulture student Luke Serbina. “The gardens were beautiful and the food was amazing.”
During an awards ceremony, which unfortunately was held after the local students had left Japan, the school received the Grand Honorary Award and the People’s First Choice Award for its work on The Man who Planted Trees exhibit.
“We were really proud to have won, but couldn’t attend as the ceremony took place after we had left,” said Serbina.
Mosaiculture is a horticultural form of expression which allows the creation of spectacular 3-D works of art to be made using living plants. In Mosaiculture, plants are not only selected for their colours or textures but also to create designs, motifs, sculptures and reliefs. The event opened to the public Sept. 19 and will run until Nov. 23.
During their time in Japan the students had the opportunity to work with several international teams.
Most of the other teams were from Asia,” said Hunter. “The difference of influence was obvious — they just work from a different palette.”
The students’ work was admired by many of the visitors and other teams throughout the competition, said Hunter.
“The students are the best that I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with,” said Yves Vaillancourt, chief horticulturist at Mosaiculture International. “Their training and dedication truly shines through.”
The students also completed a compulsory element of their training by completing a 14-day research tour of horticultural facilities throughout Japan.
“The tour of the countryside was fabulous, the mountain trekking was amazing,” said Hunter. “We saw some plants that are in North American gardens in their natural elements.”
Schools awarded for beautification efforts
By Gareth Vieira, Niagara Falls, Nov 04, 2009
Five city high schools received awards from the City of Niagara Falls, The Park in the City Committee and the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture for this year’s Schools in Bloom competition, with one school coming out on top.
The five high schools are A.N. Myer Secondary School, Stamford Collegiate, Westlane Secondary School, Saint Michael Catholic High School and Saint Paul Catholic High School.
“On behalf of city council and myself, I commend each and every one of you for your commitment to this program and for working to improve the environmental health of our community,” said Mayor Ted Salci.
“To the high school students and staff, I congratulate you on the tremendous efforts in the 2009 Schools in Bloom competition.”
The participating schools have been recognized for beautification and environmental sustainability in their school yard areas and their continued learning about the various aspects of horticulture.
“From what I have been hearing this afternoon, you should all take great pride in the dramatic results of your hard work efforts,” said Jim Williams, chairman of the Niagara Parks Commission. “By working together, as teams, the students from the participating schools have come to embody the spirit of what our Schools in Bloom initiative is all about — community, education, participation and an interest in our environment.”
Mayor Ted Salci, Coun. Victor Pietrangelo, The Niagara Parks Commission’s Chairman Jim Williams, Niagara Parks Commission director Debbie Whitehouse, members of Regional Council and representatives of the Catholic and public school boards were in attendance.
The Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture and the Schools in Bloom committee judged and evaluated the various landscape developments of the schools taking part in the program.
Luke Serbina, of the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, received a cheque and framed photo for the school’s contributions.
“We were so inspired by the dedication of the high school students to make a difference in their environment that we would like to have this gift divided equally among all five participating schools,” said Serbina.
Each school will receive a plaque to recognize their outstanding achievements, a framed photo of their school’s landscape, a gift bag from Home Depot, a donation of bulbs from Country Basket Garden Centre and a composting and recycling package from the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
The overall winner of the Niagara Falls Schools in Bloom competition for 2009 was A.N. Myer High School.
“Congratulations to A.N. Myer High School and to each school for their participation this year,” said Coun. Pietrangelo. “You have all more than lived up to the Niagara Falls Schools in Bloom motto — educate, cultivate and participate. You are all champions.”