Riverview Horticultural Centre Society's 30th Anniversary

Founded in 1992, the mission of the Riverview Horticulture Centre Society ( RHCS ) is to preserve and protect the Lands and Trees of the Riverview Hospital site as a community oriented, financially viable centre for horticultural, educational and therapeutic activities.

RHCS's vision for the Lands has included: "A sanctuary and therapeutic milieu for people with mental illnesses, contributing also to their recreation and employment. A horticultural centre, with education facilities for the expanding nursery trades, landscape, arborists, forestry courses, research facilities, a horticultural therapy program and display gardens maintained by garden clubs "

Since its inception, RHCS's activities have been focused on making people aware of the Riverview Lands and opening up the lands to the public. They have also made people aware of the history, the trees and the value of the lands and generated support from the public, the horticultural community, environmental groups and government representatives for the preservation of the lands.

In 1904, 1000 acres of land were set aside by the Province of British Columbia for two purposes: a sanctuary and residential treatment facility for the mentally ill, and a site for a B.C. Provincial Botanical Garden. By the 1950’s Essondale had grown into a self-sufficient community with 4300 patients, plus employees. In the early 1980’s over 200 acres were lost to housing development.

In 1995 approximately 600 low-lying acres became GVRD’s Colony Farm Regional Park. As part of the Riverview Hospital Redevelopment Project most of the patients have been transferred to facilities run by regional health authorities, leaving many of the buildings under-utilized or vacated. The remaining 244 acres of Riverview contain heritage buildings, gardens & landscapes, a magnificent tree collection, still Canada's third largest arboretum. Most of RHCS's on-going activities have centered on offering guided tours of the Lands and generating publicity through media coverage, speaking engagements and displays at special events. For more information go to www.rhcs.org