The ‘Welcome to Victoria’ garden will return to the Inner Harbour this Summer after all!
In early February, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) announced Victorians would see the impact of lost revenues from the cruise ship industry, which included the inability to plant and maintain the ‘Welcome to Victoria’ garden.
The Inner Harbour lower causeway and landscaping areas are owned and managed by GVHA as part of the group of community amenities in their portfolio.
That announcement had come after the 2021 cruise ship season in Victoria was officially cancelled after Canada extended the ban on ships carrying more than 100 people until February 2022.
“For our not-for-profit organization, cruise represents more than 70% of our annual revenues, or more than $12.5 million in 2020,” said the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA).
Now, with the support of Horizon Nurseries and Chek News, the Welcome to Victoria flower garden will be planted.
Hanging baskets, also trimmed from the budget, will also appear along the causeway.
“Decisions to cut back on operations and other services that Victorians truly love is not something we take lightly, but without the revenues from cruise for two years, we had to make difficult decisions for 2021,” said Ian Robertson, CEO of the GVHA.
The estimated cost for the plants is more than $7,000, which will be covered by CHEK.
Metchosin-based Horizon Nurseries, which has been maintaining the gardens for over two decades, has committed to covering the staff time needed to plant and maintain the signature garden and harbourfront hanging baskets.
“I have been working to plant and maintain the Welcome to Victoria garden and hanging baskets throughout the lower causeway for more than 20 years, so it is a project that Horizon Nurseries needed to ensure continued this year,” said Colin McCrea.
The garden will be replanted in late May in time for the summer season.
