Vancouver's Best -

Up Front Garden Winners Announced

Members of the Vancouver Garden Club
announce the contest winners.

One garden in each of Vancouver's 22 neighbourhoods was chosen for recognition and the final winners selected from that list. Criteria used for garden entries were that the garden must be visible from the street, is interesting and appealing, is well-tended, has pleasing combinations of plant material, is remarkable for its design or originality and enhances the look of the neighbourhood.

Judges from left: Claude LeDoux,
Kathy Leishman and Steve Whysall.

Final judging was undertaken by the very capable, horticulturally inspired team of Steve Whysall (Vancouver Sun garden writer and garden book author), Kathy Leishman (notable plantswoman and garden designer) and Claude LeDoux (Parks Horticultural Manager for New Westminster). They awarded a 1st, 2nd, and a tie for 3rd place along with three honourable mentions.

Steve Whysall commented, "What we weren't prepared for was just how hard it would be to decide on a winner. The gardens in the final seven ranged in style from an exquisite water-wise boulevard garden to a sumptuous rose garden to a tropical paradise to plant-lovers paradise. All of them turned out to be creative, inspiring works of intelligence and imagination. However, the best part is anybody can go and see these gardens and make up their own mind. This is time well-spent, you won't be disappointed."

Allan Neid at 1904 Stephens Street received 1st Place, the waterwise garden at 2523 Wall Street took 2nd Place and there was a tie for 3rd Place between the gardens at 602 Keefer Street and 888 East 53rd Avenue.

Winners will be recognized at a special Park Board reception in the fall and receive prizes from the Garden Club of Vancouver at that time. Neighbourhood finalists will also be awarded at a special event in September.

All Up Front Garden contest finalists are listed below to inspire lovely garden walks or bike rides around Vancouver's cornucopia of neighbourhood landscapes.

1904 Stephens Street - 1st Place


2523 Wall Street - 2nd Place


602 Keefer St - 3rd Place


888 East 53rd Ave - 3rd Place

Up Front Garden Contest Neighbourhood
and Grand Prize Winners

Arbutus Ridge 2786 West 38th Avenue

Downtown 499 Drake Street

Dunbar Southlands 3308 West 38th Avenue

Fairview 1272 West 7th Avenue

Grandview-Woodland 1488 Semlin Drive

Hastings Sunrise 2523 Wall Street - 2nd Place

Kensington-Cedar Cottage 2204 East 11th Avenue
at Templeton Street - Honourable Mention

Kerrisdale 7084 Blenheim Street - Honourable Mention

Killarney 8190 Elliott Street

Kitsilano 1701, 1705, 1709 Waterloo Street
1847 Collingwood Street - Honourable Mention
3744 West 1st Avenue
1904 Stephens Street - 1st Place

Marpole-Oakridge 1670 West 61st Avenue

Mount Pleasant 2934 St. Catherines Street

Renfrew/Collingwood 2586 East 18th Avenue

Riley Park 86 West 40th Avenue

Shaughnessy 1439 Devonshire Crescent

South Cambie 770 West 19th Avenue

Strathcona 602 Keefer Street - 3rd Place (Tie)

Sunset 888 East 53rd Avenue - 3rd Place (Tie)

Victoria Fraserview 2050 East 44th Avenue

West Point Grey 4180 Crown Crescent

West End The Kennilworth Apt. 843 Cardero Street

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