Friends of the Garden

Friends of the 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ Botanic Garden logo

The Friends of the 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ Botanic Garden is a registered charitable society founded in 1971 to support the development of the Garden. Since its founding, the Friends have contributed over $5 million to support development of the Garden’s plant collections, displays, facilities, and education programs.

In recent years, Friends’ fundraising efforts have supported, among other projects: construction of an annex to the Ozawa Pavilion Teahouse (the Ikoi no ba); upgrades to the Garden’s production greenhouses; brick pathway expansion; and support of the UABG's award-winning education programs.

For more information on the Friends of the Garden, email friendsofuabg@gmail.com


Vision Statement

The Friends of the 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ Botanic Garden are driven by a deep passion for connecting people to the beauty and wonders of our natural world; we nurture humanity and our environment. We recognize that we are stewards of this land, its resources, and its people. This passion fuels our hard work. Our values serve as a compass for our actions:

  • Service: We are dedicated to the well-being of the UofA Botanic Garden, the visitors to the garden, and our community.
  • Achievement: We know that true progress comes from action. We transform ideas into tangible outcomes, consistently fulfilling our commitments, delivering on goals and keep getting better as we go along.
  • Collaboration: Together, we are stronger. We believe in a collaborative team where each of us feels safe, inspired and confident to express our thoughts so that we can innovate together as we reach for our vision together.
  • Belonging: With compassion, we look out for each other, welcome all and embrace the strength found in our differences. By fostering a sense of belonging and a connection to our wondrous land, the wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities will flourish. 

Mission Statement

Supporting the 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ Botanic Garden in becoming a welcoming and accessible oasis for all, through excellence in fundraising and community engagement.

 

The Friends of the 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ Botanic Garden Board Members:

Executive Team:
  • President - Ben Schmidt
  • Vice President - Danisha Bhaloo, Manager of Engagement & Affinity Groups, United Way of Calgary and Area
  • Treasurer - Shafin Kanji, Chairman, KV Capital
  • Secretary - Della Paradis, Retired
Directors:
  • James Ganton - Retired
  • Joanne Lawrence - Court Reporter, Veritext (Canada)
  • Anik Larney - Senior Project Manager, Mindtronic, Servex-US
  • Tan Bao - Student
  • Dave Martin - Retired
  • Denis Fortin - Academic Department Manager, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ