Gardening is part of what it means to be Canadian

Many communities still welcome immigrants with displays of flowers

As a member of the Order of Canada, I can officiate at citizenship ceremonies and did so again last week.

When we think about what it means to be Canadian, I imagine very few people will think of gardening but gardening is very much a part of being Canadian. Here is how:

Rich history: Long before the Europeans arrived and changed everything here forever, the Indigenous people of this land were growing much of their food. The “three sisters” factored largely in the daily diet of the Huron peoples, in particular. The combination of beans, squash and corn planted in a mound, with a dead fish under them to provide natural nutrients, sustained them. No doubt this is as true for many Europeans, who were introduced to the idea by friendly Indigenous people.

Welcome!: As European settlement spanned the country in the 1880s, towns located along the Canadian Pacific Railroad tracks competed for the bestlooking public gardens at railway stations. The idea was to demonstrate to immigrant families a sense of pride in “community” and say “welcome” in bright, colourful displays of flowers. We still do this — it is called Communities in Blooms and more than 270 communities across the country took part last year.

Cultural Mosaic: Justin Trudeau’s father, Pierre Trudeau, used this term to describe Canadian culture. It does the job. The gardening experience crosses all cultural and religious boundaries. At Ben Nobleton Park in Toronto, the community garden provides opportunities for residents in this culturally diverse neighbourhood to work together in a joint effort to grow fresh food. Growing tips are shared among volunteer gardeners who come from places like the Republic of Congo, Vietnam and Syria. Communication often occurs between people who do not share a common language, but make themselves understood.

During harvest time, each volunteer at Ben Nobleton Park is encouraged to create a dish using the fresh produce from the garden and to bring it to a big gathering where everyone dresses according to the customs of their native land.

Success Among Adversity: A successful garden in Canada is entirely possible despite the challenges of severe weather.

It is worth mentioning that we also grow some of the world’s largest pumpkins (we have won that title many times), the sweetest corn, the most abundant tomato crops and for the most part, we are self-sufficient in the fruit and veggies section. And where we are not, we could be with better planning.

Gardeners are not just earthgrubbers. We are birders, conservationists, tree huggers, local food boosters and passionate storytellers. Gardening is the most popular outdoor pastime in Canada, next to walking. More than 80 per cent of us grow something green.

To a very large extent, Canadians are gardeners.

Welcome to Canada.