TFPG Background
The Friends of the Public Gardens (TFPG) is a registered charity. TFPG’s mandate is to encourage and support the preservation, enhancement, and celebration of the Halifax Public Gardens for the ongoing enjoyment of the general public in recognition of its uniqueness as a national resource.
In 1984, the Halifax Public Gardens was designated a National Historic Site.
The Halifax Public Gardens enjoy remarkably high visitation from both residents of Nova Scotia and visitors to the province. In 2013, at the Tourism Summit hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS), the Friends received the Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Crystal Award of Excellence.
The TFPG annually holds The Jarvis Lecture, a public education event on garden related topics, named for Gardens’ benefactor, Mary Margaret Jarvis.
Free public tours of The Gardens from May through November is provided by
a TFPG Member. Audio tours are available at www.halifaxpublicgardens.ca/audio-tours
A library of audio tours is being developed. Listen or download to your cell phone and enjoy a walk through the gardens at your convenience. The goal is to make the gardens more accessible to everyone.
In 2011/2012, The Friends launched the Victoria Jubilee Campaign to fulfil their commitment to contribute $200,000.00 towards restoring the iconic Victorian artefacts, the historic Bandstand, the Victoria Jubilee Fountain, and the Sir William Young urns, in partnership with HRM and Canadian Heritage. The Friends have restored the Roman Goddesses. Diana returned in 2020, Ceres in 2021, and Flora will return in 2022.
For the city’s October 2012 festival, Nocturne, Art-at-Night, TFPG hosted an event that allowed the public to enjoy the Gardens at night. The restored Victoria Jubilee Fountain was unveiled, and the public was regaled with spectacular colour-changing lights dancing to Handel’s Water Music. Halifax’s 2012 Poet Laureate, Tanya Davis, recited her poem written for the occasion. At the same time, a history of the Gardens’ memorable events since 1836 was presented on large screens mounted on the Bandstand.
The book, The Halifax Public Gardens, published by TFPG in 2008, was well received and sold out by early 2013 when it was updated and republished. During 2012-13, the Board of Directors conducted research to produce an accurate map of the Gardens’ current horticultural features. This enabled The Friends to publish a separate Pocket Guide. It is available online at www.halifaxpublicgardens.ca/shop and in some local bookstores.
In 2016, the Suellen Murray Educational Bursary was established and is awarded annually
for projects relevant and beneficial to the Halifax Public Gardens.
Our website and social media, ie: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are maintained by Members, providing phenomenal visitation for visitors and world-wide audiences with a superb visual and informative online garden experience.
CURRENTLY:
TFPG is investigating the potential for the reactivation of the Halifax Public Gardens Protection Act which was passed in 1993, but never proclaimed.
The TFPG Board members are all volunteers.
Board of Directors 2023 - 2024
Judith Cabrita – Chair
Katherine Deturbide – Vice Chair
Henri Dominique Paratte – Past Chair
Janet Brush – Treasurer
Andrea Bishop – Secretary
Carter Beaupré-McPhee
Keith Coles
Skana Gee
Chad Liebreich
Donald Marks
Sandra McCulloch
Bill Mont
Henri Paratte
Ricks Rivers
Barbara Taylor