PRPA SUPPORTS SUNKEN GARDENS GREENHOUSE PROJECT

PRPA SUPPORTS SUNKEN GARDENS GREENHOUSE PROJECT

EFFECTIVE July 30, 2021

PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Prince Rupert Sunken Gardens, a central landmark of the city for more than eight decades, is home to a new greenhouse that was installed through a partnership between the Prince Rupert Garden Club and the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) Community Investment Fund. The project allows the Club to provide new opportunities to educate community members about gardening and growing food in a greenhouse.

Since taking over restoration and maintenance of Sunken Gardens from the Province of British Columbia in 2003, the Prince Rupert Garden Club has used the space as a teaching garden, to help people learn about environmentally sustainable gardening practices. By adding the greenhouse, the Club now has a place for Garden Club members and other community groups to gain knowledge about greenhouse growing methods, so they can independently grow a variety of vegetables.

“We are grateful to partner once again with the Prince Rupert Port Authority to create this new asset for the community,” said Andrée Fawcett, Prince Rupert Garden Club President. “Our Club is now able to provide people with a place to gain the skills needed to grow their own food, while also generating a new source of fresh produce that we can share with local non-profit organizations that support food security.”

On top of creating a new teaching space, the greenhouse is also being used for practical purposes, such as protecting delicate perennials and shrubs through the winter months. Equipped with electrical and water service, the structure is also designed to be extended in the future, should the need arise. 

“The greenhouse project promotes the exchange of knowledge and is empowering community members to become more self-sufficient, all while helping enhance one of the beautiful places in our city,” said Shaun Stevenson, President & CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority. “The Prince Rupert Port Authority is proud to continue to support the legacies of both the Prince Rupert Garden Club and the Sunken Gardens through our Community Investment Fund.”

PRPA contributed over $11,250 to cover the cost of the greenhouse project. It had previously partnered with the Prince Rupert Garden Club, investing $50,000 in electrical and irrigation infrastructure to improve Sunken Gardens.

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ABOUT THE PRINCE RUPERT PORT AUTHORITY’S COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND:

The Community Investment Fund is financed by a share of the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s annual net income that has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents of the North Coast. By investing these funds into community projects, led mostly by dedicated local volunteers, the Port Authority has been able to share its financial success with the communities that enable it. To date, PRPA has committed over $380,000 to local community kitchens, greenhouses and food security projects. Since 2009, more than $14.3 million dollars have been committed to the Fund, helping to make more than 85 local projects come to life. Each of these projects has filled an important role in supporting arts and culture, recreation, health and wellness, youth, education, the environment, and other needs in the community.