I have been a volunteer with the BGSS since 2023.  I decided to volunteer because I have walked my dog in the gardens almost every day since 2021. My wife are residents of a nearby northwest neighborhood, but I was unaware of how beautiful and what a legacy the BGSS is for all of Calgary. It is a jewel.

In my first year, I was at the garden an average of 11 days a month from May-October, doing garden maintenance and clean up, pathway maintenance, construction, hauling compost, vehicle maintenance and helping with the winter holiday decorations. My shifts flew by.  The other volunteers are passionate about gardening, and eager to share their many years of experience. I learned so much about plants and trees in one year.

Volunteering is part of my DNA having been a Scout leader for 25 years, director, vice president and president of the Calgary Burns Club and a director of Robert Burns Association of North America.  The payback I get for volunteering at the BGSS comes from watching the pleasure the garden gives to our many visitors.