This spring’s annual Garden and Outdoor Living Show, held at the Niverville Heritage Centre on April 13, was a resounding success. The event is a fundraising initiative of the Enhanced Garden Committee, a group dedicated to the ongoing beautification of the Heritage Gardens located on the west side of the Heritage Centre.

“We were thrilled by the attendance,” says committee member Shirley Hoult. “There was such energy at this year’s event. We estimated that close to 500 attended. Interestingly… an estimated 30 percent of visitors to the event came from outside of the community, mainly Winnipeg.”

The atrium floor showcased exhibitors from all over Manitoba. Beyond the atrium, workshops were held on landscape design, creating pollinator gardens, gardening for kids, and how-tos on reducing landfill waste. The event was free of charge to attend. A variety of auction prizes and a draw for a barbecue brought in an estimated $4,500, the sum of which will be dedicated to the Heritage Gardens pavilion project.

The planned pavilion will be a focal point of the public garden, providing a place for people to connect with their heritage through the use of storyboards and props such as stained-glass windows depicting Niverville’s history. The 26-foot diameter structure will be designed to model Niverville’s first grain elevator built in 1879 and will use authentic wood salvaged from the original.

“We are waiting to hear from two grant applications, but all intentions are to start the build this year,” Hoult says.

The committee has also been holding fundraising bingo nights, and barbecue raffle ticket sales continue at Hespeler’s Cookhouse and Tavern.

Hoult says the committee is indebted to the many volunteers, sponsors, workshop presenters, and staff at the Heritage Centre who make it all possible.

“We are [also] very grateful to the [exhibitors] who returned for this year’s event and appreciate all their support for our community project,” Hoult adds.