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Beeton Horticultural Society to celebrate 100 years in the community

November 8, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The Beeton Horticultural Society will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025.

Established in 1925, the society promotes horticulture in the community through a variety of activities, including regular meetings with speakers, community beautification projects, and the establishment of annual plants in Beeton.

Society member, Shauneen Mackay, started the Arbor Committee of the society in the early 1990s with a plan to plant over 10,000 large trees along roadsides. The initiative received support from local schools, Girl Guides, Brownies, Scouts, and local fire fighters, who all helped out by keeping the trees watered during a dry spell that lasted for several weeks. 

Alliston Water Depot donated jugs of water to the crew members. 

At the time the Society received a large donation from the federal government and Green Streets Canada with all the funds used for the purchase of trees. They also did fundraising to support the initiative.

Local resident John Northwood was instrumental in helping with the initiative, and his volunteer efforts resulted in the naming of a local park, Northwood Park in Beeton, in his honour.

Recently, the society received a $5,000 donation from Honda Canada to help them get ready for their 100th anniversary.

A red sugar maple tree was purchased from Somerville Nurseries and it was recently planted for the 2025 celebrations, taking place in the spring. Honda Canada arranged to have Sunshine Landscaping come to the Beeton Fairgrounds to dig the hole to plant the new tree.

In spring 2025, the Society will have a ceremony to dedicate the tree in honour of the many people over the years who have volunteered their services and time by designing and planting barrels around Beeton and keep them watered, as well as planting trees in the area.

Society members also volunteer their expertise and help community members with their gardens, flower arranging, as well as composting and other plant related activities.

A 100th anniversary is a big deal for any organization, and the Beeton Horticultural Society can be proud of its longevity as an organization as well as of their efforts to beautify the community. 

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