Acknowledgments

In Memory

Ruth Mellor (nee Werry)

Ruth passed away on November 1, 2025. She was a founding member and longtime Chair of Central Okanagan Community Gardens Society.

COCG started in 2003 with one small garden on Cawston Avenue on Unitarian Fellowship Church property on a trial basis to prove the idea was viable. Thanks to her vision and hard work, COCG now has fifteen gardens throughout Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country with over 600 plots in total, and has support from the municipal governments and Regional District of Central Okanagan.

Ruth’s dedication to the community did not end with COCG. She was also founder and Chair of the Pro-Choice Action Society, Canadian Federation of University Women, and Kelowna Film Society.
As Coordinator of Barlee Community Garden since it was built in 2006, Ruth took on the plot that has a fruit tree in it as no one else wanted it. We would like to put a bench with a plaque on this plot in Ruth’s memory.

We are all blessed to have our gardens to enjoy because of her. If you wish to make a donation in Ruth’s memory towards the cost of the bench, you may mail a cheque payable to:

COCG, PO Box 24113, Kelowna BC V1Y 9H2 or send an etransfer to gannkasdorf@gmail.com. Any amount would help make this a reality and would be truly appreciated.

With gratitude,

COCG Board of Directors

We would also like to thank the following for their generous contributions to COCG.

The community gardens would not be the success they are without their support. Thank you so much!

City of Kelowna
Funding: Cawston, Sutton Glen, St. Paul, Michaelbrook
Land and water access: Hartman, Barlee, St. Paul, Sutton Glen, Michaelbrook, Lindahl, DeHart
Construction: St. Paul

Regional District of Central Okanagan
Funding through a Provincial Spirit Grant and construction: Town Centre
Funding through an RDCO Grant-In-Aid: Sutton Glen, Michaelbrook, Lindahl, DeHart, garden upgrades (2012)

City of West Kelowna
Land and funding: Shannon Woods

District of Lake Country
Support of the SOL Art Project: Winfield

Interior Health
IH Community Action for Health Grant: Gibbs, Town Centre
An IH nutritionist was a founding Board Member

Central Okanagan Foundation
Funding: Hartman
Funding for SOL Art Projects: ‘Working Carat – Our Diamond in the Rough’ (Winfield), ‘Lively Trio’ (Michaelbrook), ‘Farmer in the Dell’ (Parkinson Rec Centre)
Funding for construction: Oyama

CIBC
Funding: Winfield – $5000 since 2009

TD Canada Trust
Funding: Winfield – $5000 in 2012

Flower Power Garden Tour
Funding: $2500 in 2014; $2000 in 2015

Rotary Club of Lake Country
Funding: Winfield

Rotary Club of Westbank
Town Centre: fruit trees, and construction of shed and compost bins

Farm Credit Canada
Funding and labour: St. Paul

BC Transit
Funding: St. Paul

Canadian Federation of University Women
Funding: Hartman

Nurturing Nature Organics
Land: Winfield

Worm castings: all gardens until 2013

TD Friends of the Environment
Funding: Hartman

New Horizons for Seniors
Funding: Barlee

The Well Church
Funding and labour: Hartman

Willow Park Church

Land: Willow Park

Westside Home Building Centre
Town Centre

Corvette Club
Funding: Towne Centre

The Trophy Den
Donation of engraved mugs

Chandos Construction

Donation of concrete pad for staging area at Ballou Community Garden

SOL ART PROJECTS

Winfield – ‘Working Carat – Our Diamond in the Rough’
Judy and Paul Shoemaker, Central Okanagan Foundation, Metal Dream Designs – Ed Goodon – Artist, Kelowna and District Society for Community Living, District of Lake Country, Lake Country Public Art Commission, OK Building Supplies/OK Ready Mix – Frank Terasewich, OkanaganXscapes Landscaping – Peter Skalicky

Michaelbrook – ‘The Lively Trio’
City of Kelowna, Central Okanagan Foundation, Metal Dream Designs – Ed Goodon – Artist, Ecole de l’Anse-au-sable, OK Ready Mix – Frank Terasewich, OkanaganXscapes Landscaping – Peter Skalicky, Butler Tile Setting Ltd.

Parkinson Rec Centre – ‘The Farmer in the Dell’

City of Kelowna, Central Okanagan Foundation, Doug Alcock – Artist, OK Ready Mix – Frank Terasewich

Contributors to Willow Park Community Garden

Mara Lumber Home Building Centre, Tim Moore Landscaping, Grassmick Excavating Ltd, Arnold Enns, KRM Concrete

Contributors to Oyama Community Garden
Central Okanagan Foundation, Oyama Forest Products, Digg’n 4U Contracting Ltd, Lake Country Building Centre, Okanagan Timber Frame, Ro Schan, Lake Country Garden Club, The Dickie Family, T Ley Bobcat Services, Nor Val Rentals, Grizzly Metal Fabrication, Pier Mac, Oyama Sand u0026amp; Gravel, Kalman Family, Oyama Community Club, District of Lake Country