Riverview Horticultural Centre Society was founded in 1992. Its mission is to preserve and protect the Lands and Trees of the Riverview Hospital site as a community oriented, financially viable centre for horticultural, educational and therapeutic activities.

RECENT HISTORY:

2023

April to October: Come out and join our tree tours in 2023. Each one is a bit different and always very enjoyable.
March 2023 - One of the Laburnum trees succumbed and fell in front of the Crease Building at Riverview recently. It wasn’t a giant, or even that old in comparison, but its spring beauty graced the building with its presence and also having being strategically planted in between two flowering cherry trees.

October 27, 2022 - RHCS met with BC Housing (BCH) and Kwikwetlem First Nation (KFN).

The main topics of the meeting were as follows;

Cost Concerns Regarding Tree Walks
RHCS offered suggestions such as an audit-based design for tree walks as a compromise, but BCH and KFN were firm in their decision to charge RHCS an $824.50 fee for every tree walk after the fifth one per year.
This is the requested cost breakdown they provided: special events fee of $510.00 ($127.50/hr x 4 hours) for a weekend event coordinator (liaison) and $275.00 for administration plus $29.25 GST. While evening and weekend walks beyond 5 walks will be charged, BCH offered to waive the special events coordinator fee for walks between 7am and 3pm Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. 
We see these special events fees as BCH imposed issues and costs that should not apply to our non-profit society.  RHCS has been doing tree walks on public lands for 30 years, with no issues and no need for an event coordinator/liaison or any administration.
Site Planning Update
Diamond Head Arborists are conducting an update on trees on the sumiqwuelu/Riverview grounds.
Cemetery
Planting has begun on the mound of soil that was recently placed there.
Gardening at Serenity
BCH said they were hoping to have the archaeological training session in December or early January 2023.  New volunteers must take this course every year to be allowed to garden in Serenity. This Training has now been successfully completed so RHCS can continue to maintain the gardens in Serenity.

August 2022 - In August BC Housing (BCH) and Kwikwetlem First Nation (KFN) jointly moved forward and removed the RHCS information KIOSKS. We were disappointed by this decision.

Tree tours were well-attended this year.

May 25, 2022 - Premier David Eby, while he was the Minister Responsible for Housing, toured sumiqwuelu/Riverview on a tree walk with RHCS.

November 2021 - In an assessment done by Diamond Head Consulting, the arborist company hired by BCH, the removal of 12 trees near Lougheed Highway was recommended. These trees have since been removed. RHCS asked an arborist for an independent opinion. He did not dispute the removal of these trees.

March 30, 2021 - The Province and BC Housing were excited to join Kwikwetlem First Nation to honour the Nation’s historical and cultural ties to the lands by renaming the site sumiqwuelu (pronounced Suh-mEE-kwuh EL-uh).

2021 - 3 Tree Walks (due to Covid)

2020

2020 - No Walks due to Covid.

2019

September 18, 2019 - Finnies Garden Beautification Day hosted by BC Housing.
2019 - 10 Tree Walks were Sponsored by BC Housing.

2016

2016 - 2017 BC Housing continues to Remove Trees with no repercussions.

2015

December - Announcement of BC Housing Vision for Riverview Lands: Vision

September - GREEN SCENE: Save the trees, save the buildings, save Riverview - The extreme drought of this summer — which now, thankfully, seems to be over — has posed challenges for the fabulous tree collection at Riverview. - See more at: Tricity News

September - LETTER: Neglect hurt trees on Riverview site 
The Editor, On Saturday, Sept. 19, I attended the Riverview Horticultural Centre Society’s 2015 Treefest celebration, not having visited Riverview since the drought/windstorm of the summer.
- See more at: Tricity News

July 9, 2015 - Panel Discussion topic (videos were removed by Gov.)
June 17, 2015 - Watch the 4th open house (video was removed by Gov).
May 20, 2015 - Third Open House Report (site removed by Gov.)

2014

2014 COQUITLAM Health Campus:

The City of Coquitlam retained Dr. John Higenbottam to translate their long-held vision for the Riverview Lands as a place for healing and caring into required programs, services and associated facilities.

The result was the creation of Into the Future: The Coquitlam Health Campus

RHCS Presented to BC Housing & the Renewing Riverview Consultants:
2014 RHCS - OUR VISION FOR THE RIVERVIEW LANDS

START of "RIVERVIEW VISIONING" by BC Housing.
BC HOUSING was RENEWINGRIVERVIEW.COM now offline
See here for current

2012

Rather than support the National Historic Site application, the BC Provincial Government hired a consultant to produce a “Heritage Conservation Plan” (HCP) for Riverview.

May and June 2012 - One of the objectives of the HCP was to survey the public to learn what we value about the Riverview Lands and why. Critical public consultations took place during May and June 2012. The resulting report was to be used to inform a Land Use Plan for Riverview that may be put forth within a year.

Heritage Canada Foundation Releases
2012 Top Ten Endangered Places -

RIVERVIEW LANDS TOP of LIST

National Trust for Canada; Riverview 2012
or .pdf

OTTAWA, ON – June 27, 2012 - The Heritage Canada Foundation (HCF) (now National Trust for Canada) released its Top Ten Endangered Places and Worst Losses Lists drawing attention to architectural and heritage sites in Canada either threatened with demolition or already lost.

The Endangered Places List, compiled from nominations received as well as from news items that HCF has been following and reporting on throughout the year from west to east.- Tricity News

Riverview NATURAL HERITAGE STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY GROUP no longer meeting? Without notice the government stopped participation.

2001

Riverview NATURAL HERITAGE STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY GROUP formation.

It is important that each of us express our opinion:

We need to send a message that the Lands should remain in public ownership and accessible, that they should continue to be dedicated to the needs of the mentally ill, and that the heritage trees, buildings, and landscapes should be preserved.

PLEASE WRITE LETTERS/email to give BC Housing YOUR OPINION.

Stay current & Ready to Act for the Riverview/sumiqwuelu Site.

Here is what you can do:

Stay INFORMED:
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Save Riverview Lands - Riverview Horticultural Centre Society
Follow us on TWITTERFollow @RHCS_Riverview

Read our NEWSLETTER
Visit this Website
Attend TREE TOURS Details here
Visit the Lands & Bring others to see them
Visit Finnie's Garden.
Visit Serenity Garden; Volunteer to help the volunteer gardeners
Read the GOVERNMENTS HCP, 'Heritage Conservation Plan' here
Keep your RHCS Membership current & encourage others to join
Membership only $5 & DONATION online payments

If you cannot find the information you are looking for please
call us: 604-290-9910