Presented in partnership with the Canada Green Building Council and the Embassy of the United States in Canada, this event will be hosted by The Royal Canadian Geographical Society in Ottawa. This panel discussion will seek to demonstrate how sound urban planning principles can contribute to building more resilient cities to help face the increasing pressures related to climate change. Speakers:

• Doug Farr, President and founding principal of Farr Associates, and author of Sustainable Nation: Urban Design Patterns for the Future
• Isabelle Thomas, full professor, Université de Montréal
• Elliott Cappell, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Toronto
• Colin Ellard (University of Waterloo Urban Realities Laboratory, and author of Places of the Heart
• Sarah Williams Goldhagen, writer, critic and author of Welcome to Your World: How the Built Environment Shapes Our Lives, and contributing editor, Architectural Record and Art in America
• Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne, University of Vermont, United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Research and Development
• Representatives from the Ville de Québec, Vision de l’arbre

Speaker: Brian Carson

Not all treasures are silver and gold. A plethora of floral beauties have been discovered recently in the Ottawa Valley . . . from terrestrial orchids to a blaze of wood lilies . . .  from immense “Mufferaw” bloodroots to revered, dainty double hepaticas . . . from gentian meadows to mellow fields of Rudbeckia . . . From giant pinedrop woods to acres of unusual weeds . .  from dramatic color variants of red Trilliums to the holy grail of North American wildflowers, the elusive double Trilliums . .  and more.

An award winning photographer and neurotic plant explorer, recently honored by the OHA, will lead us around the valley with lots of horticultural tips and humorous anecdotes. Come see what treasures may be found near you right here in our biodiverse Ottawa Valley.

Presenter:  Virginia Vince, owner of Bloomfields Flowers – in the Glebe (783 Bank Street) and Wellington West (1280 Wellington Street West)

Our most popular evening of the series, do not miss out on this very special presentation featuring acclaimed Ottawa florist Virginia who will delight us creating holiday floral arrangements that will be the envy of your friends and family. Her motto of Beautiful Living Naturally she and her team have worked to become the most recognized, respected and successful florist and flower shops in Ottawa. Her exquisite floral designs and arrangements showcase the passion she has about making flowers, plants and natural beauty an essential part of everyone’s everyday experience. And the Christmas holidays is a perfect backdrop for putting out all the stops to make your home warm and inviting – your own oasis during the busy month of December. Get an early start on getting holiday ideas for floral décor for your home from a florist passionate for creating beautiful and natural places, designs and experiences. A raffle of her arrangements will be part of the evening. Bring a friend and arrive early. This always is standing room only.

Annual fees:  $40 individuals; $50 per couple; $5 Guest Fee