October 1, 2018
Red River College cancels horticulture program
Members of the Manitoba Nursery Landscape Association (MBNLA) Professional Development Committee, local business leaders, current students and graduates have joined forces to challenge the abrupt decision by Winnipeg’s Red River College to cancel its Greenspace Horticulture Program.
The Greenspace Horticulture Program, Manitoba’s sole horticulture certificate program, included hands-on training in integrated pest management, turf management, landscape design, as well as pruning, grafting and the application of pesticides and fertilizers.
MBNLA says the “program is crucial to the continued success of the landscape and horticulture industry in Manitoba. With the growing need for our services, professionally trained individuals are even more in demand.”
An online petition has been created to reinstate the program at https://chn.ge/2LtNJQh. Typical of comments left by those signing the petition is this from Sandra Soon, “Sustaining and creating jobs is important. Giving students the opportunity and knowledge to use safe practices to keep our land healthy and create green spaces should be a priority.”