An original member, who helped found Landscape Ontario, has died at 89.

Peter Vander Werf, a landscape designer and gardener in the Forest Hill and Bayview areas of Toronto through the 60s, 70s and 80s, was part of the group of men who posted flyers around Toronto, inviting all gardeners to come share their concerns and build knowledge together. The small group grew each month, and in 1973 officially became Landscape Ontario.

Vander Werf won many landscape awards, but was forced to retire in 1983 due to heart ailments. He retired to his country home near Newmarket, where he began to paint landscapes and experiment with propagation. One of his daughters, Audrie Vander Werf, is a Certified Landscape Designer in Vancouver.

After witnessing his grandson’s wedding and travelling Canada this summer, VanderWerf succumbed to a massive stroke on Sept. 19.  He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Dinie, daughters Betsy, Tieneka, Trudy, Anita, Audrie and Hetty, 15 grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

A funeral mass was held on September 22 at Saint Elizabeth Seaton Church in Newmarket.


Caption: Peter Vander Werf with his daughter Audrie at the World Rose Show in Vancouver, June, 2009.