Photo: From left: Lheidli T’enneh Councillor Dominic Frederick, David Douglas Botanical Garden Society President Catriona McLenna, UNBC President Dr. Geoff Payne and Lheidli T’enneh Elder Barry Seymour unveiling the name Khasdzoon Yusk’ut Botanical Garden.
All photos: David Douglas Botanical Garden Society
On June 26, 2025 the David Douglas Botanical Garden Society (DDBGS) welcomed dedicated volunteers, community members, and organizational representatives to Planting the Future: A Celebration of Growth event to mark a meaningful milestone in the life of the garden. Here, they unveiled the official name of the garden: Khasdzoon Yusk’ut, which translates to Red Maple Hill Garden in the Carrier (Dakelh) language.
“We are pleased to be able to reveal the name for the new garden which was given to the Society by the late Lheidli T’enneh Elder, Edie Frederick,” said Catriona McLenna, President of DDBGS. “This connection to the local First Nation will continue to be reflected in the future development of this garden.”
Photo: A tree was planted during the event in honour of Elder Frederick.
Elder Edie Frederick was a respected Lheildi T’enneh knowledge keeper who significantly contributed to the naming of the garden on UNBC’s Prince George campus. Elder Frederick was UNBC’s first Elder-in-Residence and DDBGS emphasized that the naming process was conducted in the spirit of respect, relationship, and belonging.
Photos: Attendees enjoy a sunny afternoon with the new passive house-visitor kiosk in the background.
Alongside celebrating the intentional and thoughtful name. the afternoon event also joyously launched the next phase of the DDBGS, a time of new growth for the garden and community. Phase 2B will focus on developing Khasdzoon Yusk’ut as place for research, education, and culture.
This next development stage builds upon the success of Phase2A, in which Northern Development invested $300,000. Sprawling over a 23-acre parcel of land near the entrance to UNBC’s main campus, the recently completed phase included the construction of a visitor kiosk, parking lot, landscaping, and much more. The visitor kiosk is a passive house demonstration building which was donated to the society and required site preparation and moving.
Khasdzoon Yusk’ut will feature a boreal garden, one of three in North America. This unique trait will draw keen gardeners, horticulturalists, and others to Prince George to appreciate the flora in person. It will also include a research garden, which will facilitate greater understanding of sustainable food production, climate change impacts, and environmental science. These features, and the advanced planning skills of the DDBGS, strongly aligns with the intent of the Cultural Infrastructure program to support the creation, or improvement, of arts, heritage, culture, and creative innovation spaces. The funding program improves access to, and quality of cultural facilities for residents and visitors.
