Niagara Parks School of Horticulture

Welcome to the official page for the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture! We are excited to share our passion for training world-class horticulture professionals, to promote our one-of-a-kind school with the world and to strengthen our relationship within the greater horticulture community. First, we'd like to reintroduce ourselves: The Niagara Parks School of Horticulture was first established in 1936 as the "Training School for Apprentice Gardeners" to meet the increasing demand for horticultural expertise in Canada in the first half of the 20th century. The school was established on 99 acres of land along the Niagara Gorge, between the Whirlpool and the Niagara Glen. This tract of old farmland would become the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, a place to house our expansive catalogued collection of plants and a grounds for students to practice their horticultural skills. The training program at the school was inspired by the apprenticeship at Kew Gardens in England, whose curriculum was based heavily on the practical experience of gardening. Today, our three-year diploma program retains its historical essence, and students take part in a mixed program of academics and practical work, a defining factor that separates our school from other horticulture degrees and courses. After graduating from the School of Horticulture, students not only leave with extensive knowledge on an array of topics within horticulture and first-hand experience on maintaining aspects of a botanical garden. They are welcomed into a growing network of individuals in the horticulture industry, including organizations such as our Alumni Association. The credentials gained from the time spent at our school also gives recent graduates an upper hand in searching for jobs in a competitive workforce. We are excited to connect with past alumni, prospective students, industry professionals and those curious to know more about our school through this LinkedIn page. Follow along for more updates, historical anecdotes, and more as we grow our online following!