On May 28, 2004 the Rose Garden at the Montreal Botanical Garden joined the exclusive list of great rose gardens around the world that have received the World Federation of Rose Societies' Award of Garden Excellence.

Despite the cool, grey weather, a large crowd gathered in the Marie-Victorin tent during Rendez-vous Horticole to see the official presentation of the bronze plaque by Mrs. Marijke Peterich of Bermuda, the WFRS Vice-President for North America.

For the Canadian Rose Society this was the exciting culmination of our efforts to bring this great garden to the world's attention, starting with our nomination for the award and ending with our assuring that the proper bilingual plaque was presented.

The MBG Rose Garden is not a tradional, formal rose garden. It is modern in design and divided into two sections, which illustrate the history and development of roses. More than 10,000 roses are laid out in winding beds flanked by shrubs and trees. It is a garden of outstanding design, a wide range of varieties, including almost all roses hyvbridized in Canada, great educational value and sheer beauty. Claire Laberge and her team of gardeners richly deserve all the praise and honour that has been accorded them.