2026 CPS Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Mary Pratte

Congratulations to Mary Pratte, the recipient of the CPS 2026 Lifetime Achievement award.

As a Past President of the Canadian Peony Society (2005 - 2007), Mary Pratte has been an influential figure within the organization through her leadership, educational work, and ongoing commitment to the preservation of historic peony collections in Canada. Within the Canadian Peony Society, Pratte served in several key roles including Vice President and newsletter editor. In these positions she helped strengthen communication among members and supported the organization of peony exhibitions and public displays across Canada. 

 

 

Shows and displays associated with CPS activities were held at prominent horticultural venues such as the Montreal Botanical Garden, Royal Botanical Gardens, Rideau Hall, and Reford Gardens, helping introduce wider audiences to the diversity and beauty of peonies.

As a member of the Friends of the Farm, she also contributed, on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to the re-establishment and enhancement of the extraordinary peony collection at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, helping to preserve and showcase a nationally significant horticultural heritage.

Mary also maintains a special connection with the Reford Gardens. Over the years, she has generously volunteered her expertise in the identification and documentation of the peony collection, including many historic cultivars originating from the plantings of Elsie Reford, the original creator and owner of the Gardens. Her work has helped preserve and highlight this important horticultural legacy.

Gratitude to Céline Arsenault, Blaine Marchand, and Kate-Lynn Clarke for contributing their words and stories to this tribute to Ms. Pratte.

 

The 2026 John Simkins Memorial Hybridizer Award 

Serge Fafard

The Canadian Peony Society is pleased to announce Mr. Serge Fafard of Les Jardins Osiris as the recipient of the 2026 John Simkins Memorial Hybridizer Award.

Since partnering with Les Jardins Osiris in 1987, Mr. Fafard has dedicated thirty years to hybridizing, working with hostas, echinaceas, ligularias and his subject of greatest passion, peonies.

 

 

Mr. Fafard embodies the rigorous standards and patient discipline of the seasoned hybridizer. He operates on the philosophy that desired goals and results come from meticulous parent selection built on observed patterns of inheritance. His seedlings are subjected to an exacting evaluation process, and Mr. Fafard encourages the prospective hybridizer to look beyond a pleasing flower appearance and consider many traits like attractiveness of foliage, color stability, flower carriage, disease resistance, and bloom time, as he does before making a selection. 

His unique creations, officially registered under the "Osiris" series with the American Peony Society, represent significant contributions to the Canadian hybridizing landscape and our unique Canadian peony identity. The Canadian Peony Society extends its deepest gratitude and congratulations to Mr. Serge Fafard for his lifelong passion, his brilliant contributions to Canadian peony hybridizing, and his enduring impact on our shared horticultural heritage.

 

 

Annual Awards Nominations

Now Open!

2024 CPS Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Tom Harris

Congratulations to Tom Harris, this year’s recipient of the CPS Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tom Harris has been an outstanding Peony ambassador for many years. He has devoted countless hours to staffing CPS tables and speaking to the public about CPS and the intricacies of growing peonies. He served on the CPS board of directors as Vice President, then President during a challenging time for the society.

He has supported many Peony events across Canada, bringing blooms in his “famous suitcase”, helping wherever needed, judging, clerking or speaking on behalf of the Canadian Peony Society.

Tom is involved in many activities which highlight his selflessness, joy in helping others, creativity and gardening prowess. A font of peony knowledge, Tom is willing to share with all who are interested. He has been a long-term donor to the CPS root and seed sales, and countless gardens across Canada.

He has been actively involved with the Oshawa Peony Festival as a committee member for nearly 20 years, and is highly respected for his support, and involvement in this long-established event.

He is an award-winning Peony grower, having won all CPS awards at various National shows across Canada.

Tom, with his partner Dennis, have created the Schoolhouse Gardens, (aptly named after the historic school house on the property) where they conduct tours showcasing the hundreds of peonies grown there. All donations from these tours go to the Bridge Hospice Society, in Warkworth, Ontario, which they helped to found and have passionately supported for many years.

The Canadian Peony Society proudly recognizes Tom Harris for his contributions, to the promotion and enjoyment of peony growing in Canada.

The John Simkins Memorial Hybridizer Award for 2024

Bill Wegman

Congratulations to Bill Wegman, as the first recipient of the John Simkins Memorial Hybridizer Award.

As you may know, Bill was the former seed sale lead for the Canadian Peony Society, collecting and recording thousands of peony seeds for dispersal to peony enthusiasts globally. He held this position for many years, with a dedicated passion to ensuring the society was true to its mission of establishing distinctively Canadian Hybrids.

His work as a hybridizer is legendary. His work ethic has continued to strengthen the livelihood of Canadian bred peonies. His seeds offer purchasers the opportunity to grow unique seedlings that have the potential to be very interesting plants. Bill uses excellent parents, and seeds from hand pollinated crosses that are not usually available anywhere else.

His generosity of donating his offsprings to local gardens, in plants, seeds or root forms is incredibly humbling to witness. His unassuming manner of accomplishing so much, and willingness to share information with those interested, is truly stellar. His work will not go unnoticed for future generations, a tribute to his research, and keen interest in producing Canadian peonies for us to enjoy.

This recognition is well deserved, and proudly presented by the Board of Directors of the Canadian Peony Society.