Royal Botanical Gardens Gets Reprieve

The financially troubled RBG in Hamilton has been granted $1.87 million in funding assistance to maintain operations. Although the amount is more than the gardens board of directors had requested, it is only a one-year deal. The Ontario government expects the board to make revisions to its financial systems and will provide financial consultants.

The chairman of the garden's board of directors, Grant Walsh, is looking at a variety of changes to improve the situation of the garden, but did not give details. Currently, admission prices have been dropped to encourage more visitors, but much tougher decisions will have to be made to determine which of the facility's capital projects remain in the budget. Walsh would like to reduce the size of the board to streamline its operations and improve communication.

Links: Press Release from the Ontario Ministry of Culture on the Royal Botanical Gardens' Web site (scroll down)

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 1:48 PM on October 13, 2004

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