Vice-President's Message

by David Maltby

Greetings. This is my first message to the Society. I look forward to working with the Directors and
hope to have the opportunity to meet some of the members in the upcoming months. 

I have had long-standing interest in gardening and have been a member of a number of gardening societies for years. I hope to bring my experience as President of the Ontario Regional Lily Society in my new position.

What impresses me about the society is the efforts it has made to have substantial membership from all areas of Canada. There is strength in numbers. And although the activities to promote the peony in gardens is done in each region, collectively the work done is significant. 

I also have been pleased that the Society straddles both French and English members. Our newsletter, Paeonia Nordica, rightly so is produced in both of Canada’s official languages.  In this issue, the focus is on activities of our Quebec members. Canada is a land of distances. This issue will allow members in all regions of the country to learn more about some of our members’ work in la belle province.

Our 2013 AGM and annual show will take place June 15-16th in Rosemere, Quebec, a short distance from Montreal. (visit http://www.ville.rosemere.qc.ca) It is being held in partnership with the Quebec Peony Society. No doubt it will be a wonderful weekend where peony lovers from sea to sea can meet to celebrate this wonderful flower and renew friendships.

Irene Bouris 1941 to Feb 7,2013

Irene passed away Feb 7, 2013 at 12:33pm, peacefully and comfortably at her home attended by her family after a long battle with cancer. Mother of Michael Bouris of Vancouver, BC, and Amy Evens of St. Thomas.  Grandmother of Miles Evens of London, and Gabriel River Zay Bouris of Vancouver, BC.  Mother-in-law of Paul Evens of Atwood.  Also survived by 4 sisters, 4 brothers and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.  She was 72 years old. She has been taken for cremation as per her last wishes and will be interred in Sundown, Manitoba beside her parents later this spring.


Born in Stuartburn Twp., MB, January 1, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Phillip  and Anastasia (nee Wepruk) Kereliuk.  Irene moved to Ontario from Manitoba in 1967 and to Sparta in 1992.  Irene was a nurse for many years being continuously employed in a variety of clinical and teaching fields since graduating in 1963.  She was a Registered Nurse at LHSC, South Street Hospital, London.  Irene was a member of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, the Gerontological Nursing Association of Ontario and the Aylmer Horticultural Club.  Irene was an active member in many communities and has a huge number of friends and colleagues.


She belonged to the St. Thomas Field Naturalists Club and signed petitions to save the Boreal Birds.   In 2010 Irene received Central Elgin - Growing Together Awards for her field naturalist work and her natural home environment for wild life.    She was also a member of the Canadian Peony Society and a staunch supporter of the Annual Root Sale fundraiser.

To honour her passing and celebrate her life there will be a memorial open to the public held on Friday, Feb 15 at 7:00 pm at  Knox Presbyterian Church, 55 Hincks St., St. Thomas , ON in Rodney Hall.  There will be light refreshments available. There will be a private interment in Ascension of Our Lord, Ukrainian Catholic Parish Cemetery, Sundown, MB, in the spring.  Memorial donations made out to the St. Thomas Field Naturalists will be gratefully accepted.


Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family.