International Garden Festival

Festival international de jardins
Photo: Éric Marchand
  • Dymaxion Sleep, presented at the International Garden Festival in 2011<br />
  • Noli Tangere, presented at the International Garden Festival in 2011<br />
  • Surface Deep, presented at the International Garden Festival in 2011<br />
  • International Garden Festival, Reford Gardens
  • International Garden Festival, Reford Gardens
  • Itinerant Pods, presented at the International Garden Festival in 2011<br />
  • Blue Stick Garden, International Garden Festival<br />
  • International Garden Festival, Reford Gardens
  • Garden of Knowledge, presented at the International Garden Festival in 2010 and 2011<br />
  • A Ditch with a View, presented at the International Garden Festival in 2011<br />
  • International Garden Festival, Reford Gardens
  • Dymaxion Sleep, International Garden Festival<br />
  • International Garden Festival, Reford Gardens
Click on photo to enlarge
14th edition

The 14th edition of the International Garden Festival presents innovative contemporary gardens designed by world-renowned landscape architects, architects and artists. The Festival gives visitors the opportunity to experience contemporary art and offers children a giant playground in which to explore fun and interactive installations. A program of family activities and special events is offered throughout the summer.

Inaugurated in 2000, the International Garden Festival takes place every year at the Reford Gardens, which were declared a national historic site by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 1995. Among others, the goals of the Festival are to stimulate contemporary creation in garden art, to introduce the general public and the horticultural industry to the latest trends in garden design and to contribute to economic growth and tourism development in Eastern Québec.
Date(s)
June 22, 2013 to September 29, 2013
Location
Grand-Métis (Gaspésie)
Cost:
Admission fees. Free for children under 14. Packages available from various accommodation establishments in the region.
Payment methods
  • Cash Cash
  • American Express American Express
  • Interac Interac
  • MasterCard MasterCard
  • Visa Visa
Services
  • Picnic area
  • Boutique
  • Restaurant or snack bar
  • Free parking
  • How to get there
    The International Garden Festival is held on the site of the Reford Gardens in Grand-Métis, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, midway between Rimouski and Matane.

    Getting there by car

    Driving from the west: Take Highway 20 until it ends at Cacouna, then head east on Route 132. Continue on Highway 20 until you reach the end of this highway, then pick up Route 132 again and follow the tourist signs for “Jardins de Métis” (Reford Gardens).

    Driving from the east: From Percé, take Route 132 along the St. Lawrence River. After Matane, follow the tourist signs for “Jardins de Métis” (Reford Gardens).

    Driving from the south: From Campbellton, take Route 132 West. After Mont-Joli, follow the tourist signs for “Jardins de Métis” (Reford Gardens).

    Getting there by bus

    A bus departs daily from Québec City and Montréal (with stops in Rimouski and Rivière-du-Loup) to Mont-Joli.

    Orléans Express: www.orleansexpress.com or 1-888-999-3977

    Getting there by train

    Trains run from Montréal and Halifax to Mont-Joli.

    Via Rail: www.viarail.ca or 1-800-361-5390 / 1-888-VIA-RAIL

    Getting there by plane

    The Reford Gardens are a 10-minute drive from the Mont-Joli airport.

    Air Canada (Air Canada Jazz): www.aircanada.ca or 1-888-247-2262
    Pascan Aviation: www.pascan.com or 1-888-313-8777

    Getting there by ferry

    Four (4) ferries link the two shores, making the Reford Gardens easily accessible for travellers coming from the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.

    Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout
    Phone: 418-562-2500 (Matane)
    Phone: 418-294-8593 (Baie-Comeau)
    Phone: 418-568-7575 (Godbout)
    Website: www.traversiers.gouv.qc.ca

    Forestville–Rimouski
    Phone: 418-725-2725
    Fax: 418-722-3699
    Website: www.traversier.com

    Trois-Pistoles–Les Escoumins
    Téléphone: 1-877-851-4677
    Site Internet: www.traversiercnb.ca

    Saint-Siméon–Rivière-du-Loup
    Phone: 418-862-9545
    Rates: 418-862-5094
    Website: www.travrdlstsim.com
    Affiliations and distinctions
    Affiliations
    Tourisme Gaspésie
    Must-See Attractions Gaspésie
    Tourisme Mitis
    Québec Gardens' Association

    Distinctions

    2011
    5 Blooms and a Special Mention for the Integration of Art and Sculptures

    Awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom

    Garden Tourism Person of the Year (Canadian Garden Tourism Awards)
    Awarded to Alexander Reford for his work promoting gardens as a tourism attraction by Canada’s Garden Tourism Conference

    2010
    Coalition BOIS Québec Prize (Cecobois Excellence Awards)
    Awarded to the Reford Gardens for their strong commitment to supporting greater use of wood in non-residential construction

    5 Blooms and a Special Mention for Excellence in Horticultural Design and Maintenance
    Awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom

    Bas-Saint-Laurent Heritage Prize (La Mitis region)
    Awarded in the “Preservation, Restoration and Conservation” category for the quality of the gardens and their impact on the local environment

    2009

    Henry-Teuscher Prize
    Awarded to Elsie Reford (posthumously) and Alexander Reford for their exceptional contribution to horticulture in Québec by the Montreal Botanical Garden

    Frederick-Todd Prize
    Awarded to Alexander Reford by the Québec Association of Landscape Architects (AAPQ) for his contribution to promoting landscape architecture

    5 Blooms and a Special Mention for Leadership in Horticulture Promotion and Awareness
    Awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom

    One of the 25 great gardens of America
    Featured in the book Great Gardens of America by leading garden historian Tim Richardson

    2008
    Québec Tourism Award (Grand Prix du tourisme québécois)
    Awarded in the “Restaurant – Tourism Development” category (regional level)

    One of the top design shows in 2008: International Garden Festival
    According to British magazine Gardens Illustrated

    Visionary designers
    7 designers who participated in the International Garden Festival featured in Avant Gardeners: 50 Visionaries of the Contemporary Landscape by Tim Richardson

    Best of Québec: Québec’s most beautiful gardens
    Selected by Reader’s Digest

    2007
    Hector-Fabre Prize
    Awarded to the International Garden Festival in recognition of its outstanding achievement in promoting the region and Québec internationally by the Québec Ministry of International Relations

    One of Québec’s eight monumental works
    According to the La Presse newspaper (June 16, 2007)

    One of 23 Canadian gardens to see before you die
    Featured in the book 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die edited by Rae Spencer-Jones

    Top of the list of “10 best contemporary gardens in Canada”
    According to the Ottawa Citizen (December 29, 2007)

    2005
    One of the Top 100 Events in North America: International Garden Festival
    Selected by the American Bus Association

    Coup d’Éclat Award
    Awarded to the Reford Gardens for their booklet of 45 postcards of contemporary gardens by the Québec Tourist Attractions Society (SATQ) and Festivals and Events Québec (FEQ)

    2004
    Hommage Prize
    Awarded to Alexander Reford, founder of the International Garden Festival, for his exceptional contribution to Québec festivals and events by Festivals and Events Québec (FEQ)

    2003
    Coup d’Éclat Award
    Awarded to the Reford Gardens for the quality of their printed materials by the Québec Tourist Attractions Society (SATQ) and Festivals and Events Québec (FEQ)

    2002
    National Attractions Canada Award
    Awarded in the “Outdoor Landscaped Site (annual operating budget under $1 million)” category

    Bronze Québec Tourism Award
    Awarded in the “Tourist Attraction over 100,000 Visitors” category (national level)

    Silver People’s Choice Award at the Québec Tourism Awards
    For the first time, the public was invited to vote online for their favourite among the regional winners

    Excellence Prize: International Garden Festival
    Awarded by the Société des musées québécois in recognition of museum excellence

    Silver National Post Design Exchange Award
    Awarded in the “Environment” category for the gardens in the 4th edition of the International Garden Festival

    2001
    Attractions Canada Award for Québec
    Awarded to the International Garden Festival in the “Cultural Event” category

    National Honour Award of Excellence
    Awarded for Claude Cormier’s Blue Stick Garden by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects

    Honorary Membership in the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects
    Awarded to Alexander Reford for his exceptional contribution to the restoration, conservation and development of the Reford Gardens

    2000
    Canada’s Top 40 Under 40
    Awarded to Alexander Reford, Director and President of the Reford Gardens

    Gold Québec Tourism Award
    Awarded in the “Tourist Attraction under 100,000 Visitors” category (national level)

    Event

    Date(s)
    June 22, 2013 to September 29, 2013
    Location
    Grand-Métis (Gaspésie)
    Cost:
    Admission fees. Free for children under 14. Packages available from various accommodation establishments in the region.
    Payment methods
    • Cash
    • American Express
    • Interac
    • MasterCard
    • Visa
    Contact
    200, route 132
    Grand-Métis (Quebec) Canada
    G0J 1Z0
    Phone: 418 775-2222
    Fax: 418 775-6201

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