My Story

Bringing People and the Landscape together since 2003.

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I am a Victoria-based business owner providing horticultural-based education, consulting and design services to Victoria residents, businesses and local organizations. Originally from Toronto, I moved to Vancouver to pursue a degree at UBC in Urban Geography. Working at UBC Campus Planning and Development gave me experience in urban planning and public relations. When an opportunity to move to Victoria arrived, Kathleen Laird Landscapes and Consulting was born.

My experience in horticulture therapy brings a thoughtful, client-focused approach to the creation of new gardens. I have program experience in many organizations such as Victoria Hospice, Broadmead Care, and local schools developing horticultural therapy programs. I have volunteered with local groups such as Citizens Counselling, and Community Corrections and care deeply about our community. I currently serve as Board Director on the South Jubilee Neighborhood Association on both the Greening and Land Use Committees. Recent projects include working with the City of Victoria’s, Get Growing Program to offer neighborhood food security programming as well as a the upcoming community focused design at Redfern Park.

During this past year, I have explored new learning and new ways to offer what I do. Recent training includes Digital Marketing, Leadership Training with the City of Victoria's; Royal Roads University, Leading Projects in a Digital Environment and at Kwantlan University in Sustainable Food Systems. This past year, I also took on a new challenge working with the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions at the University of Victoria.

New skills and my creative and resilient attitude give me a unique skill set that can be applied across many professions and organizations.

A strong believer in community, Kathleen volunteers her landscaping expertise with a number of non-profit organizations. She has continued to further her horticultural education through masterclasses and work with peer associations in Japan, India, Israel and Canada. Kathleen has also served as chair of the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association (BC Chapter).