Volunteers at Honeywood (Dr. A.J. Porter) Heritage Nursery spend many hours organizing, preparing and hosting events as fundraisers for the nursery located 130 km north of Saskatoon and 54 km west of Prince Albert. A large portion of funds raised at the weekend charity event, Lilies in Bloom, was stolen from the Parkside village office. Sometime between the evening of Sunday July 17 and morning of Tuesday July 19, culprits gained entry into the Parkside village office and departed with over $4,600 in cash from the safe. The funds included event proceeds and the operating float. The Shellbrook RCMP detachment responded to the call and requested the assistance of Police Forensic Indentification Unit.
Honeywood Nursery site manager Judy Harley is disheartened that individuals would be so inconsiderate and is calling upon the public for assistance. The matter is still under investigation and anyone with information can call 1-306-747-2606.
"This has been a real setback for Honeywood Nursery," commented Judy Harley. "The nursery has had a tough year as a late spring frost destroyed two-thirds of the lily crop and excessive moisture has reduced lily production resulting in a major drop in fall orders. Now this. The theft of this money is a major blow to a small community and our non-profit Provincial Heritage Site."
Harley explained that the volunteers are a driving force behind the nursery and their combined efforts, along with all those who visit the nursery, have contributed to the success of the events and site as a whole. Honeywood (Dr. A. J. Porter) Heritage Nursery Inc. is a non-profit Provincial Heritage Site dependent on funds raised through special events as well as donations and plant sales.
"Honeywood (Dr. A. J. Porter) Heritage Nursery Inc is a horticultural oasis located in the middle of farmland in the RM of Leask (just off Hwy 40).This Heritage Nursery is truly unique as a place where one can see many of the plants that are and were a part of the history of horticulture on the prairies," explained Harley.
"The restoration of this Provincial Heritage Site is an ongoing process with the continued cleanup and maintenance of the nursery taking top priority. As the nursery grows, the basic needs of the nursery change and we are constantly struggling to find the funds to meet the necessities, let alone the needed changes. We finance our efforts through various fund raising projects, donations and the sale of plant material from the nursery. Without the support of community volunteers and the financial backing of various groups and societies Honeywood would not be what it is today," concluded Harley.
