Rick Durand, who has dedicated his life and career to prairie horticulture, was awarded the A.P. Stevenson Commemorative Award by the Manitoba Horticultural Association Garden Party on Sunday. The award, which has been given to only 24 others over the past century, recognizes Durand’s lifetime contribution to developing new trees and plants across the prairies and beyond.
"I'm the 25th recipient and the award is a lifelong contribution that I've made in the field of horticulture," Durand explains.
A career rooted in the prairie's
Raised in Dauphin and inspired by the natural beauty of the Riding Mountain region, Durand earned a forestry degree from Lakehead University in 1978. After a brief stint in Ottawa, he returned to Manitoba and launched Prairie Shade Nursery in Treherne, where his passion for breeding hardy, prairie-ready trees took off. His early successes included the Discovery Japanese Elm, a popular ornamental tree across the region.
Durand later relocated to Portage la Prairie, where he spent three decades developing more than 20 new trees and shrubs, including Gladiator, a top-selling flowering crabapple. He also worked part-time with Jeffries Nurseries for over 18 years, helping to introduce more than 30 new cultivars to the market, most notably the Amber Jubilee Ninebark, which was named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
Portage projects and community ties
While the award ceremony took place this past weekend in Portage, it also marked Durand’s return to a city deeply connected to his legacy.
"I had a farm just 10 minutes from where we lived on Wilkinson Crescent, and I dedicated 10 acres to my research. We have now sold that property, but the new owners are maintaining the integrity of that land, so it's wonderful to come back and see the trees and other plants that I've planted," says Durand.
Beyond his nursery, he led community efforts like the design of the Island Park Arboretum and the development of the Crescent Lake pathway system.
"The pathway around Crescent Lake, I initiated the plan to the city."
He explains that while the city liked his idea, it didn’t have the funds to move forward. Durand didn't take 'no' for an answer. Instead, he spoke with Brian Pallister, the MLA at the time, who secured $25,000 in government funding over two years, which got the plan underway.
"I think most people in the city just thought it was a great idea. It expanded to a limestone pathway around the city and eventually became paved. Crescent Lake is just a jewel of Manitoba," Durand adds.
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Still growing after retirement
Durand and his wife uprooted themselves to British Columbia 10 years ago. There, he served as Plant Development Coordinator at Bylands Nurseries, where he developed trees like the Top Gun bur oak and authored 'Plants for Colder Climates'. Now 'retired', Durand remains active in horticultural research and plant development at Bylands. He also continues collaborating with his son, Carl, who operates Futura Farms in St. Andrews.
"I've lived in a lot of parts of Canada. Ontario and all the western provinces, but we certainly enjoyed the 30 years we lived in Portage la Prairie. It's a great place to raise your kids. Everything is 5 minutes away, and it's just a beautiful place. Portage was a big part of our life, and we enjoyed it a lot.”
Durand’s contributions have helped shape the landscape of prairie horticulture and left a lasting imprint on the communities he’s served. The A.P. Stevenson Commemorative Award is a fitting tribute to a career—and a passion—that continues to grow.