Oak Bay Rose Garden

The Oak Bay Rose Garden, established in 1937 by Ada Beaven in memory of her husband Hugo, is a cherished public space that celebrates their legacy, love of roses, and lasting contributions to the community

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Location

Oak Bay
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Located in Windsor Park (at the intersection of Newport Avenue and Currie Road)

About

Welcome to the Oak Bay Rose Garden. Let’s take a trip down memory lane…
The Oak Bay Rose Garden was established in 1937 through the generosity of Ada Beaven, in memory of her late husband, Hugo Beaven.
A passionate horticulturist, Hugo was well known for his exceptional rose garden at their home, “Arden” on Beach Drive.
Ada donated 500 high-quality rose plants to Windsor Park to create a public garden in his honour.
Hugo Beaven was the son of Robert Beaven, a former Mayor of Victoria and the fifth Premier of British Columbia.
Hugo had a long career in banking but was best known for his love of gardening and introducing new rose varieties to the region. Hugo passed away in May 1937, at the age of 69.
Ada Beaven, daughter of early landowner Joseph Pemberton, was a dedicated philanthropist and community figure.
She supported numerous local causes and was known for her kindness and quiet generosity.
A familiar sight in Oak Bay, Ada supported local merchants and could often be seen driving her electric car through the village, right up until her passing in July 1958, at the age of 91.
Her contributions to Oak Bay, including the Rose Garden and Native Plant Garden continue to enrich the community today.
Today, the Oak Bay Rose Garden stands not only as a place of beauty and reflection, but as a living legacy to both Hugo and Ada Beaven and the enduring spirit of community they helped cultivate.
The garden contains 25 varieties of roses.
On September 29, 2024, the first Victoria Trefoil Guild of Girl Guides of Canada and the Royal Commonwealth Society of Vancouver Island held a special ceremony at the garden to honour the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Two symbolic roses, a Queen Elizabeth rose and a Peace rose were planted to reflect the Queen’s lifelong dedication to peace, service, and Girl Guide values.