ORANGEVILLE, ON – Over 100 supporters of the Friendship Gardens gathered to open four new areas on the grounds of Headwaters Health Care Centre and celebrate the importance of nature in the healing process. These newest features are near the Emergency Department and Chemotherapy Treatment Area, outside the Ambulatory Care Wing of the Hospital.
“The Gardens continue to be a source of inspiration and joy to staff, patients and families,” remarked Stacey Daub, President & CEO.
Lynn Sinclair-Smith is the driving force behind the Friendship Gardens, a volunteer-led hospital-affiliated charity, “I’m always inspired by what we can do on this windy hill of ours,” she said. “We owe so much to others who have given their time, resources or materials to help us make this place a special sanctuary for healing.”
The celebration honoured those who have donated and supported the most recent additions to the Gardens.
The areas include:
- The Pavilion: Donated and built by: Rotary Club of Orangeville, Devonleigh Homes and Whispering Pines Landscaping.
- Follow Your Dreams Horse Parkette: Horse Sculpture donated by Melody Crowe and Buddy Pitt, Orangeville Home Hardware and painted by Marie Bartholomew. Funds for the plants and chairs surrounding the sculpture were donated by many community members.
- Drystone Wall, Dragonfly, Butterfly, Gateway and Limestone Walkway: Wall designed and handcrafted by Eric Landman and John Bland. Wall, including metal dragonfly sculpture, donated by Kathleen MacFarlane and dedicated to her late sister Ann Davidson. Dragonfly sculpture designed and handcrafted by Jane Longstaffe. Heather, a local Friendship Gardens supporter donated the Butterfly portion of the wall and crushed limestone wheelchair accessible pathway.
- Garden of Hope: Three Autumn Blaze Maple trees are being dedicated: by Monday Night at The Movies, Rose Weyer-Keller and Adam Keller, Curling Club of Orangeville ladies in honor of Ann Davidson.
Quick Facts About the Friendship Gardens at Headwaters Health Care Centre
- The creation of the Friendship Gardens was the idea of a group of volunteers called Friends of Headwaters in 1997.
- It is a volunteer group and donations are always greatly accepted.
- The hospital now has over 20 gardens and 400+ trees and many sculptures and is focused on environmentally positive gardens, trees and grounds and controlling certain invasive species.
- Each patient room overlooks some aspect of the Gardens, with exception of stepdown unit and several ICU rooms which have handmade nature featured windows by acclaimed artist sisters Jane and Kathryn Irwin.
- A corporate member of Credit Valley Conservation (CVC).
- Friendship Gardens is working with University of Guelph landscape and architecture professor Karen Landman and her students as well as CVC to develop the best plan for Headwaters Health Care Centre gardens and grounds for a healthy plant, shrub and tree sustainable environment.
- John Wheelwright, a local resident, provided handmade white cedar benches, a beautiful cedar bird feeder and continues to maintain the Gardens’ tools.
- Ralph Manktelow, a local resident, recently built and donated beautiful handmade birch and cedar benches.
Visit
www.friendshipgardens.ca, Facebook or Instagram to learn more.
Media Contact
Jennifer Hamilton, MA, MBA Senior Communications & Stakeholder Engagement Partner, Headwaters Health Care Centre | Cell/Text: 519-278-5085| Email:
jhamilton@headwatershealth.ca