Community Projects

Community Project 2020 - Ronald McDonald House

Located next to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Below are photos of the pond-less waterfall that has just been reconstructed this week. The photos don’t show it all that well ...it is raised quite a few feet above a charming area outside the back windows of the building, with benches and gazebos spread throughout. The grounds (with plants etc) are next to be worked on and I expect the finished product will be very nice and inviting. Lights have already been installed around the waterfall and Cheryl indicates that they are lovely at night. She plans to decorate the area for Christmas and make it cheerful and joyful for the residents and staff of RMH.

Cheryl was extremely welcoming and appreciative of our donation to their water garden project.

Community Project 2017 - Gayle’s Gardens

Located at the Ruddy-Shenkman Hospice - Kanata

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago” Warren Buffett

As Water Garden Lovers…we all know the multiple benefits of water features and gardens so this year, in partnership with the Kanata-March Horticultural Society (KMHS), we pooled resources to donate the installation of three garden beds that make up the courtyard garden as part of Gayle’s Gardens at the newly expanded Ruddy-Shenkman Hospice in Kanata. The development of these gardens is integral to the care offered by the hospice. It is proven that “healing gardens” can be therapeutic in relieving stress and offering a sense of peace and wellness. The focal point of the largest bed is a collection of five bubbling columns. The vegetation design provides four-season interest and includes “soft colours and textures to promote healing, peacefulness and relaxation”.

The Hospice provides accommodation for ten residential rooms offering palliative nursing care to individual patients as well as two rooms for respite care. These have space for families to stay with their loved ones. The wing will also have quiet places in which to rest, reflect, and refresh.

This is the third Community Project in which GOWGHS has been involved. Funds for the project are raised through our annual Water Garden Tours.

Many thanks to the volunteers from KMHS, Hospice Care Ottawa and GOWGHS who did the planting and touch-ups to the gardens. We had supplies donated by Aquascape and we are grateful to Greely Sand and Gravel who came to our rescue with their short-notice soil delivery. Jessica Templeton designed the gardens and Inside and Out Landscaping and Renovations did the installation.

Mother Nature caused serious construction delays of the new building addition and delayed our garden installations until the month of October. Our plants currently look a bit weary but we are certain that residents, their families and staff will find comfort in these gardens next spring and in the many years to come.

The Gardens will be officially opened in June of 2018.

Brenda Knight

Community Project Prime – GOWGHS

Community Project 2014-2015 - Queensway Carleton Hospital

Thanks to the efforts of our Water Garden Tour Committee, we are able to raise funds for a second community project. Our second project is a Healing Garden funded by GOWGHS and the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. It is located in the courtyard on the hospital grounds. Construction took place July 2015.

Community Project 2012 - Peter D Clark Long Term Facility

“We make a living by what we get, but make a life by what we give.”- Winston Churchill

GOWGHS members can each give themselves a huge “pat on the back” for the wonderful gift of the water garden competed this summer at the Peter D. Clark Long Term Care Facility.

The project was perhaps a tad too ambitious and we did have significant challenges but the fabulous team of volunteers and contractors led by Greg Veldhuizen as the lead contractor transformed a boring lawn into a courtyard oasis. The pictures shown give you a glimmer of how beautiful this new garden is.

The list of volunteers is too long to acknowledge, but we had some serious sweat equity donated by our members and their families. We would like to give special mention to Christine Gordon (Inside Out) and Jessica Templeton (Templeton Designs). Greg, Christine and Jessica spent many many hours volunteering their time and that of their employees on this project. Richard Inchley (Richard Inchley Ponds and Aquaria) was a WGT sponsor and donated plants for the garden. Ian Stewart (Yards Unlimited), Kent Peddie (Precision Landscaping), Mari Lafrance (Mortgage Architects) and Nick Kaaki also sponsored the WGT whose profits funded our Community Project.

We also had significant donations from Aquascape and Greely Sand and Gravel. These sponsorships, a portion of our grant and the profits from the 2011 and 2012 pond tours covered our expenses for the water garden and the two white magnolia trees that we planted.

Sheila Brandt, the director of the centre, sent us the following email: I would like to express a tremendous thank you to the GOWGHS for the beautiful water feature. We have received so many compliments and everyone smiles when they see it. Residents, families and staff are so grateful. Thank you! “Pat Gordon – President of the Family and Friends Council at Peter D. Clark wrote: “On behalf of the Family and Friends Council and all the residents and their families, thank you for the wonderful donation of the waterfall. It is so peaceful and calming for the staff, the residents, their families and the volunteers. Thank you again for your generous donation.”

I would suggest that both of these notes indicate that GOWGHS members this year certainly achieved our goals to promote the therapeutic benefit of water gardening and horticulture.

The greatest gift in life is giving – such a GREAT feel good project!!

Brenda Knight, GOWGHS President and Chair of the Community Project Committee