Your Hospital Gardens: Announcing Names & Touching Stories Behind Them
Back in June, we asked for your help naming the Canmore Hospital Gardens. After months of suggestions and hard work by our beloved volunteers, the gardens are complete and the names have been selected. These beautiful displays will forever remind us of the beauty and warmth that bloomed this year, even amidst the most difficult conditions.
Our community proves, time and time again, that we know how to show up for one another. Therefore, we thought it fitting to let you name the gardens. It is safe to say that we are all feeling many things as of late, but at the forefront of it all, we feel proud. Proud of where we live, who we live alongside, and the incredible support system that lives and breathes in this community.
Before we announce the names, we want to give you some background on the gardens and why they are extra special this year.
When the world pressed pause this spring, so did much of the Foundation’s programming. Though, in a truly heartwarming outcry, our volunteers were itching to get back and contribute to our hospital, our healthcare, and our community. While programs inside the hospital were limited, we were able to welcome more volunteers than ever into our Foundation-funded Gardening Program. This year, 36 volunteers contributed their time and talents to the project.
The program works to build and maintain lovely gardens around the hospital grounds for patients, residents, and staff to enjoy. With more hands and hearts than ever, we knew the gardens would be even more special than usual this year.
The Gardening Program volunteers worked over 740 hours this summer and fall, not including the full autumn takedown. To say this year’s display was breathtaking would truly sell it short. They have laid the foundation for years to come and we eagerly await next year’s bloom.
Without further delay, we are so pleased to announce the names of the Canmore Hospital Gardens.
Garden Names: Front of Hospital
AUXILIARY
The Canmore Hospital Ladies’ Auxiliary is an astoundingly-committed volunteer group that has worked tirelessly for more than 40-plus years to raise money for hospital equipment. The group spearheads all sorts and fund-raising initiatives, often collaborating with small, local businesses along the way. The Auxiliary is truly invaluable to the hospital, its staff, and the patients and it’s only fitting that they get a tribute in the form of a namesake garden.
GRAYLING
The Pat Grayling garden honours a passionate volunteer who has worked to make this community a better place for decades. Pat has volunteered at the hospital, with the Ladies’ Auxiliary directly, with local seniors, and with all sorts of other initiatives aimed at improving the lives and care of our community members.
THREE SISTERS: FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY
The iconic Three Sisters have earned a space in front of the hospital for a few reasons. First, they are the backdrop of our lovely town and we all feel a sense of homecoming each time we look upon them. In addition, Three Sisters Landscaping Company has generously given to support the ongoing development of the numerous gardens.
A gracious volunteer, Amanda Carrington, took the time to paint three rocks as nameplates for the gardens. A little something extra for everyone to enjoy. The names Hope, Faith, and Charity, and the unofficial names of the Three Sisters.
RUNNERS GARDEN
This garden is called “Runner’s Garden” and it began as a heartfelt tribute to someone special. There sits a pair of bronze runners that belonged to a nurse who worked at the Canmore Hospital. She passed away very young, leaving behind her husband and two young children. Her shoes were bronzed by her husband as she loved the outdoors and adored running. This one resides next to the flagpole in front of the hospital.
Garden Names: Long Term Care
HELEN
The Helen Krizan Garden is a tribute to someone special who worked in Long Term Care for many years. Now, residents and staff can look out upon her garden.
VAL
Val and Helen work in Long Term Care together for many years at the Canmore Hospital. The two made a lasting impression on residents and staff alike. Now, they have side-by-side gardens in tribute of their years of work and community at the hospital.
GERRY & AVICE
Gerry and Avice Stephenson were staples of the community. Gerry was a manger of the old Canmore Coal Mine and he and his wife left a lasting impression on the community. They cared for this town, its history, and its people with such love and commitment. Avice was a resident in Long Term Care and Gerry also spent his final days at the Canmore Hospital as a volunteer. They left a lasting imprint on Canmore and the hospital and we are delighted to include them in the Long Term Care Garden as they both adored gardening. A bench has been placed in the hospital gardens in their honour.
BRYNE
The Bryne Sargent garden is in memory of Bryne, who was a Long Term Care resident. He absolutely loved the gardens. Bryne’s brother, Dr. Randall Sargent recently made a donation towards the gardens and we are overjoyed to celebrate both his lovely brother and his own generosity.
SALLY
Sally Young was a long-term volunteer who was in charge of the gardens for years. She was extremely passionate about her work and she is widely remembered for the stunning gardens she created. Of course, a garden has been named after Sally herself.
Garden Names: Cancer Clinic
TALIA
The Cancer Clinic garden was previously referred to as Talia. The beautiful name is after a baby who a staff member lost years ago. We have decided to make it official in Talia’s memory.
WENDY’S
The second Cancer Care garden has been named after Wendy who is known by many for her small garden center beside Canadian Tire. Wendy provides the hospital with many plants and shrubs annually and will be supplying the flowers for this lovely garden as well.
Garden Names: Back of Hospital
KAT
Tanmanz Landscaping has helped the Canmore Hospital Gardens each year by donating flowers, shrugs, soil, Christmas trees, and more. When asked about using his name for one of the gardens, the owner Todd of Tanmanz said he would like to name it after Kat, a longtime employee who aided in the many contributions.
FINNEGAN
The Finnegan Garden is named after a well-known local dog who is known to the community just as much as his owners. Finnegan’s owners are of the Bow Valley Garden Centre. They provide a standing discount and annual donations to the hospital gardens. A special family (Finnegan, too, of course).
FRANCIS
Burnco continues to support the gardens every year. The owner, Scott, suggested the Burnco garden be named after Francis Savage, the longest employee who worked with the company for 45 years.
HOFFMAN
Along with Pat Grayling, Gary and Shirley Hoffman started the gardens at the hospital. With hopes to add something beautiful and uplifting to the lives of patients, residents, and staff, the Hoffmans started what has now become a yearly tradition of making the hospital gardens bloom brightly.
Our Canmore Hospital Gardens
Thank you to our volunteers for all your hard work in making these gardens extra special in a year when we could all use something bright and uplifting. Thank you to our community for helping us name the gardens, we loved reading your submissions. And finally, thank you to everyone who has and will come to enjoy the gardens. This is our hospital, let us continue to spread warmth and togetherness inside and out.
The gardens have now been winterized and we cannot wait to share them with you again in the spring.
These gardens are sponsored by the Canmore Winter Bridge Club and Community Donations. They are generously maintained by the hospital volunteers.