A Healing Garden is a place of refuge in a hospital. It is a tranquil retreat where patients, their loved ones, caregivers and staff can recharge.
HOW IT BEGAN
In 1992, Mary Egan shared with her husband Terry that she would like a garden created for the use and comfort of other cancer patients. Terry made it his life’s work to bring Mary’s vision to life.
In 2009, Terry Egan approached Charlie Kitts and that is when it all began. They, along with founding members Darrell Mooney, Denzil Ferguson, Guy Jamieson, Bob Johnston, Bruce Laplante, Mike Quilty, Kent Smith, Bert Virgin, Kirk Warren and Kevin White and recruit Mary Etmanski formed the original Healing Garden committee.
The RVH Foundation has embraced the Healing Garden concept and continues to expand on it and grow Terry and Mary’s vision. The Healing Garden now includes the original plan of the water feature, gardens and gazebo and has been expanded to include: a gorgeous Legacy Circle Garden that honours all of those who leave a gift in will to the hospital, stone planters outside of the Oncology windows so patients have a gorgeous view of the flowers and water feature, a stone pathway and stone planters outside of the Nephrology Centre to allow patients to have their dialysis treatments while enjoying the serenity of the flowers and hummingbirds and large potted arrangements that enhance all of the entrances to the hospital. In addition, a stone wall and fencing was erected along the front of the Emergency Entrance to bring the Healing Garden concept around the perimeter of the hospital.
The next phase of the Healing Garden being planned is the addition of an Indigenous garden that is being planned in conjunction with our First Nation’s community.
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