Community Healing Garden for Truth & Reconciliation proposed to town council

Image: A rough drawing of what the 100×100 foot healing garden would look like from the Town of Bonnyville council package on Tuesday, March 25. 

The Lakeland Society for Truth and Reconciliation will work with Town administration on their idea of building a community healing garden.

Corita Vachon, society president, made a presentation to council last Tuesday, describing how a healing garden is one of the society’s goals in the community.

This aligns with their previous activities that look to increase education and awareness of Indigenous Canadian history, the generational impacts of residential schools on survivors, and also embracing Indigenous traditions and culture, while building relationships and allyships towards the path of healing and reconciliation.

“Amongst our society’s goals is to seek a designated area in our community that acknowledges all of this,” Vachon’s presentation reads.

“A place that is centered on healing and reconciliation; a place that is easily accessible to the general public and local schools; a place that is
deemed a safe space to congregate for truth telling and heartfelt discussions.”

To that aim, the LSTR is looking for partnerships and the right location.

They relayed that challenges with the initially proposed location of the Bonnyville Museum have pushed them towards looking along Lakeshore Drive. At the moment, their proposed site would be 49 Avenue and 51 Street.

The garden would include:

• Culturally significant plants that are native to our area and considered to be of healing value,
• Underground irrigation system,
• Concrete/paved circular area with a medicine wheel and turtle painted in the centre,
• Walkway around the centre with paths to access the plants,
• Pergola with benches for seating,
• Monument with the Seven Grandfather Teachings,
• Sculpture,
• Healing hands,
• Display boards/plaques,
• Flags and poles,
• Space for a tipi
• Portable personalized fire pit for sacred fire ceremonies,
• Fencing around the perimeter with one main entrance/exit.

This could also be a gathering site for several Indigenous days of remembrance and celebration, such as June 21 for National Indigenous People’s Day, September 30 for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and May 5 for MMIW Awareness Day.

Cost estimates were not mentioned during the presentation.

‘It’s a really good opportunity’

“We are open,” Vachon said about location. “Our big thing is we want it open and accessible, not hidden away. Historically, that’s been our culture, put in the back. Hidden. We want it available for everybody to learn, to see and to appreciate the culture.” 

Mayor Elisa Brosseau said that Lakeshore Drive would be a great location for this memorial.

“Around Jessie Lake they felt was a really good opportunity and council thinks it’s a really good opportunity as well,” Brosseau told Lakeland Connect on The Morning After. 

“We are working out a vision of Jessie Lake and the different areas, I think it’s a really good time to have these conversations, so we can start incorporating something to reflect a healing garden for Truth & Reconciliation.” 

Brosseau is alluding to the Town’s long term vision plan of the Lakeshore Drive greenspace around Jessie Lake.

In the past year, they’ve had open houses and feedback opportunities to chime in on the long-term future, with a focus towards recreation.

Councillor Phil Kushnir said during the meeting that he wasn’t sure 49 Avenue and 51 Street would work because of plans stemming from that study, but encouraged the Lakeland Society for Truth & Reconciliation to work with Town administration on next steps.

Council echoed those sentiments as the next course of action, including meeting with acting CAO Renee Stoyles.