Memorial Garden

Heartwood Community Memorial Garden

Staff team that worked on the Options Bytown Garden.

Jean's niece Melissa Forget and Sister-in-Law Sylvie Forget. Melissa donated the soil and perennials for these two new garden beds, in memory of her uncle.

Sylvie, Katie (UUFO), Melissa, Pat (UUFO), Kelly (Options Bytown), Lucie (ELTOC).

Lee (HH) getting the soil.

Kelly planting. 

In April 2022, Kelly from Options Bytown proposed the idea that a Memorial Garden be created somewhere on the Heartwood House/Unitarian Fellowship property - to honour staff, volunteers, clients/participants/tenants who have died.  

We brought this idea forward to our monthly Heartwood Member meeting and the discussion that followed was inspiring and heartfelt.  The need was highly supported by the Heartwood community. Many organizations had experienced a profound loss through their work and Members were very interested in having a designated space to go to take a moment to reflect. 

A collaborative committee of dedicated volunteers was formed to help bring this thoughtful and responsive initiative to fruition.  We are grateful for the support of time, expertise and many green thumbs from UUFO volunteers Pat and Katie, and Heartwood Members Phil (CLC), Kelly (Options Bytown), Lucie (ELTOC), Kim (ALSO), Jen and Moe (Heartwood).  

Options Bytown donated the funds needed for the two Memorial Garden beds and BMI Contractors built and donated all the rich soil needed to fill them.  A lovely sitting bench was donated by Beechwood Cemetery and has been placed between the two beds. Heartwood has contributed funds and supplies to maintain and expand the gardens even further. Committee members donated all of the plants and have been watering, weeding and maintaining the gardens ever since.  THANK YOU!

Options Bytown staff have painted and placed a number of beautiful rocks in their Options Bytown Memorial Garden.  The second Memorial Garden has been used by many other Heartwood organizations and was a key focal point during the Memorial service for Jean Forget, the Front Reception staff member who died this past June.  Jean’s niece was so moved by his memorial ceremony and our Memorial Gardens, she offered to donate the soil and hostas for our newest garden beds.  We also recently learned that local community members from Vanier have placed special rocks to honour a loved one - so this initiative is definitely having a broad impact!

Options Bytown Memorial Garden

The alley before any improvements were made.

uOttawa student volunteers worked with UUFO to convert the asphalt walkway into the Green Alley.

 
 

OUr Mission

Heartwood House provides an affordable, accessible workplace for small non-profit and charitable organizations, enabling them to maximize their services through a mutually supportive, hospitable and empowering environment for their clients and participants.

Heartwood House serves the residents of Ottawa who are marginalized, living in poverty, and/or in need of educational, mental health, emotional, physical, economic, employment, training or recreational support through collaboration and the development of formal and informal partnerships within the greater community.