By Courtney Almeida

New Memorial Garden announced for Maskwôtêh Park

Mar 19, 2019 | 5:30 AM

The Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta is partnering with Tiny Hands of Hope society and the City to create a memorial garden in Maskwôtêh Park. The garden will act as a place for families to visit, honour and mourn infants who have passed away.

Tiny Hands of Hope was founded in 2013. The society works to support all types of infant loss, including pregnancy loss, neonatal loss, stillbirth, SIDS and infant death. They also work to support the impact losses have on families by providing support and care.

“As an organization, they support communities. They support community members and through the work of the Community Foundation, we have entered into a tremendous partnership. It is a partnership in support of creating a memorial garden,” says Tracey Vavrek, CEO for Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta.

“This memorial garden will be the place where individuals, families and community members can remember the lives and the little individuals that have been lost.”

A core offering by Tiny Hands of Hope is their ability to connect and support families in need through centralized bereavement groups and resources.

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“It is a tough topic, but this garden is going to be beautiful for our community and it’s a place for all of us to be able to cherish.”

Tiny Hands of Hope approached the Community Foundation a few years back to look at ways a Memorial Park could be developed.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for citizens to recognize the loss that they’ve either experienced or community members have experienced and recognize that a garden is growth and a garden is a place to come together, as well as continuing to remember those individuals,” said Vavrek.

The City is also involved with the partnership to make the memorial garden part of the community.

“This project is significant for many families in Grande Prairie, and we are proud to support the Tiny Hands of Hope Society as they continue to make a positive impact with their work,” said Mayor Bill Given in a release.

The new development is a result of donations from the Community Foundation and Tiny Hands of Hope.

Funds raised from the sold-out “Illuminate the Night Gala,” which took place on Saturday, will also go towards building the garden.

Donations to The Tiny Hands of Hope Children’s Memorial Fund can be made here.