Members of the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation, International Paper Grande Prairie and the Arbor Foundation unveil a new garden area at the QE2 hospital. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

By Shane Clausing

Community

International Paper, Arbor Day Foundation help plant new garden at QEII Hospital

Jul 9, 2021 | 1:29 PM

A new garden area was unveiled at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital on Friday.

The new garden is located at the main entrance and was funded by the International Paper Grande Prairie and the Arbor Day Foundation with the goal of creating a space for patients, staff and guests to relax.

Tom Macher, the General Manager for the International Paper in Grande Prairie says giving back to the community is something they as a company strive to do more of.

“We’ve donated and planted about 650 trees (in the Grande Prairie area). My agreement with the mill here is I want to get more community involvement and to me that’s important.”

The garden replaces what used to be an old garden/flower bed that was in disrepair.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

Dawn Miller with the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation tells EverythingGP when the International Paper approached them regarding the project, they were all for it.

“The QE2 has a few flower beds and garden beds that need some help, so I was extremely happy, and I knew right away this large piece of flower bed at the front needed some work,” explained Miller.

“It’s the first thing you see when you come in, so we wanted to make it a little more inviting and green. They took care of everything, they hired the landscaper and away they went.”

New garden at QE2 Hospital. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

QE2 Hospital new garden space. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

Miller says they began repairing the garden bed last year, however, COVID-19 delayed the competition of the project until July 2021.

“It’s just great to have people contributing to the beautification outside,” said Rosemarie VanHerk-Auger, the Patient Care Director at the QE2 hospital.

“It’s important for our patients looking out the windows that they see something that brings them joy and something different to look at and think about for sure.”

According to Miller, there are more plans in the works for gardens and green spaces at the new Grande Prairie Regional Hospital for when it opens by the end of 2021.

“I’ll be working with International Paper, the Arbor Day Foundation and Tree Canada. They want to put a nice stand of large trees over at the new hospital and have some picnic tables and benches, so it’s a nice calm shaded area for people to have lunch and relax.”

“It’ll be close to walking trails and they’ll be able to go over to the park and have a nice meal in the shade.”