Community comes together to rebuild the Radiation Therapy Garden; make it a place of beauty, quiet reflection and hope

The view of the thoughtfully rebuilt Radiation Therapy Garden, just off the waiting room at the James and Edna Claydon Radiation Treatment Centre in Halifax, is once again a place of beauty and a setting for quiet reflection. Renewal of the garden is due to the generosity of many individuals and local businesses who donated their time, talent, and materials so the over-grown garden could once again be enjoyed by patients who are undergoing cancer treatment.

While the world dealt with the COVID pandemic, the garden got little use and even less attention. It was completely over-grown and filled with weeds when Erin Fair, volunteer services coordinator for Cancer Care and Palliative Care, decided to see what could be done to bring the garden back to its original beauty.

“When I explained the garden overhaul project to individuals and local business owners, everyone I spoke with was extremely interested in helping to restore the garden as an oasis for patients with cancer and for their families,” said Fair.

The garden was completely gutted by ARCP and Scotiascapes in August 2023. New soil, mulch and trees were donated by Elmsdale Landscaping. All plants were donated by Halifax Seed. Garden beds were churned by a machine rented from a hardware store with the rental cost covered by Vincent Vaters, an employee who learned why the machine was being rented. Lee Valley donated a hummingbird feeder and a water barrel. Saint Mary’s University Volleyball team raised funds to purchase a bench and a plaque dedicated to patients with cancer. Chris Dube, a NSH volunteer gardener, did the planting and now spends time each week tending the garden and DeMone Monuments donated a quartz monument to acknowledge the many donors who made the renewed garden possible.

“Thank you to all who worked with Erin to bring our garden back to life,” said Ray Wright, Manager of Radiation Therapy. “This project demonstrates the power of coming together as a community toward a common goal that will benefit so many. We are grateful to be part of such a caring community.”

A recognition event for the businesses and individuals who made the revitalization of the garden possible was held in the garden on June 26.