Building a heritage garden together

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This article was published 02/05/2016 (3428 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It could be said that heritage begins at home.

Community members now have the chance play a part of in the creation of the St. Boniface Heritage Garden, which will be constructed on the grounds of the residence of the Archbishop of Saint Boniface.

The project is being organized in partnership with This Place Matters, a crowdfunding platform dedicated to helping Canadians save places that matter to them, which falls under the umbrella of the National Trust for Canada.

The goal of the multi-phased project is to convert the entire frontage of the residential property into a heritage garden that renders homage to the contributions made by the Catholic women religious orders, missionaries and individuals in building communities in St. Boniface and beyond. The garden will be open to the public for interpretation, education, relaxation and contemplation.

On June 20, there will be an unveiling of a monument and interpretive panels in one section of the garden and the This Place Matters crowdfunding campaign is targeted at the next phase of the project, which is a contemplative heritage garden. The aim is to raise $12,500 and the campaign ends on June 30.

“The circular, labyrinth garden will be a place people can sit or walk,” said Julie Turenne-Maynard, co-ordinator of the St. Boniface Heritage Garden project on behalf of the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface.

Turenne-Maynard said the fact the garden will sit in the heart of the city is testament to the rich history it will symbolize.

“There is so much history here, ranging from the development of the Archdiocese of St. Boniface to the development of the Métis culture. Then, there was the establishment of the health care, education and welfare systems. When you think about the founding of this community, and this province, it’s so relevant that this garden will be in the heart of Winnipeg right across from The Forks,” she said.

Natalie Bull, executive director of the National Trust for Canada, said the crowdfunding campaign gives individuals a chance to become proactive in their communities.

“We’ve created a platform that allows groups to post information and connect networks to reach a broad audience,” Bull said, noting this is This Place Matters’ first crowdfunding project in Manitoba and its first project involving landscape work.

“The idea is to use technology and new media to bring people together for a common cause and to pool resources to make something happen. It gives individuals a chance to something, however modest, a chance to make a difference and the chance to be a philanthropist. Building a culture of philanthropy is the new frontier in Canada, as I think it makes people feel good. The idea of social enterprise is how millennials want to move forward in the future.”

Go online at thisplacematters.ca for more information or to donate to the campaign.

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