The Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore held a Grand Opening Event on September 13 at the Clarice West Hobbs Contemplative Garden at the St. Catharines hospital site of the Niagara Health System.
The event was covered by Cogeco YourTV. Click here to see the TV segment.
The Garden was named in memory of Clarice West Hobbs, long time member of the Club (over 20 years) and past Chair of the World & Community Service Committee. Clarice was twice recognized as a Paul Harris Award Winner by the Club.
Launched in 2020 with a budget approaching $50,000 and completed over two phases covering 2021 and 2022, the Garden creates an oasis stretching 400 feet along the western side of the hospital. There are over 8,000 sq. ft. of planting beds in the total 20,000 sq. ft. site. The plantings emphasize drought and salt resistant, yet colourful, hardy perennials and bushes all supported by a drip irrigation system. The Club augmented existing benches, sidewalks, lights, and trees with six unique Sitting Rocks and will continue to maintain the Garden as a legacy project.
The Club committed the highest percentage of the total funding to the project. Additional donations came from individual Lakeshore Club members, the Rotary Clubs of St. Catharines and St. Catharines South, Rotary District 7090 Foundation Committee, local chapters of organizations such as District 14 Niagara RTOERO, RTOERO Ontario, RWTO/OERO, and Friendship Force Niagara, as well as the Garden suppliers and many interested citizens at large.
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