Southbridge Care Home & Gateway CERH Celebrate Cultivating Memories & Pollinator Pathways with a Garden Party
- Sage Milne
- Aug 6
- 1 min read
On Thursday morning, the courtyard at Southbridge Care Home in Goderich was filled as residents, staff, families, and community members gathered for a special garden party. Hosted by Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH), the event marked a milestone in the Cultivating Memories & Pollinator Pathways project.
This initiative brings raised garden beds to long-term care and retirement homes across Huron County, helping residents reconnect with nature, stimulate memory, and find joy in gardening. The Southbridge gardens are the seventh installation in the growing network of gardens.
A highlight of the event was the announcement that Southbridge’s 5th Floor garden bed received the Butterfly Ranger Award from The Butterflyway Project Goderich. This award recognizes the garden’s commitment to native plant species, supporting pollinators like butterflies.
The emotional impact of the garden is deeply felt by residents. One participant shared:
“First of all, I love the people. It makes the garden. Everybody is here and they’re cheerful. They look around and they see beauty and happiness—it brings everybody together. I am very impressed, I feel comfortable here, and I love to see the smiles on everybody’s faces.”
The garden party featured refreshments, tours of the new raised beds, and stories from residents about their own gardening journeys. These moments served as a powerful reminder of how gardens can foster community and joy.
To learn more about the Cultivating Memories & Pollinator Pathways project.
This project was funded by the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
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