Community blooms along an Orleans Bike Path
It’s a garden where community is blooming, thanks to some senior visionaries wanting to make a difference.
"This has become a crossroads where the community meets the seniors. To us that’s the purpose," said Louise Lariviere.
Lariviere began renting at Villa Bruyere 10 years ago. She and her husband loved the facility, but missed connecting with their former neighbours. So, the couple got to thinking.
"How can we, as a couple, encourage people to interact with the surrounding community? So, we decided to do this garden," said Lariviere.
Initially, Lariviere said the City of Ottawa frowned upon its land being used.
However, after the transformation of the landscape, all were delighted. That enthusiasm continues to be shared by everyone using the flower-lined bike path near Orleans Boulevard.
Flowers line the bike path near Orleans Boulevard.(Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa
"A medical doctor from the (University of Ottawa) Heart Institute that comes every day cycles to work. She told us when she comes here in the morning it gives her strength," Lariviere said.
"So this is the lover’s lane and part of the lover’s lane is the enchanted forest," said a smiling Lariviere, while touring me through the forest.
The forest is an exciting draw for neighbourhood children. It’s a place to play, imagine and feel free.
"Especially during the pandemic. It was a moment of joy in this moment of hardship," said Lariviere.
There are actually several gardens here and several gardeners. They’re planting seeds of hope and beauty for their community.
There used to be a pile of rubbish on one section of the path, but now it’s transformed, thanks to Claudette and Albert Potvin.
"We thought the beauty of flowers would bring happiness to the elderly people here," said Claudette.
"Flowers always bring joy. A little bit of happiness here and there along the path, I think that’s OK," she said.
"And it gives us some hope for the future," said her husband Albert.
Albert and Claudette Potvin check out the blooming community garden along an Orleans bike path. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
A woman who planted another garden along the path, years ago, recently broke her hip.
So, resident Claude St. Cyr has kept things blooming, while continuing her traditions of kindness.
"If she saw an elderly person in a wheelchair, she’d pick a couple of flowers and give them to that person. You wouldn’t believe the reception it got from those people," said St. Cyr.
Louise Lariviere and others pay for the plants, water them, and help with the gardens’ designs, but a professional gardener does much of the heavy lifting.
"We have the audacity to do it but not the mobility," said Lariviere with a smile.
And for that audacity, a community of cyclists, walkers, runners and dog walkers, says 'thanks' to Lariviere and her happy gardeners.
"From a seed that we planted, a beautiful, beautiful community emerged."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Statistics Canada reports real GDP up 0.6 per cent in January as Quebec strikes end
Statistics Canada says real gross domestic product grew 0.6 per cent in January, helped by the end of public sector strikes in Quebec in November and December.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.