A Blooming Tribute

Memorial Garden at Southern Frontenac Community Services Honours Loved OnesA colorful new addition is bringing beauty, hope, and remembrance to Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCSC). Tucked into a quiet spot for reflection, the newly painted mural, alive with birds, butterflies, and flowers, now brightens the hallway to the left of SFCSC’s reception area. This vibrant artwork is the centerpiece of their new Grace Tribute Garden, part of their Memorial & Honour Program.

The program was developed in response to heartfelt requests from community members looking for a meaningful way to honour loved ones with their donations. The garden is both a literal and symbolic space for reflection and remembrance.

At the heart of the initiative is a mural by local artist Andia Wornes, who previously completed the donor recognition tree mural for SFCSC’s 2024 Build with Grace Capital Campaign. The Grace Tribute Garden mural was designed to capture a similar warmth and tone to the donor tree down the hall. Wornes designed the mural with care and compassion, appreciating the sentiment that it would hold for many who seek solitude to reflect with love and appreciation. Weeks of planning took only a few days to bring the painting to life once the brushes went to work on the vision. Its blooming design was chosen to also complement the existing outdoor memorial garden pathway on the grounds behind the building creating a unified and welcoming space for remembrance year-round.

“It was important to us to provide a special place for donors seeking to honour people in their lives who made an imprint they want to acknowledge in a meaningful way. A donation alone may not feel complete sometimes, without a physical recognition that can be re-visited,” says Heather Rogers, Executive Director of SFCSC. “I hope what Andia has created resonates with them and brings comfort to those who spend time here.”

The program offers several ways to participate. With a combined gift of $250 or more, contributors can add a personalized tribute to the mural wall - choosing from symbols such as a flower petal, butterfly, bird, or stone, depending on the donation level. Each plaque becomes part of the growing garden, forming a vibrant and lasting symbol of love, memory, and community connection. The donation could be made by a single donor, or a group combining their donation.

For donors, the garden offers a meaningful way to celebrate a life while supporting services that continue to strengthen the community. “Knowing this space will become part of so many stories makes it very special. Having my mom’s name in the tribute garden offers a special way to celebrate her and keep her memory close. When I walk into that space, I feel like she is still with me”, one donor shared.

SFCSC is currently accepting tribute submissions, with plans to enhance the space further. A memorial bench now welcomes visitors, providing a peaceful place to sit, reflect, and remember those who have passed.

The Grace Tribute Garden stands as a reminder that while loved ones may be gone, the impact they leave behind continues to bloom—in our memories, our community, and in the lives of others.

For more information about the Grace Tribute Garden – Memorial & Honour Program, including donation levels and tribute opportunities, visit www.sfcsc.ca, stop by to view the mural in person or call 613-376-6477 ext. 205