Edmonton – Patients and families at the Cross Cancer Institute have a new outdoor space to relax.
The $700,000 “Healing Garden” – located on the west side of the Alberta Health Services (AHS) facility – opened Tuesday. It’s wheelchair-accessible and includes two plaza areas where people can sit by flowers, grass, shrubs and trees.
“Cancer treatment is physically and emotionally difficult for patients and their loved ones, and the government supports any initiative that can help make that experience easier,” says Fred Horne, Minister of Health, in an AHS news release.
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The garden is the brainchild of the Cross Cancer Institute Volunteer Association (CCIVA) as a tribute to its more than one-million past and current members, many of whom helped raise money for the project.
“We wanted to honour the legacy of the remarkable accomplishments of the Cross Cancer Institute volunteers over the past 50 years in a substantial, permanent and meaningful way,” says CCIVA President John Jacob.
The Alberta Cancer Foundation and Delnor Construction Ltd. also made contributions.
“This transformative space will ease the cancer journey by providing a sense of comfort for patients and families,” says CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Myka Osinchuk.
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