EDMONTON – Eighteen-year-old Kayla Stan believes plants make people happy, especially those that grow quickly beside hospital beds.
Stan is the founder and president of Plants for Patients.
The project is dedicated to providing plants to Royal Alexandra and Glenrose Rehabilitation hospital patients.
Stan was one of eight young Albertans this year to win the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal this year. Others won for community work, such as raising money for War Child Canada and Kids With Cancer.
Lt.-Gov. Donald Ethell awarded the medals Monday afternoon at Government House.
"Young ladies, thank you for your contributions," he said during the ceremony.
"Boy, Canada’s in great shape, when we see what these young people have done."
Stan is entering her second year studying environmental earth science at the University of Alberta.
She is a graduate of W.P. Wagner School of Science and Technology, where staff and students continue to host and work with the growing plants destined for local hospitals.
Stan herself has never spent much time in hospitals.
But she said the idea of delivering plants every couple of months seemed an obvious extension of her love of green things.
"Whenever I went into the greenhouse, I just felt better about everything. Who do I think really should feel better? Hospital patients."
Since developing the program when she was in Grade 11, Stan has spent a lot of time considering the best plants for patients’ needs.
"They’re aimed at people who are alone in hospital, who are in there for an extended period of time."
Her big hits include plants with purple and silver highlights, or ones that have scented leaves patients can rub. Another favourite is the "rabbits foot" plant, with soft fuzzy roots.
"I try to do as wide a variety as possible," Stan said.
"It takes up a lot of time, but it’s time well-spent. If I could put a smile on someone’s face with a plant … if I could help them, that’s all that matters."
All eight medal recipients graduated high school in 2009. They each receive $5,000 for personal development and education.
Other medal winners:
– -Evelyn Cranston, Hinton — a founding member of Students for Change.
– -Sidney Lapp, High Level — attended the Arctic Summit.
– -Alexandra Wagner, Bonnyville — part of her school’s Young Adopters program, she raised money for projects for children in developing countries;
– -Amanda Beggs, Red Deer — as cochairwoman of her school’s grad project, raised money for a new community Ronald McDonald House.
– -Kelty Douglas, Innisfail — travelled to Uganda as part of the Adopt a Village program.
– -Amanda Achtman, Calgary — sat on Mayor’s Youth Council and Education Minister’s Student Advisory Council.
– -Zhuxi (Jessie) Wang, Brooks — served as president of local chapter of Amnesty International.
taudette@thejournal.canwest.com
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