A Pierrefonds solidarity garden founded in partnership with the West Island Mission unveiled its redesign on Tuesday, September 19th. Nurtured by dedicated volunteers, the neighbourhood park at the intersection of 2nd Street and Boulevard Gouin West was launched in 2020 to increase awareness surrounding food insecurity. Annually, the harvest from this garden is distributed to support those in need through the West Island Mission and On Rock Community Services food banks. The target for the coming year is to yield 750 kg of produce, sufficient to provide sustenance for 70 families.
PHOTO: Borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.
Following its recent redevelopment, the garden now features 25 planters, including five raised ones designed to make tending to the vegetable garden easier. Additionally, a new on-site water supply has been established to provide convenient access to drinking water. The investment of $192,000 has allowed for a threefold expansion of the solidarity garden's area. This expansion has also facilitated the installation of picnic tables, benches, and a wheelchair-accessible pathway within the park.
Pierrefonds-Roxboro Mayor Dimitrios (Jim) Beis, members of the Borough Council, its partner organization West Island Mission, and its collaborator Urban Seedling inaugurated the garden at a ceremony Tuesday.
"The solidarity garden is a concrete gesture within our community that helps combat heat islands and promote biodiversity, while strengthening the social fabric of our neighborhoods by dedicating a public space to plant fruits, vegetables and herbs that can then be redistributed to feed our families," said Dimitrios (Jim) Beis, Mayor of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.
SOURCE: Borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.
