Community Helps Plant this Year’s Healing Forest

On April 25, 30 volunteers from the community and Lakeridge Health staff joined Elder Kim Wheatley, an Anishinaabe Traditional Grandmother, in a special Smudge Ceremony to honour Canada’s only Healing Forest on the grounds of a hospital.

“I made a commitment in receiving the tobacco to honour the life that has been placed into the ground here with such care and respect,” said Elder Kim. “It’s a reminder of the teachings I’ve been gifted over the years. It’s a reminder of my responsibility as an ancestral knowledge keeper, as a traditional grandmother, and as part of the Anishinaabe Nation that our ways have a place in a contemporary realm that is meaningful.”

The group met to plant this year’s newest additions to Ajax Pickering Hospital’s Healing Forest – a reconciliation-inspired green space that is part of a national initiative to honour residential school victims, survivors, their families, and murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. It is one of 16 other Healing Forest projects in Canada, proudly supported by the David Suzuki Foundation.

“It goes to show, you don’t need a ton of space to make a big difference,” said Tracy Paterson, CEO Ajax Pickering Hospital Foundation. “Today is just one of the best things about being in Ajax - the community spirit and generosity are amazing.”

Several native plant species were transplanted into the forest to enhance its beauty and support the existing ecosystem. Plants such as Big Bluestem Grass, Pale Purple Coneflower, Ontario Blazing Star, and many more native plant species were planted, with all the plants and tools donated by community members.

“Planting in the meadow is challenging and we’re so grateful for the efforts of these volunteers,” said Tracy. “This Healing Forest is a legacy gift that will be in Ajax for decades.”

And Elder Kim is quick to remind us that the Healing Forest is a living entity that we must take care of.

“You can help the forest thrive by watering, weeding, and keeping the area free of garbage,” said Elder Kim. “We’re thankful that this space was created to support community, so we all need to do our part to keep it alive.”