Oakville, Milton & District Real Estate Board is supporting the Salvation Army Lighthouse Shelter Memory Garden.

1. 19 • OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Living
Oakville Beaver
LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN Phone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com
Giving Garden of Hope to shelter
Brittany was beautiful, free-spirited, strong yet fragile — and life-giving.
■ By Angela Blackburn and he heard the Lighthouse is fund-
OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF ed by the Salvation Army and Halton
Region, the words were magic.
T
he flower that was the late Gaze’s wife, Denise, wouldn’t hear
Brittany Jacob died all too soon of him considering anything but
and her sister Stacey believes helping, as she, when a seven-year-old
it’s fitting the new Garden of Hope at girl, moved to Canada from New
the Lighthouse Shelter be a memorial Jersey with her mom, found a helping
to the late 17-year-old former St. hand from the Salvation Army.
Ignatius of Loyola student — Stacey’s “My mother turned to the local
baby sister. Salvation Army. They asked nothing,
Here I am, standing in a circle of they just wanted to help. I had already
quiet ... been forewarned there would be no
Everyone needs a place to shelter Christmas that year, but Christmas
and heal — to find solace, peace and did come,” said Denise.
hope says the 1,700-member Oakville “There was plenty to eat, and more
and Milton District Real Estate Board importantly to a seven-year-old...
(OMDREB), which is funding the there were presents. Some were gen-
garden. tly-used items, but tucked away
Hopefully everyone finds that amongst the presents, was a doll in its
when they need it most. For most original box,” said Denise.
people, that place is home. But every So, shovels went symbolically
so often, someone can suddenly be into the ground this month at the
without a home — without a place to Lighthouse as plans were unveiled for
regroup and regenerate. LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER the Garden of Hope.
That’s what happened to Brittany PLANTING A FUTURE: Taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Garden of Hope at the Lighthouse Shelter It will take the form of a Celtic
and it’s appropriate the space with are, from left, Jenny Kotulak, co-chair Oakville, Milton & District Real Estate Board (OMDREB) Garden Project Committee, David cross and will symbolize the water,
the big heart but definite industrial Adkins,designer,Heather Tilley co-chair of OMBDREB Garden Committee,Dianna Morrison,president of OMDREB,Rachel Sawatzky, light and circle of preservation that
edge that has been the landscape of Lighthouse director, Seamus Doyle, Mansewood Irrigation, David Gaze of David Gaze Landscaping, Mayor Rob Burton, Anna the lighthouse itself symbolizes — all
Oakville’s shelter will now be softened Carnovale and Augy Carnovale of RE/MAX Aboutowne who donated $5,000 for a fountain. as designed by David Adkins.
— and in Brittany’s memory. “Our goal is to create this garden as
The shelter’s staff know the gar- Sawatzky, was shocked to hear Leading the garden work is David a vision of hope and inspiration for cur-
den will remind them of the young Brittany had died.
“Don’t forget, Gaze Landscaping Inc. with David rent and future residents,” said Valerie
Oakville girl and her untimely death After Salvation Army Major Dan this is a home. Gaze, a long-time Oakville resident. Ramsay-Brown, OMDREB’s communi-
earlier this year — as well as a dozen Broome performed a memorial serv- Many different Again, an unknown hand was at cations/membership manager.
other people who have used the shel- ice at the Lighthouse for Brittany, circumstances could work. When Gaze was approached “Don’t forget, this is a home. Many
ter over the years and have since died the shelter staff began dreaming of a lead people to (he does other work for OMDREB) ■ See Garden page 20
either from natural causes, suicide, memorial garden.
being here in the
THE BIGGEST
illness, addictions or accident. About a month later, a call from
While the landscaping will be Alex Irish of OMDREB, suggested Lighthouse Shelter.” Over 60,000
done over this summer, the garden the board was offering to do work for Satisfied
Customers
SALE EVER
actually began to grow last winter — the shelter — and Irish even men-
■ Jenny Kotulak, co-chair,
and Brittany planted the seeds. tioned the possibility of a garden.
“The most beautiful flowers come “I was so moved at that moment Oakville Milton & District
from the darkest of soils,” said Stacey, that it was hard to hold back the Real Estate Board
noting sometimes good comes from
desolation and hardship. She noted
tears,” admitted Sawatzky as divine
intervention appeared to be at work.
Garden Project Committee
$500
DENTURES
her sister donated her organs and in So OMDREB set about its task of
so doing saved five lives.
After Brittany’s parents, Maria and
Victor, moved away from Oakville,
raising $25,000 for the project.
The Oakville Shrine Club has
donated and Home Depot is on board.
OFF
Brittany stayed with friends to COMPLETE DENTURE # Best Price # Best Service # Same Day Installation Available
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Augy Carnovale, owner of
remain living in town and then found
herself at the shelter battling depres-
RE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp.,
and his wife Anna, have donated
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Then, in late January, shelter staff,
memory of Carnovale’s late partner,
Bob Hunter, who died of a brain
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