This spring, Tiny Hands of Hope along with Compassionate Friends are gearing up to break ground on the long-awaited Children’s Memorial Garden in Maskwôtêh Park. 

Tiny Hands of Hope support families who have lost a baby at any gestation up until the age of two and Compassionate Friends support families who are suffering the loss of a child at any age. 

Co-founder and past president of Tiny Hands of Hope, Karen Gilkyson said the garden will allow families to grieve in a positive environment. 

“The garden will give people a place to visit, a place to know they are not alone, a place they can go and help them in their grief and in their healing.” 

Fundraising for the garden started back in 2018 with some fundraisers and donations from organizations, including the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie Sunrise and the Swan City Rotary Club. There was also a $20,000 donation from Northern Mat and Bridge in the Fall of 2021 and a generous donation of $10,000 from the County of Grande Prairie. So far, as of February 24th, just over $150,000 has been donated for the garden.  

The garden, located behind the new GPRH, will be filled with trees, shrubs, perennials, and a gazebo. It will also feature sculptures from a studio from Cochrane that will feature a family of geese. There will also be a sculpture by local artist Grant Berg that will be placed in the garden.  

Playing dress upPhoto Submitted by Karen Gilkyson (Tiny Hands of Hope)

“It’s a mom and dad, and three gooselings are playing dress-up, with the dad wearing a top hat and the mom in a bonnet. It’s a feeling of childlike, inviting families to come and play” said Gilkyson. 

Tiny Hands of Hope is hosting an Illuminate the Night Gala at the Holiday Inn in Grande Prairie on March 19th with the funds going towards the Children’s Memorial Garden. 

Tickets for the event can be found here.