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At the official opening, the City of St. Catharines announced a joint donation of $20,000 from Effort Trust and the Cullen family towards the community’s first public labyrinth.
City staff and Councillors were joined by the sponsors and project partners including members of the Kiwanis Club of St. Catharines and The Valhalla Project Niagara to celebrate the milestone at Fairview Park.
“These community partnerships support our efforts to create more inclusive, welcoming spaces, while building a healthier City,” said Mayor Walter Sendzik. “The health and wellbeing of our community is a priority, and the generosity of Effort Trust and the Cullen family, along with Valhalla Project and the Kiwanis Club of St. Catharines, will ultimately help many people in our community for years to come as they use this space for self-healing and reflection.”
Often referred to as a healing garden, a labyrinth is a walking path designed for meditation, mindfulness, and personal reflection. A labyrinth can also play a role in treating mental health conditions and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
“This is an important asset our community can benefit from,” said Phil Cristi, director of Community Recreation and Culture Services for the City. “Through our collaborative efforts, we are pleased to provide a space to facilitate building connections and mindfulness.”
Connected to the park’s parking lot via an accessible paved pathway, the labyrinth’s features include a grass walkway and shrubbery, with more additions to come with the most recent sponsorship support, and can be accessed by public transit.
With design and construction completed, the labyrinth will soon see the addition of a hard surface connection from a recently completed accessible trail, educational signage and benches.
Installation was completed by the City with support of the The Valhalla Project and the Kiwanis Club of St. Catharines, which provided a $7,500 donation to the project earlier this year.
The labyrinth is part of the overall plans to enhance Fairview Park through the Fairview Park Community Vision. As part of the community vision, public consultation will provide guidance for future park investment and development as well as consider the preservation and protection of environmental and archaeological resources.
To learn more about the labyrinth, visit stcatharines.ca/Labyrinth.
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