The delivery of new planter boxes at the Englehart and Kirkland Lake sites of Blanche River Health mark the completion of the new healing gardens, announced John Sullivan, Chair, Blanche River Health Foundation.  

The planter boxes, built by students from Kirkland Lake District Composite School (KLDCS) and Englehart High School (EHS), are part of the new healing gardens at both hospital sites.

“Providing patients and visitors at our Englehart and Kirkland Lake hospital sites with an outdoor space to visit and enjoy nature was made possible thanks to the community’s generous support of the Blanche River Health Foundation,” said Sullivan. “I thank KLDCS and EHS students for donating the finishing touches, beautiful hand-made planters that I am sure will bring joy to patients for years to come.”

The Blanche River Health Foundation provided $20,000 towards the creation of the healing gardens.  Gardens have increased in popularity among many hospitals, as they can improve well-being, reduce stress and promote faster recoveries. 

Recent studies point to the patient benefits of nature as a therapy, which can benefit the brain, as well as the nervous, immune and endocrine systems.  Evidence also points to a favourable impact on depression, anxiety, diabetes, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, infectious, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases, obesity, migraines, vertigo and respiratory disorders. 

The Kirkland Lake garden, located east of the main parking lot, features two new gazebos, including a wooden structure donated by Norm Koch, new landscaping, outdoor furniture and the new planters. The Englehart garden is located at the rear of the hospital near the inpatient units. It features new outdoor furniture, a new gazebo and the new planters.   

Blanche River Health is a 74-bed hospital corporation with two sites serving the North Eastern Ontario communities of Englehart (26 beds) and Kirkland Lake (48 beds) as well as residents in surrounding areas. Our mission is to make health care work for you. BRH values people and continuous improvement and we demonstrate this through accountability, respect, and courage to excel.

Photo caption: Students from Kirkland Lake District Composite School deliver the planter they built for patients at the Kirkland Lake site of Blanche River Health. Englehart High School students built a similar planter for patients at the Englehart site.