Congratulations to our Mississauga Centre’s Activation Team! Our Labyrinth Garden Walk was awarded Outstanding Program of the Year by Recreation Professionals of Ontario (RPO) at their 2022 Annual Convention.
RPO is a professional organization representing leisure recreation providers in healthcare settings. The Outstanding Program of the Year award recognizes an excellent recreation program, as decided upon by a committee of previous winners.
Situated on the second-floor balcony, the Labyrinth Garden Walk is a fan favourite among our Mississauga Centre residents. But how did this beautiful garden come to be?
Last summer, our Activation Manager, Teresa Chew and her team were brainstorming new ways to promote and support resident wellness. One of the objectives was to incorporate the “fresh air strategy” and bring residents outdoors, especially during the warmer months.
That’s when the team decided to transform the unused balcony patio into a labyrinth garden.
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- Before…
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- After!
Teresa first learned about labyrinth gardens in a workshop she attended years ago. These tranquil gardens are a place for personal reflection, relaxation and renewal. The gentle, winding paths invite us to slow down and enjoy a quiet moment with nature.
In long-term care settings, gardens can also enhance social interaction and activity, promote exercise and physical health, and provide multi-sensory stimulation and engage the brain.
With the help from a team of creative and hardworking summer students, the once empty patio was transformed into a beautiful garden for residents to enjoy.
Complete with comfortable benches, colourful flowers, delicate windchimes, and positive messages of love and joy, the Labyrinth Garden is a beautiful place where our residents can connect with others or spend a moment of self-reflection.
Thank you and congratulations to our Mississauga Activation Team and students for the incredible work and great accomplishment!