Leading the garden work is DavidGaze Landscaping Inc. with DavidGaze, a long-time Oakville resident.

Again, an unknown hand was atwork. When Gaze was approached(he does other work for OMDREB)

and he heard the Lighthouse is fund-ed by the Salvation Army and HaltonRegion, the words were magic.

Gaze’s wife, Denise, wouldn’t hearof him considering anything buthelping, as she, when a seven-year-oldgirl, moved to Canada from NewJersey with her mom, found a helpinghand from the Salvation Army.

“My mother turned to the localSalvation Army. They asked nothing,they just wanted to help. I had alreadybeen forewarned there would be noChristmas that year, but Christmasdid come,” said Denise.

“There was plenty to eat, and moreimportantly to a seven-year-old...there were presents. Some were gen-tly-used items, but tucked awayamongst the presents, was a doll in itsoriginal box,” said Denise.

So, shovels went symbolicallyinto the ground this month at theLighthouse as plans were unveiled forthe Garden of Hope.

It will take the form of a Celticcross and will symbolize the water,light and circle of preservation thatthe lighthouse itself symbolizes — allas designed by David Adkins.

“Our goal is to create this garden asa vision of hope and inspiration for cur-rent and future residents,” said ValerieRamsay-Brown, OMDREB’s communi-cations/membership manager.

“Don’t forget, this is a home. Many

$500 OFF

905-849-4998www.aireone.com1-888-827-2665

Over 60,000Over 60,000Satisfi ed Satisfi ed

CustomersCustomers

� Best Price � Best Service � Same Day Installation Available� Eligible for O.P.A. & Governement Rebate

Buy From Largest Lennox Dealer in Ontario & Save $$$.

THE BIGGEST SALE EVER

*See dealer for details9 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU BETTER

A+ Rating

DENTURES$379COMPLETE DENTURE

ea.

L I M I T E D T I M E O F F E R905-815-8208

19 • O

AK

VILLE

BEA

VER

Wed

nesd

ay, July 22, 2009

■ By Angela BlackburnOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF

The flower that was the lateBrittany Jacob died all too soonand her sister Stacey believes

it’s fitting the new Garden of Hope atthe Lighthouse Shelter be a memorialto the late 17-year-old former St.Ignatius of Loyola student — Stacey’sbaby sister.

Here I am, standing in a circle ofquiet ...

Everyone needs a place to shelterand heal — to find solace, peace andhope says the 1,700-member Oakvilleand Milton District Real Estate Board(OMDREB), which is funding thegarden.

Hopefully everyone finds thatwhen they need it most. For mostpeople, that place is home. But everyso often, someone can suddenly bewithout a home — without a place toregroup and regenerate.

That’s what happened to Brittanyand it’s appropriate the space withthe big heart but definite industrialedge that has been the landscape ofOakville’s shelter will now be softened— and in Brittany’s memory.

The shelter’s staff know the gar-den will remind them of the youngOakville girl and her untimely deathearlier this year — as well as a dozenother people who have used the shel-ter over the years and have since diedeither from natural causes, suicide,illness, addictions or accident.

While the landscaping will bedone over this summer, the gardenactually began to grow last winter —and Brittany planted the seeds.

“The most beautiful flowers comefrom the darkest of soils,” said Stacey,noting sometimes good comes fromdesolation and hardship. She notedher sister donated her organs and inso doing saved five lives.

After Brittany’s parents, Maria andVictor, moved away from Oakville,Brittany stayed with friends toremain living in town and then foundherself at the shelter battling depres-sion as she attempted to survive onher own in her hometown.

Then, in late January, shelter staff,including executive director Rachel

Sawatzky, was shocked to hearBrittany had died.

After Salvation Army Major DanBroome performed a memorial serv-ice at the Lighthouse for Brittany,the shelter staff began dreaming of amemorial garden.

About a month later, a call fromAlex Irish of OMDREB, suggestedthe board was offering to do work forthe shelter — and Irish even men-tioned the possibility of a garden.

“I was so moved at that momentthat it was hard to hold back thetears,” admitted Sawatzky as divineintervention appeared to be at work.

So OMDREB set about its task ofraising $25,000 for the project.

The Oakville Shrine Club hasdonated and Home Depot is on board.

Augy Carnovale, owner ofRE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp.,and his wife Anna, have donated$5,000 toward the garden fountain inmemory of Carnovale’s late partner,Bob Hunter, who died of a braintumour more than a decade ago.

Giving Garden of Hope to shelter

“Don’t forget,this is a home.Many different circumstances could lead people to being here in the Lighthouse Shelter.”

■ Jenny Kotulak, co-chair,Oakville Milton & District Real Estate Board Garden Project Committee

LivingOakvilleBeaver

LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN Phone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com

LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER

PLANTING A FUTURE: Taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Garden of Hope at the Lighthouse Shelterare, from left, Jenny Kotulak, co-chair Oakville, Milton & District Real Estate Board (OMDREB) Garden Project Committee, DavidAdkins,designer,Heather Tilley co-chair of OMBDREB Garden Committee,Dianna Morrison,president of OMDREB,Rachel Sawatzky,Lighthouse director, Seamus Doyle, Mansewood Irrigation, David Gaze of David Gaze Landscaping, Mayor Rob Burton, AnnaCarnovale and Augy Carnovale of RE/MAX Aboutowne who donated $5,000 for a fountain.

Brittany was beautiful, free-spirited, strong yet fragile — and life-giving.

■ See Garden page 20