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Community unites to grow 'Garden of Gratitude' in memory of Trail realtor

Local realtors and Redstone Resort recently joined forces to raise nearly $6,000 for Columbia View Lodge garden
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L-R: The Century 21 Kootenay Homes team presented their donation to Andrea Bushore, KBRH Health Foundation board director.

Local realtors and Redstone Resort recently joined forces to raise nearly $6,000 for Columbia View Lodge’s heartfelt “Garden of Gratitude,” a project that honours the power of community and the healing touch of nature. 

The funds, gathered during the Richard Daoust Memorial Golf Tournament, will help maintain the newly completed garden space. 

This serene area offers long-term residents a peaceful outdoor sanctuary, where they can connect with nature. 

“This generous contribution will allow us to sustain this beautiful space,” shared the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) Health Foundation. 

A special thanks was extended to Century 21 Kootenay Homes and Redstone Resort for their $5,830 donation, which will directly benefit the gardens. 

”We’re grateful to the sponsors, volunteers, and participants who made this event a success,” the foundation added. “Your support continues to enhance the quality of life for our community.” 

The Garden of Gratitude, completed just last month, is a legacy project that began in June 2022. 

It grew from the story of Mary Martin and her husband Richard Daoust, a well-loved realtor from Trail, who tragically passed away from early-onset Alzheimer’s in March 2022. 

Diagnosed at 59, Richard’s condition rapidly worsened, requiring 24-hour care. 

Columbia View Lodge became his final home, a place where, as Mary shared, “Richard was cared for with love, patience, and kindness by all.” 

During this personal journey, Mary noticed the garden courtyards had been long overlooked. 

Inspired by the benefits of nature, she launched a campaign to restore these courtyards, knowing that gardens can provide memory prompts and peaceful moments for those living with Alzheimer’s. 

“These spaces are just as vital for the caregivers, who need this respite of calm,” she said. 

The Garden of Gratitude now boasts widened pathways, sunshades, seasonal plantings, and new furniture, ensuring the garden remains accessible and enjoyable for all 76 residents at Columbia View Lodge. 

It stands as a living testament to the power of community, memory, and the gentle beauty of nature. 



Sheri Regnier

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