THUNDER BAY – A butterfly-filled Wall of Remembrance is being installed at Boulevard Lake, inspired by the annual Hike for Hostice.
The metal sculpture, created by Thunder Bay artist Luc Despres, was designed as a memorial for local residents who have lost loved ones, the butterflies symbolic of hospice organizations, like Hospice Northwest, from around the world.
Cherie Kok, executive director of Hospice Northwest, said the soon-to-be installed wall will provide inspiration not only during the walk, 12 months a year.
“This wall will be a permanent structure at Boulevard Lake that during the walk people can pause and reflect, tie a ribbon on the wall. But it’s also going to be there year-round for folks to sit and reflect on somebody that they may have lost during the year,” Kok said.
“It’s part of the healing process and being part of a walk and memorializing people makes people realize there are others that have gone through the same things and you feel part of a bigger community. You feel supported.”
The artist, owner of Despres Metal Artwork, said his latest piece will be installed at the Adelaide Street monarch butterfly garden on the east side of Boulevard Lake Park.
He said he was inspired by what Hospice Northwest does, providing support to patients and their families facing end-of-life care.
“As an artist, to be able to participate in a community-based project, which raises funds for this kind of thing, is awesome,” Despres said. “This project ends up raising funds and touching people on multiple facets. It’s just incredible.”
Dan Fulton, who developed the garden, was only too happy to have the piece installed in the garden. The sculpture, which is more than one metre tall and three metres long, also includes a nod to his mother Joyce, a long-time volunteer at Hospice Northwest.
Funding for the wall was provided in part through donations from Northern Credit Union and Union Gas. It will be unveiled on site during this year’s walk, scheduled for May 5.
Participants are still being sought for this year’s event, which comes with a fundraising goal of $50,000.
To register, visit www.hospicenorthwest.ca or phone Shane Judge at 473-9596 or contact him at [email protected].
