Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus celebrated their establishment of the Pembroke Campus Arboretum coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, 2024. The Arboretum will serve as a vital resource for teaching, learning, research, and outreach, embodying Algonquin College’s commitment to sustainability, education, and community engagement.
Jodi Bucholtz Acting Manager of Community and Student Affairs tells myFM how the Arboretum will help connect the college to the community and honour the history.
The ceremony was highlighted with guest speaker Elizabeth Manley, a former Olympic figure skater and mental health advocate telling her story about mental health. The tree planting ceremony wasn’t all about trees, but also planting wild flowers. There were red paper hearts that were lined with wild flower seeds, which were used to symbolize someone you loved who passed on. Manley talked about suicide and mental health, stating that “it’s okay to be yourself, it’s better to be yourself as everyone else is already taken”. She stated that her Olympic journey was just a phase in her life that she has now come to love.
Peter Arbour Coordinator, Forestry Technician is the man behind this new feature. He has been working on growing the Arboretum since 2020, which now has over 70 species of trees. Arbour explains the emotional part of planting trees and how good it can make you feel.
The ceremony was blessed by Sherry Dion the Campus Kokom who smudge the surrounding area and sang songs throughout the ceremony. The College invites the community to utilize the Arboretum and watch it grow over the years.
(Written by: Emma Butler)
