'I hope they still feel her smile': Brandon park named after four-year-old girl who passed away in October.
A park in Brandon is being named after a little girl who passed in October.
The park along Lakeview Drive is being named Olivia the Brave Park after Olivia Baessler.
She was four years old when she passed away and was known as the first person in Canada to receive a new throat therapy that used magnets back in 2017.
Olivia was born prematurely with her esophagus connected to her lungs.
Olivia's mother, Crystal Baessler, said the park is close to their house in Brandon and was the spot they took Olivia to play.
"She just really loved it," said Baessler.
She said the name Olivia the Brave was a name that was started by a family friend as Olivia was in and out of the hospital a lot, but she always had a smile on her face.
"After her passing, it became even bigger. First of all, she was super brave, but it just came to everybody to call her Olivia the Brave."
Baessler said originally they just wanted to set up a swing to honour Olivia because there were a lot of kids in the neighbourhood who were friends with her.
But after talking with friends, Baessler said they eventually went to city hall to see if they could name the park after her.
"So we went to the city, to the board of the City of Brandon. The council had some meetings, and they agreed and thought it was a great idea."
Baessler said there isn't a sign for the park just yet, but a friend of hers has designed a logo for the park.
She said it is super emotional knowing the park is being named after her daughter, but she noted it makes everyone around them extremely happy knowing Olivia could be honoured.
"I hope that they just feel that great, incredibly brave soul that she had… I hope they still feel her smile, and still feel her love."
Baessler said they plan to have fundraising for Olivia every year in October with funds going to the park and adding more to it, adding the park is for all the kids and she wants them to enjoy it just like Olivia did.
"She seemed to always help people. She didn't have a mean bone in her body."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.