New garden growing food and a sense of community for immigrant families
The city's latest community garden is growing far more than just fruit and vegetables.
The new garden at the West Kildonan Memorial Community Centre is helping to support newcomer families.
"Having a plot like this here to allow families, to allow youth come out to interact, share in something amazing," said Raymond Ngarboui, a community organizer with the Community Education Development Association.
Ten newcomer families are tending the garden, getting produce, fun and a sense of community in return.
The garden was inspired by the Rainbow Community Garden established in 2008 at the University of Manitoba by the Immigrant Integration Farming Community Co-op (IIFCC) in collaboration with Knox United Church.
According to Ngarboui, that garden now supports more than 200 families and has a waitlist.
This latest garden is part of a project established by the Winnipeg Food Council in response to an increase in demand for garden space during the pandemic.
"Our project participants have been dealing with anxiety and depression due to social isolation, especially with some families remaining inside their apartments for so long," said Ngarboui.
The West Kildonan garden is the second of its kind, with a similar garden first planted in St. Vital last year.
"We got our first one last year at the start of the pandemic, and here we are still a year later dealing with COVID-19. So it's been well used," said Brian Mayes, St. Vital city councillor and Winnipeg Food Council chair.
"I was stunned in St. Vital, like how much came out of what didn't seem to me to be a huge piece of land."
A picture of tomatoes growing in the new West Kildonan garden.
The families tending the garden, which come from nine backgrounds, including Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Central Africa and India, were asked what they would like to grow. While deciding was tough, the selected produce includes hot peppers, tomatoes, and okra.
Despite only planting in July, some of the families have already seen the fruits of their labour.
Ngarboui said he hopes to see the project expand across the city, with gardens popping up at schools and churches.
"If each of those organizations were willing to share space, that would be wonderful," he said.
-With files from CTV’s Stephanie Tsicos
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
WATCH LIVE 'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
These snakes not only fake their own deaths, they use gory special effects to do it
Awards season may be over for human actors this year, but there’s no rest for some of nature’s most audacious thespians.