The Vita and District Health Centre Foundation has been very busy this year. 

Michelle Gawronsky, Reeve for the RM of Stuartburn, says this past spring they handed out four busaries at graduation. 

“Two in the Sprague High School, two at Shevchenko School, nothing at the Emerson Franklin, but the doors are always open every spring we ask for bursary applications to be sent in.” 

Gawronsky is the chair of The Vita and District Foundation. And they have a representative from the RM of Piney, one from the RM of Emerson/Franklin, and one from the RM of Stuartburn.  

The foundation has also volunteered with the Resource Council at Shady Oaks Lodge, the seniors centre in Vita. 

“And we helped with the funds to ensure that there was a good working dishwasher for the residents and the kitchen in Shady Oaks Lodge.” 

She says they have also been working in partnership with the Healing Gardens. 

“And I know there's a bit of a mini grand opening where they are inviting councils from the three municipalities, and we're putting on an appreciation luncheon for staff and the patients and residents of the facility.” 

The grand-opening will be on August 20th. 

“People have put a lot of work into them and we want to start showcasing them,” she says. “They have a huge BBQ pit that they have put in, a couple of gazebos where residents and families can sit and visit, and they have been able to level-off all of the garden area with cement pads and walkways.” 

She says the Healing Gardens were previously known as the Doctor Toth Memorial Garden. 

“A committee was struck a number of years ago to be able to recapture and redo the gardens so that residents and patients and their families can actually visit, sit in the sun and enjoy a bit of the outdoors.” 

The Healing Gardens are at the Vita and District Health Centre, outside of what used to be the hospital. 

Gawronsky says the board of directors or the committee at Shady Oaks Lodge is looking at doing some raised gardens. 

“So we will be working with them as well in the future on moving that forward and making sure that is accessible to the seniors and the others that live there.” 

 

With files from Adi Loewen 

 

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