Mayor Steve Black, with the help of lively preschoolers from the YMCA daycare, helped to launch the planting of 1,000 tulip bulbs for the city’s Canada 150 celebration garden at Shania’s Garden in Hollinger Park.
Sixty of the young preschoolers ranging in age from 18 months to four years of age each planted a tulip to get things started towards Timmins’ garden in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017.
The children reacted with enthusiasm and fun to the task of stomping on the black soil in Hollinger Park’s Shania’s Garden plot to plant the first bulbs in Timmins’ Canada 150 Celebration Garden.
One or two eager children attempted to plant several of the bulbs. Others picked up the earthy, brownish-orange, round object and examined it closely prior to being encouraged by Timmins’ Mayor Steve Black and Glen Thurston, manager of parks and recreation, to put the bulb in the soil and cover it up.
“I am honoured to announce that Timmins is one of 150 communities across Canada selected by the Canadian Gardening Council to receive tulip bulbs for planting a Canada 150 Celebration Garden,” said Timmins Mayor Steve Black. “One thousand bulbs will be planted in the pattern of the red and white Canada flag.”
“It’s an honour for Timmins to be selected and to have those bulbs planted in the centrepiece Shania’s Gardens in the heart of Hollinger Park,” Mayor Black added. “This is Timmins’ first official undertaking to mark Canada’s 150th birthday.”
Timmins applied through the Timmins Development Corporation to be one of the 150 communities to receive the 1,000 red and white tulip bulbs.
“Thank you to all the children to day for participating in this special occasion and helping to plant Timmins’ Canada 150 Celebration Garden,” Mayor Black said.
“Once we have completed the red and white maple flag pattern we may plant any remaining tulip bulbs in front of city hall," said Mayor Black.
According to veteran Karl Habla who was on hand as a volunteer to help with the start of the tulip planting, tulips were selected because the tulip is the international flower symbol for peace and friendship.
“The tulip is a most appropriate flower to mark Canada’s 150th birthday,” said Habla. “The planting of tulips in this garden recognize Timmins and Canada as leaders in promoting international peace and friendship.”
As part of the fun and festivities, the children, their parent volunteers and the staff from the YMCA daycare posed for a group picture with Mayor Black as something they can look back on and recall their participation in getting the celebrations started to mark Canada’s 150 birthday.
Before the children were called on to help plant the first 60 bulbs, workers from Timmins Parks and Recreation Department lined up the bulbs in a row across Shania’s Garden and made corresponding holes for the children to place the bulbs and cover them with soil.
In addition, they also placed a red maple leaf platform in the centre of the garden.
Shania’s Gardens were dedicated to Shania Twain, Timmins’ Singing Sweetheart by Mayor and Council of Timmins on August 15, 1996 with Mayor Victor M. Power presiding. The Shania’s Gardens face out on to Algonquin Blvd., which is Timmins’ main thoroughfare and most heavily travelled road, guaranteeing a large audience for people living in Timmins and also for those driving through.
It’s also important to note the symbolism that the Canada 150 Celebration Garden is being planted in Hollinger Park by the first major gold mine to succeed in Timmins on its way to becoming the City with the Heart of Gold.
