With support from ClimateReadyYYC and The Calgary Foundation Neighbour Grant, Wellspring Alberta has revitalized the gardens at Randy O’Dell House. The gardens are now more sustainable, welcoming, and climate‑resilient.
This Garden Revitalization project shows how community‑driven landscaping can support climate action, and create space for learning, connection and healing.
A Climate-Ready Vision
This project reduces environmental stressors while strengthening community resilience. Through tree planting, drought‑resistant landscaping, and sustainable gardening practices, the revitalized gardens help reduce heat and sun exposure, improve long‑term water usage, and foster environmental stewardship.
At its heart, the project reflects Wellspring’s commitment to caring for people and place—ensuring that their outdoor environment supports wellness, inclusion, and resilience.
Project Goals
The project focused on three interconnected goals:
- Adaptation Through Landscaping
Volunteers planted drought‑tolerant perennials, shrubs, and trees to reduce heat islands and provide more shade. With ClimateReadyYYC funding, Wellsprings was able to expand their project and plant three more trees.
- Soil and Water Management
To better manage water and drought conditions, volunteers replaced pea gravel with mulch. The mulch will help keep moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce erosion. They also added self‑watering planters to help conserve water and maintain healthy plants.
- Community Engagement
Community participation was central to the project. Through gardening activities, Wellspring members, volunteers, and local residents learned climate‑resilient practices. This empowered individuals to take climate action at home and in their neighbourhoods.
Garden Revitalization Social: A Bright Success
In May 2025, the Garden Revitalization Social brought together more than 50 volunteers, including Wellspring members, neighbours, and 25 volunteers from SkyFire Energy. With incredible energy and teamwork, the volunteers helped prepare garden beds, plant drought-resistant perennials, and clean up the existing landscaping to bring new life to the space.
Thanks to additional support, they were able to add new Adirondack chairs to the garden, allowing more visitors to relax, reflect, and enjoy the gardens. The final phase of the project finished in September 2025. 50 volunteers from Fluor replaced the pea gravel with water-retaining mulch and planted the last few trees and native fruit bushes.
Building Climate Resilience Together
This project supports climate resilience by:
- Increasing tree canopy to provide shade and cooling during hot summer days
- Improving stormwater management and local air quality
- Supporting pollinators and local wildlife through native plantings
- Demonstrating practical, community‑scale climate adaptation solutions
By bringing people together, the project fostered connection, awareness, and collective action.
A Space for Everyone
The Garden Revitalization project had tasks available for all physical abilities and gardening experience. Everyone in the community could join in, cheer on volunteers, and enjoy the day. The gardens will support people living with cancer, their loved ones, the public, and community.
Today, the gardens at Randy O’Dell House are a vibrant, healing space. It offers a peaceful space for reflection, connection and healing for Albertans facing cancer and their loved ones. Children walking home from school enjoy stopping to explore the plants, and transit riders enjoy the greenery while they wait. Wellspring members comment on the positive difference the gardens have made to the atmosphere of the centre.
Together with Climate Ready YYC, The Calgary Foundation, and an incredible community of volunteers, Wellspring Alberta is proud to be growing a healthier, more resilient future—one garden at a time.
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