Ayah Victoria McKhail –
Nestled in the heart of the village at Church and Alexander Streets, a blooming garden beckons passersby. It’s a poignant memorial commemorating those who lost their lives during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s.
Luke Plourde, an artist who lives nearby, started it. “This garden brings an awareness and a reminder of what happened here, especially in our neighbourhood; the epicentre of the epidemic in the city, and lifts it into beauty. Each plant represents a life taken: friends, partners, and brothers. It’s a place of reflection and remembrance.”
Plourde was inspired to create the memorial in the spring of 2020. “The Covid-19 pandemic was just under way, and I wanted to do something positive in a very negative time.”
He set his sights on a barren weed lot at 445 Church St, adjacent to the Maple Leaf Convenience Mart, where Salon One is atop. Plourde approached the property owner about transforming the space and he agreed, if Plourde would cover the costs. (The land is on the lease of Salon One).
“I worked for three weeks in a heat wave just to pull out all the weeds and old grass to make a new canvas upon which to paint the garden.”
This spring, the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area began financially supporting the garden. Adam Wynne, then the interim director (soon to be named events director or coordinator), played a pivotal role.
BIA funding is facilitating repairs and expansion of the garden-related infrastructure (night lighting, etc.), and some garden maintenance (mostly corralling trumpet vines). Wynne also arranged for the property owner to formally support the garden.
The garden awakens in early spring with bulbs and early blooming plants, and lasts into November. Plourde continues to cover the cost of the plants and add statuary such as a large angel statue that’s now a focal point. He tends to the garden nearly every day: weeding, watering, planting and pruning. A living organism, it’s constantly evolving.
“To me, a garden is a work of art that’s always in progress. Each year, I add things, such as perennials and statuary. It’s a typical English cottage garden in that different perennials are blooming all the time. Like people’s lives; the young taking the place of the old.”
Plourde named the garden after J.M. Barrie’s 1904 play, Peter Pan, in which lost boys are characters. “It was always said that gay men had a Peter Pan syndrome and refused to grow up. So many of these boys never got the chance; they were taken so young.
“The plague came just as our community was full of joy and hope, as we were gaining in human rights. The epidemic washed all of that away.”
In the 1980s, one of Plourde’s friends was the first victim of AIDS in Toronto, followed by many more until practically everyone he knew had passed away or was dying. “It was such a horrendous time with young men dying daily. Those of us who lived through those terrifying times were scarred by them forever. We lived in fear that we would be next.”
A survivor, Plourde has been dedicating his life to sharing the story. “There are generations now who have no connection to that time, suffered no loss and were mere children at the time. Many have no emotional connection to it.”
The garden is changing that. “At Pride, I allowed young people to wander inside; some openly wept … One day, I’ll be gone and I hope someone will take my place.”
Sydney MacLellan, a CWVBIA board member, and the president and co-owner of the Whiskful Thinking bakery, seeks to raise awareness about the garden, particularly among newcomers to the neighbourhood. The BIA is acquiring a plaque for the garden, he says.
“The garden represents Luke’s sincere advocacy for the remembrance of those who lost their lives to AIDS. The garden can be seen as the community coming together to find sincere solace and celebration of life.”
Julissa Penate, a community worker at the 519 Community Centre who lives in the neighbourhood, thinks a plaque is a good idea. “The garden is meaningful and inspiring. It’s so colourful and pretty.”
Last September, Plourde received a Community Builder Award from Ward 13 (Toronto Centre) City Councillor Chris Moise. The following month, the Toronto Garden Society awarded him first prize from 400 entries, for his transformation of a derelict space into something beautiful. Plourde was given a certificate and trophy.
