Nothing is ever easy…
One year ago almost to the day the Aquascape family lost one of our most beloved and well respected members. Perry Molema passed away due to injuries sustained in a car accident in his home town of Chatham, Ontario.
Wanting his legacy to live on forever and as a show of respect and gratitude, longtime friends and co-workers, Chuck Catton and Sasha Hunter, decided to try and transform Zonta Park in downtown Chatham, into a memorial garden. This was no small task…
The funding started with a $5000 donation from Landscape Ontario and quickly snowballed into almost $250,000 in total donations including labour, machinery and other such in-kind donations. Contactors, friends, family, co-workers and even people Perry had never met came from coast to coast to lend a hand. Such momentum was created that Landscape Ontario decided to raise money for a bursary in Perry’s name that will be given to future students showing a passion for water features. The work isn’t finished yet however as money is still needed for future maintenance of the park as well as the bursary itself.
After countless hours of planning, design approvals and revisions, several discussions with the city and the parks board as well as a town council meeting or two the final go ahead was given and the work began almost immediately. Through social media the volunteer workforce had assembled and was ready for action!
Over the course of ten days an ever changing army of volunteers battled chilly November weather to construct a memorial garden that covers approximately 7600 ft2 and features several large bubbling rocks the largest of which was nicknamed “The Chief” a name used adoringly by those who knew Perry best. There were laughs and there were tears but most importantly of all, there was healing.
Perry was passionate about water gardening and sustainability so the whole feature sits on a permeable paver patio capable of collecting 3000 gallons of water. The cored rocks and patio are also lit for nighttime viewing and several pavers bear the engraved names of key contributors to the project. The landscape was then finished off with several of Perry’s favorite plants including eastern redbuds, flowering cherries and zebra grass.
This project was hard not only mentally and physically but also emotionally as well. It’s amazing though the strength of the human spirit – how such adversity can bring out the best in people. “You can accomplish anything if you can visualize it” Perry used to say.
This was truly a labour of love for all involved and a testament to what Perry meant to not only this industry but to his family, friends and anyone else who was lucky enough to spend five minutes with him. If you knew Perry, you knew that he had time for everyone. Young or old, rich or poor it didn’t matter who you were or where you came from. Perry was a beautiful person and if you’re ever near the corner of King and William in Chatham, stop by and say hi. Perry would like that.
List of Contributors for Memorial Build*
*At time of writing (12/19/2013)
Al Pinsonneault Alan Beaudoin Alain Dube Anne Marie & Paul Rancourt Aquascape Inc. Blake Bennett Brad Labonte Brandon Brockman Camilla Ackroyd Catherine Neville & Nicholas Bott Chris MacKinnon Chris Powers Chris Smyth Colleen & Charlie Van Kesteren Colleen Gillet Cory Mann Craig Saunders Dan Garlatti Dan & Colleen Warrener Dana Schultz Daniel Beland Darren O’Grady Darrin Utley Dave Braun Dave Fowler Derek Dunphy Don Tellier Entegris Eric Dunlop Eric Leplante Eric Plat Ernie Jenkins G. Shuttleworth Geri Sanson & Family Gord June Gord Szolnyanszky and Adrienne Beck Great Lakes Electric Henry & Elisabeth Molema Hetty Tueber Ina Dennekamp Jamie Rogers Jason Cheswick Jason Watts Jay Rivait Jay Terryberry Jean Brule Jeffrey Comiskey John & Roberta Young John Lein Jordan Ward, Iris Ng & Monty Ward Julie-Ann Hunt Kaitlyn Taylor Karen & Paul Koomans Karen, Chuck & Aidan Catton Keith Denomme Kevin Langlois Kerri & Joe Genovese |
Landscape Ontario Horticultural Assosciation Landscape Ontario Windsor Chapter Larry Brown Leen Lamin Lex Kraft Liam Compeau Lin Li Linda Ruhlig Miller Lindsay Molema & Daniel Golas Lisa Fantin Lois & Ross Eberlee Lois Mitchell Marcel Koller Mark Hecnar Marvin Siderius Mary A. Mouissie Mary, Adrien & Chantelle Roy Matt MacKinnon Matthew Lipinski Matthew Littlemore Melanie Erickson Melissa Molema & Shaun Melo Melissa Tuinstra Michael Turner Mike & Chris Harwood Olivia Benko Phil Jackson Rob Northcott Robert Hutchison Rosanne Brown Ross Pyne Sal Costante Sandy MacDonald Sasha Hunter Scott Parkhouse Sherry Molema Simon Van Raay Spencer Clemerson Spiro’s Restaurant Stacey, Carson & Thatcher Warrener Steve Dube Steve Kovacs Steve Van Kesteren Stuart Gillies Sue & Dave Van Raay Sue & Mark Williams Suzanne & Jason Korkidakis The Chilled Cork The Retro Suites Tim Hortons Tom Beaton Tom Davis Tom Intven Tulin Okus Seckin Tracy Mcallister Tyler Rancourt Zac Hertel |