Local companies dig in to help restore RISE Memorial Garden

When the RISE Memorial Garden in Knowles Heritage Park was vandalized just days before the National Day of Mourning, two local companies stepped forward to help restore a space created for remembrance, reflection, and healing.

The damage struck at the heart of the garden, destroying trees that were planted as a living memorial to honour the five men who lost their lives in the 2021 tower crane collapse.

“Sierra Landscaping’s offer to repair the damage and Foxglove Nurseries’ donation of new trees are inspiring examples of local businesses stepping in to help when the community needs them,” said Mac Logan, General Manager of Infrastructure. “Their generosity ensured the garden could be restored quickly and respectfully.”

Sierra Landscaping’s and Foxglove Nurseries’ generosity, means that neither the RISE Memorial Society or city taxpayers were required to bear the cost to repair this vandalism.

For families and loved ones, the trees and garden serve as a place to visit, grieve, and remember. For the broader community, the space also offers a visible reminder of the human cost of workplace tragedies and a setting for collective remembrance, including ceremonies marking the National Day of Mourning, which honours workers killed, injured, or made ill because of their work.

The restoration of the damaged trees ensured the garden could continue to serve its purpose as a respectful, supportive public space.

The RISE Memorial Garden has now been fully restored and remains open to the public as a quiet place for remembrance and reflection and a reminder that together, we can all rise above tragedy.

Learn more about Memorial Garden here: RISE Memorial Gardens | 2021 Brooklyn Tower Crane Collapse Memorial