Life is just a little bit better for residents at Moose Jaw's Providence Place.  After years of planning, fundraising and building, their healing garden is finally complete.

Family, friends, residents, staff, dignitaries and donors gathered, on the north side of the long-term care facility, to celebrate the official opening of the healing garden Wednesday afternoon. "The dream is now reality," Providence Place CEO Rick Schindel said.

Split into five parts, the garden boasts a recreation and entertainment area, a place for residents to plant flowers and vegetables, a gazebo, recirculating waterfall and a rose garden.

"We at home will take our visitors out to our deck and have a good time together.  This affords our residents the same opportunity," Schindel added.

"Many residents aren't able to travel to the other parks and this allows them to enjoy the outdoors, fresh air, to get their hands in the garden, plant flowers and still be close enough to the building should they need to go home," explained Rose Mary Hartney, Chair of the Providence Place Foundation.

The project, which came in under budget at about $490,000, was made possible by major contributions by the Providence Place Foundation, Providence Place Resident Council, Providence Place Auxiliary, Conexus Credit Union and the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund.

"They took a lions share," Schindel explained.  "But we had people that gave $10, $50 and $100.  That's just as important and has made it possible for this to happen."

Giving residents hope and a useful presence, the healing garden was designed and built not only for safety and comfort, but for health of body, mind and spirit.