Rooted in Hope, Connected in Community Event Adds to the Forest of Hope

STONY PLAIN, AB: The Town of Stony Plain hosted Rooted in Hope, Connected in Community at the Forest of Hope on September 10. This event gave community members the opportunity to plant a tree as part of the Forest of Hope in honour of World Suicide Prevention Day. 

Rooted in Hope, Connected in Community brought community members together over live music by pop duo JENESIA and a concession provided by the Stony Plain Youth Events Team. Attendees wrote messages of hope, gratitude, or commitments to check in with family and friends on biodegradable, water soluble paper and planted their messages with the trees. 

“This was the second phase of the Forest of Hope program,” says Brooklyn Bignell, Community Development Officer. “The Forest has become a meaningful space for community connection over the past year, and this was such an uplifting and inspiring evening for all involved.”

The Forest of Hope is the first in Alberta and fifth in Canada. It was opened in partnership with the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention and the Coordinated Suicide Prevention Program. 

“The Forest of Hope is a beautiful symbol of our community coming together and raising awareness for suicide prevention,” says Mayor William Choy. “Planting trees together is a great opportunity for community members to connect and show support for their friends and neighbours.”

This event was planned in collaboration with the Town of Stony Plain’s Roots of Hope Roundtable, a committee that aims to reduce the impacts of suicide in the Tri-Municipal Region, with support from the City of Spruce Grove and Parkland County. The Forest of Hope Phase II was made possible through funds provided by the Government of Canada to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.