It was an emotional and proud moment for Deanna Beckett.
Her late-husband, Brian Harwood Beckett, has been honoured as the first person to have his name engraved on a brick and placed in the refurbished memorial garden at the Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion. The new garden officially opened Thursday (Dec. 5) under a light dusting of snow.
Brian, former president and chair of the Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion Foundation, died from colon cancer on Aug. 29 at age 77.
“It was such a wonderful thing for them to do,” Deanna said.
“He would be so honoured and humbled with the brick laying.”
Pavilion foundation chair Darlene Newburg said the previous garden was worn out and deteriorating, prompting a refurbishment.
The engraved bricks will cost $150 for a 20 cm by 10 cm size or $250 for one measuring 20 cm-by-25 cm. Memorial benches are also available for $1,500. All funds raiseed through the sales of the bricks will go toward upgrades and maintenance of the pavilion.
Newburg said the cost for this kind of refurbishment would normally be about $45,000. However, thanks to community support, the final price tag is about $10,000.
“Almost everything was donated,” Newburg said. “We ventured out to the community asking people to come onboard and we had overwhelming support.”
Integral Designs designed the memorial garden and spent two weeks creating it. Other supporters include Trio Ready-Mix, Slegg Lumber, Mortimers Monumental, Galey Farms, Island Earth Landscaping, Cannor Nursery and the Vancouver Island Correctional Centre, which donated a bench.
The Kiwanis Pavilion opened in 1982 at 3034 Cedar Hill Rd. and specializes in caring for people with dementia. The facility has 116 beds and is funded by Island Health.
The Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion Foundation also conducts fundraisers to provide a warm, home-like atmosphere.