The Sisters of St. Martha of Antigonish announced the start of a project converting the currently empty 15-acre site where Bethany Motherhouse once stood into a commemorative garden space designed for the use of both the Sisters and the larger community.
The 2-year phased project begins mid-June, with the first phase including roadways and
One of the design drawings for the garden on the Bethany Motherhouse site
infrastructure work expected to be completed by the end of November 2020.
After the congregation decided to relocate to Parkland Antigonish, the Motherhouse building was deconstructed in collaboration with Colliers Project Leaders and Dexter Construction Ltd. The congregation received the 2019 Divert NS Mobius Award of Environmental Excellence for the Institution of the Year after the deconstruction diverted almost 94 per cent of the related debris away from the landfill.
Soon after, Sisters began envisioning ways of returning the Motherhouse site to a green space for community use. They engaged Viridis Design Studio Ltd. to create a welcoming garden space for everyone to capture the historic and spiritual significance of the sacred ground. The Martha story will be highlighted through interpretive panels, landmarks, and salvaged elements from the Motherhouse building. For the landscaping part of the project, the sisters continued the partnership with Dexter Construction Ltd. The project is expected to carry the legacy of the 120 year-old Congregation well into the future and serve an important role in the community.
People visiting the property by car are advised public parking may be limited during the construction period, as the perimeter fencing will remain in place. The property is used by many walkers, so drivers are asked to maintain very low speed at all times and all walkers are asked to practice physical distancing.