The Healing Power of Nature

Unique courtyard will connect the old and the new, increasing accessibility to West Park’s gardens.

Before the development of antibiotics, tuberculosis was a serious threat, causing thousands of deaths each year in Canada. The only prescription: exercise, healthy food, and plenty of fresh air.

Thanks to a generous donor, the beautiful natural surroundings of Buttonwood Farm were part of the therapy, and patients could often be seen warmly wrapped and lying on lawn chairs in the open air. This site is now UHN’s West Park.

Although we now treat tuberculosis differently, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the healing effects of nature. Research suggests that exposure to natural areas can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, enhance immune system function, reduce aggression, and accelerate the healing process, among many other potential benefits.

Today, a generous $800,000 donation from RBC Foundation honours West Park’s proud history and reflects this renewed understanding of nature as a healer.

The donation is increasing the accessibility of a new courtyard between West Park’s new hospital building and our legacy building, now called the UHN Reactivation Care Centre. This courtyard will include a ramp to the second-floor rooftop garden on our legacy building, making this healing space accessible to all patients, visitors and staff at West Park.

Beyond the courtyard, there will be several outdoor therapy spaces, a small water feature, and a partially covered garden-in-the-round at the front of the building. Throughout, tree, shrub and flower plantings will freshen and perfume the air, universally accessible pathways will make movement easy and safe, and seating alcoves will offer spaces of rest and contemplation.

The donation was made through RBC Foundation’s Community Infrastructure Fund, which supports capital projects aimed at reducing environmental impact and improving accessibility in public spaces across Canada.

“Enhancing physical accessibility means a lot to our communities.  It ensures indoor and outdoor spaces are inclusive for people of all abilities. RBC Foundation is proud to support the transformation of UHN’s West Park campus with the Wellness Courtyard,” said Michelle Waite, RBC Regional President, Greater Toronto.

“We are grateful to RBC Foundation for helping bring our gardens to life and making them accessible to our entire community,” says Doug Earle, CEO of West Park Foundation. “Over the next couple of years, we will continue to develop unique, outdoor therapeutic spaces to better support our patients as they recover.”

Construction is likely to begin in the spring, with planting in the fall and beyond.

“We believe in the profound impact of nature on health and well-being, for our patients, their families, and our staff. The ability to get outside, or even to see nature from inside out, is really important,” says Shelley Ditty, Vice President, Campus Development & Support Services.

Ditty adds that West Park is now engaged in research around the benefits of exposure to nature, and once the courtyard is in place, its impact will be evaluated. “We plan to share our findings and communicate lessons learned so that other facilities can learn from what has worked for us.”

About the RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund

Funding through the RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund is available to hospitals, cultural institutions, community centers, and other registered charities in Canada. For more information and application guidelines, visit Community Investments – Canada.

About RBC Foundation

RBC Foundation is a Canadian Registered Charity and Private Foundation. Solely funded by RBC and its subsidiaries, RBC Foundation provides donations exclusively from RBC and its subsdiaries’ annual earnings, not from third-party or client donations.