Calgary’s only music garden is a tribute to community legacy

In April 2014, during Bermuda Shorts Day (BSD) and in a quiet suburban neighbourhood in Calgary, five young adults lost their lives at the hands of a fellow student.

I was attending the University of Calgary at the time, and I remember the shock, grief and fear that rippled throughout the city. So clearly, in fact, that I remember what I was wearing, what I could smell, and where I was the day I heard the news.

That night, I was at a house party just a few blocks away, celebrating BSD and the end of the school year. I remember my shock, because it was only recently that I had seen Zackariah — one of the victims — play live in his band. He was a true musical talent, an artist whose career and brilliance were cut short by senseless violence. In 2024, his bandmates released a remastered version of their debut EP, Goodnight Icarus.

The names of the students are: Lawrence Hong, Kaiti Perras, Jordan Segura, Zackariah Rathwell and Joshua Hunter. I write them out because in 2016, the families of the victims asked that they never be forgotten.

Despite this tragedy, the families of Lawrence, Kaiti, Jordan, Zackariah and Joshua came together in 2021 to honour their children with the grand opening of the Quinterra Legacy Garden. It is Calgary’s only dedicated music garden and performance space, located in South Glenmore Park.

I visit it often because I live close to the reservoir, and whenever I walk by, I hear sounds coming from the instruments installed at the park. The pounding of the drums, clinking of the xylophone, ringing of bells, and whistling of chimes travel across the still waters, and they can be heard hundreds of metres away. Every time they are played, I think of Zach. I think local families and their children playing music together in the park would have made him really happy.

The garden elements represent each life lost, reflecting on their distinct, individual personalities through art and design. At this park, things come in fives: design elements embrace motifs — including five branches, leaves and roots in the garden logo. There is a five-pointed star on the stage, and five chairs are placed in front of five flowering trees.

The garden is also geared towards events, with a 30-foot diameter stage designed to support programming like music, dance, theatre, spoken word, yoga, meditation and healing circles.

It’s a powerful, meaningful memorial space, one that’s dedicated to community healing through art and music. It also speaks to the vision the five families had when they came together with the city and the Parks Foundation to honour their children.

“To our founding partners – that include; The City of Calgary, the Government of Alberta, The Calgary Foundation, Parks Foundation Calgary, Enmax and Bassett and Associates, we thank you for believing in our vision and enabling us to turn it into a reality, ” said Barclay Hunter, Josh’s Dad. “We also want to thank all of the other organizations and individuals, literally numbering in the thousands, that contributed to our project and fundraising efforts.”

No parent should ever have to lose their child at the prime of their life, while sending them off to school to be educated before they’ve even had a chance to discover who they are. But in the wake of this tragedy, gardens still bloom. Parks are erected, and children continue to play. Every year, flowers return to the Quinterra Legacy Garden.

It’s been more than a decade since Lawrence, Kaiti, Jordan, Zackariah and Joshua lost their lives, but their memory lives on forever at this beautiful space. It’s worth a visit, and you can play the instruments yourself to honour them. So we never forget.

When: Open year-round
Where: South Glenmore Park — 90th Avenue SW and 24th Street SW, Calgary

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Em Medland-Marchen

Em is a Staff Writer for Curiocity Calgary. They are passionate about live music, rose gardens, iced coffee, and walks along the Bow River.

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