Labyrinth underway in NOTL
A labyrinth that spans 68 feet in diameter behind Niagara-onthe-Lake’s Library will be a place for meditation but also a place to remember a woman who was deeply commited to her community.
The late Hilja Rannala, a lifetime member of the NOTL Horticultural Society and the Niagara Garden Club, was a familiar face at the library. A fundraising committee has been working diligently to raise the $14,000 goal for the project in her honour, with $9,000 already being raised.
Hilja was also known for taking care of many floral and landscaping projects at the library many years ago.
Her son, Ants H. Rannala, was at the labyrinth on Tuesday, the second day into construction. He said his mother would be delighted to see the project come to fruition.
“She’d be happy, overwhelmed,” he said.
Labyrinths date back 4,000 years and are described as a meandering path, leading to a centre, says a fundraising flyer for the project.
Currently worldwide there are over 5,300 of the unique garden features in more than 80 countries around the world and only 200 in Ontario.
Rannala said the new one at the library, expected to be complete by Aug. 18, could be a tourist draw as well.
“This will be a first for Niagara,” he said.
Once it’s been completed, the hope is to have events around the labyrinth, such as yoga and dance classes, demonstrations, walks to music, or even solstice celebrations.
The idea of a labyrinth came from library member Loretta Pietrobon, who approached the library in 2015 with a proposal to install one in the community garden.
The project was approved in principal by the garden design team led by Joanne Young of Mori Gardens, and town staff approved its installation.
Anyone who would like to make a donation in any amount can mail in a cheque to the library payable to the NOTL Library with a note mentioning the labyrinth project. Donations of more than $25 will receive a tax receipt.