Yarmouth Dog Park considering alternative location

Committee has been fundraising for three years

A volunteer committee formed to oversee the development of a dog park on land provided by the Town of Yarmouth is now looking at other town-owned sites.

In 2015, a two-hectare property at 28 Jarvis Rd. was viewed by the town as unsuitable for building development because of storm water/drainage issues.

The land was proposed for off-leash use by dogs and their owners/tenders.

The town hired Upland, a planning and design studio, for $15,000

But while much of Millie’s life was dictated by her medical condition, it was also a life filled with joy and love. Robertson says while sad, it was comforting to draw pictures of Millie for the book.

The two mothers hope the book serves many purposes. Many parents have told Robertson about how they have struggled to explain to their children what happened to Millie.

“Stephanie just has the most beautiful words and way of describing Millie’s life and her purpose and what happened,” Roberston says. “When I read it, it made me feel better because I struggled with it.”

The story of Millie, a Heart Warrior, touches on bravery, determination and the everlasting bond with those we love.

HELPING OTHERS

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are more common than people realize. About one in 100 babies are born with one in Canada, although the degree of the seriousness varies.

“I’m hoping the book will have an impact where people will really start to understand what kind of impact this has on people’s lives,” says Robertson.

“Palliative care at SickKids, who we became very familiar with because Millie was on their list for a long time, just purchased a bulk order that they can hand out to parents who are in similar situations, as my family was with Millie.”

Patterson says they will be sending books to all palliative care centres with a cardiac unit in North America.

“It’s a very comforting story that I hope will help families in the future who are going through a very difficult time,” she says.

Above all, she says the book will be a keepsake for everyone Land located between the Mariners ballfield in the Broadbrook Recreation Park and the Broadbrook trail is being considered by the Yarmouth Dog Park committee. to design and cost the dog park project. The town also installed a culvert on the property. Estimated cost for the proposed park was who loved Millie.

The book is being made available through Amazon. Robertson hopes local stores will also carry the book. A website has been set up, as well as a Magnificent Millie Facebook page, where people can learn more about the book and where to purchase it.

“It sends such a powerful message. People are going to love the book because they loved Millie,” Patterson says. “Also, there are so many people that have lost children that don’t know how to talk about it and don’t know how to deal with it. I really hope that this opens a window for them to be comforted by the story and to know that they’re not alone.”

ANOTHER MILLIE CHAPTER

Aside from being a Heart Warrior, Millie was also nicknamed Baby Shark by her parents. Since Millie’s death her mother has found comfort in drawing sea creature pictures. She takes the pictures to a tree in Frost Park in Yarmouth that the town planted in Millie’s memory. Some of Millie’s ashes were spread when the tree was planted. Here she shows Millie the pictures and sings songs to her – albeit through tears because she misses her over $400,000.

The plan included separate small and big dog parks, play features for dogs such as old tractor tires and Millie’s mama Caroline Robertson with the cards she is having made as a fundraiser for the SickKids hospital in memory of Millie. daughter so much.

The photos are colourful, goofy and fun and drawing them makes her feel closer to Millie.

Not yet ready or able to return to work, Robertson says there are very few places that make her feel comfortable and safe. But one of these places is Sunrise Printing, where owner Garth Wyman welcomed her if she just wanted to hang out or help with printing projects. When he saw her sea creature drawings he printed her some as cards.

Robertson has since decided to play tunnels, shelters and benches for users, a drinking fountain for people and their dogs, benches, parking areas, an adjoining park for people with natural playground elements, trees, crusher dust pathways, and a double fenced-in area to reduce the possibility of dogs escaping.

The committee was tasked with fundraising, which it did through private and business donations, draws for donated items and a dog jog organized by Mile East Productions. Over the past three years $15,000 has been raised.

Recently, committee representatives presented plans for a scaleddown, less expensive version of the park ($60,000) to several councils in hopes of grant money.

The Town of Yarmouth gave a grant of $650, the Municipality of Yarmouth provided $1,000. The total amount raised is still far short of the amount required for fencing use the cards as a fundraiser for the SickKids Foundation, which is raising money for state-of-theart improvements to the hospital. Also, if she raises $3,000, a memorial plaque bearing Millie’s name will be displayed at the hospital and she’d really like that.

She had a few friends say they would buy some cards and when she put a posting on Facebook seeing if anyone else was interested, she couldn’t believe the immediate response.

“It went crazy. I sold hundreds and hundreds of cards,” she says. alone.

The committee has lost several members since forming, and remaining members are frustrated and discouraged.

“There’s been no progress,” said chair Martha Cassidy.

“We don’t even know what happens next.”

Mayor Pam Mood says she understands the level of frustration of the dog park committee. To help the project move along, the town is offering an optional site.

The property, located between the Mariners ballfield in the Broadbrook Recreation Park and the Broadbrook trail, is less than half the size of the Jarvis Road site. Parking is not easily accessible.

However, fencing a smaller area would be less costly, there is an existing fence on the east side of the lot and there is already grass cover.

The dog park committee is currently reviewing the option. She is donating 100 per cent of all profits to the hospital’s foundation and has set up an Etsy shop online where people can buy the cards. A Facebook page – Sea Creatures for Baby Shark – contains more information about the cards and how to purchase them. The cards include an insert about Millie’s story. The cards are blank inside so people can use them however they wish.

“I’ve been having a hard time being without Millie,” Robertson says. “So it’s good for me to have some direction to focus on.”