A website dedicated to photographs and videos from Canada and around the world with an emphasis on nature, wildlife, food, travel and sport as well as art, architecture and culture. In culture, the focus will be on projects related to the work of His Highness the Aga Khan, his Ismaili Muslim community and Islam in general.
Photos: Tributes to Loved Ones on Memorial Benches in Nature Settings
001: A view of the forests and Rocky Mountains from a memorial bench off Hwy 40, Kananaskis Country. See corresponding tribute in photo 002, and another view of the mountains from the bench in photo 003 below; July 1, 2022. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
Over the past month, I have had the good fortune of driving through some sections of Kananaskis Country to view its forests, mountains and lakes. I have seen wild animals, beautiful ponds, fast flowing rapids, gorgeous waterfalls as well as beautiful skies and sunsets. I have never been bored, even for a second.
Some of the greatest moments of happiness and satisfaction have been derived from the benches that I have sat on, offering stunning views of what is immediately in front me or very far in the distance! Yes, these benches give tired feet much needed relief, but more than that the benches have illustrated to me the significance and importance of nature in peoples lives.
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002: Tributes to Roger and Nadine Albert on the memorial bench facing the mountains shown in photo 001; July 1, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos
003: Another view of the mountain directly across the memorial bench honouring Roger and Nadine Albert shown in photos 001 and 002, above; July 8, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos
Reading the touching and loving tributes that family members or friends honour their loved ones on plaques placed on the benches has deeply inspired me. Very sadly, in many cases tributes honour very young family members who have passed away but the spirit with which the tributes are penned, whatever the deceased person’s age often has made my heart jump with joy and inspired me with strength. Many writings on the plaques are insightful and reflect what the place and its natural surroundings meant to the deceased person during his or her lifetime. I am pleased to present a small selection of the hundreds of memorial bench tributes that I have come across in my recent travels in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country.
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004: Tribute “Gone too soon! Your beautiful soul is not forgotten,” to Nasir Vakili on a memorial bench at Forget-me-not (also Forgetmenot) Pond in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. Vakili’s memorial bench faces the forest and mountains shown below in photo 005; July 6, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
005: The forest and mountains that lie directly across the memorial bench – see photo 004 – to Nasir Vakili at the Forget-me-not Pond; July 6, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
006: At left, memorial bench to Nasir Vakili, and, at right, memorial bench to Denis Champagne, both at Forget-me-not Pond. The tribute to Champagne reads “Forever in our hearts”; July 6, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
007: Memorial bench at Forget-me-not Pond to Patricia Redel with the tribute “All Angles Come Disguised”; July 6, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
008: A view of Forget-me-not Pond and the mountains from the memorial bench to Patricia Redel, photo 007; July 6, 2022. A similar view is offered from another memorial bench, photo 009, that jointly commemorates Pat and Jim Craig AND Ken and Jena Dopson; July 6, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
009: Memorial bench to multiple individuals at Forget-me-not Pond. At left, the plaque is dedicated to Pat and Jim Craig with the words “In Loving Memory…We will love and miss you always – Your Family – Que Sera Sera” [these are lyrics popularized by a 1956 song Que Sera Seraand mean “What will be, will be” – Ed.] And the plaque at right honours Ken and Jena Dopson with the words “In Loving Memory”; July 6, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
010: A memorial bench at Forget-me-not Pondto Peter Anaka and Lil Anaka with the tribute reading “A quiet breeze, bright blue sky, and a peaceful view — warms our hearts”; July 6, 2022.Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
011: This beautiful view of Forget-me-not Pond is reflective of the tribute to Peter and Lil Anaka in the memorial bench in their honour shown in photo 010; July 6, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
012: A memorial bench at Forget-me-not Pond to Benjamin A. R. Moppett who is remembered by his family in Canada and England with the words,”At Rest in God’s Garden”; July 6, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
013: A memorial bench at Forget-me-not Pond to Karen L. Heimbecker-Haugen with the loving words, “I will hold you forever in my arms and watch over you. Walk with Truth, Honor, Dignity and Love in your hearts. Stay strong my Loves till we meet again. Forever Loving You … Mom, Wife, Kokum, Sister, Friend”; July 6, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
014: A beautiful view of Forget-me-not Pond from the memorial bench to Karen L. Heimbecker-Haugen shown in photo 013; July 6, 2022.Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
014: A memorial bench at Forget-me-not Pond to Reverend Steven (Budd) Varro and his wife Helen Varro, married for 60 years, with the words “Touched by the tranquility of Forget-me-not Pond, John 3:5-8.” [John is quoted in the context of a response by Jesus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” — Ed.]Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
015: A tranquil setting with the bench commemorating Reverend Steven Varro and his wife Helen Varro overlooking the Forget-me-not Pond and its beautiful surroundings; July 6, 2022.Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
016: A memorial bench at Forget-me-not Pond to Allan (Dad/Papa) Anderson with the thoughtful tribute, “A golden heart stopped breathing. Your tender hands at rest God took you home to prove to us, He only takes the best”; July 6, 2022.Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
017: A memorial bench to Harry Gregory Martin at Mount Lorette Ponds, off Hwy 40, Kananaskis Country, with the tribute reading “Your legacy of undying love for family, nature and all God’s creatures will always live on”; July 5, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
018: A beautiful view of Mount Lorette ponds, off Hwy 40, in Kananaskis Country; July 5, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
019: A memorial bench to Ian Sutherland Anderson at the not to be missed look out point at Grizzly Creek, Hwy 40, facing the spectacular Canadian Rockies in Kananaskis Country. See photo 020 for view of the the main highway and the Rocky Mountains; July 8, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
020: A view of Hwy 40 and the Rocky Mountains from the memorial bench to Ian Sutherland Anderson at Grizzly Creek, see photo 019; July 8, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
To conclude, there is a cost factor involved in donating commemorative or memorial benches to parks, gardens and forests as well as having tribute plaques prepared and mounted on them. A bench can cost between $2,500.00 to $5,000.00, with an inscribed plaque costing another $1,000.00 to $2,00.00. Prices vary from one town or city to another, or from park to park (For examples of memorial bench costs see Parks Foundation Calgary and Commemorative Tree and Bench Program Toronto). If you are interested to donate a bench honouring your loved one, Google with terms such as “Commemorative or Memorial Benches and Plaques” with names of locations you are interested in. I also invite you to read 77+ Best Places For Memorial Benches & Trees in Canada.
Date posted: July 28, 2022.
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