honouring garden
The Honouring Garden is a commemorative collaboration created by Sgt (Ret’d) Jessica Miller CD TH, Founder of The Veteran Farm Project Society & veteran spouse Emily Armour, Founder of Music for Veterans Project. Inspired by a shared passion for commemoration and supporting the veteran community, the vision to develop a healing space to honour women military veterans has since blossomed into a reality.
how it started
In 2022, a young music student named Finley was offered an opportunity to compose a piece in honour of a Canadian veteran through the Music for Veterans Project. This journey began with The Sergeant Farm, a heartfelt composition dedicated to veteran Jessica Miller. Inspired by Jessica’s steadfast commitment to veterans through The Veteran Farm Project Society—who, just a year earlier, had established The Garden for Joy in memory of Sub-Lieutenant Abbigail Cowbrough—Finley crafted a musical tribute that celebrated Jessica’s exceptional dedication to service.
Finley’s tribute not only honoured Jessica’s work but also planted the seed for an incredible opportunity: the creation of Canada’s first memorial space exclusively dedicated to honouring female military veterans.
THE HONOURING GARDEN is an expression of RESPECT, RESILIENCE, GRATITUDE, and HOPE.
THE HONOURING GARDEN will grow to become a perennial switchback garden showcasing a colourful repertoire of perennials thoughtfully selected to honour each woman veteran. Plaques which can be scanned with smartphone technology will link to a musical composition inspired by, and composed in honour of, each woman veteran.
help grow the honouring garden
garden for joy
THE HONOURING GARDEN is located on the same land as The Garden for Joy; a federally registered military memorial. The Garden for Joy is a touching tribute to SLt Abbigail Cowbrough and five aviators and sailors who lost their lives while deployed overseas in 2020.
