- Home Hardware plants trees and adds memorial bench to Heritage Gardens -
by Sylene Argent
On Thursday afternoon, Essex Home Hardware enhanced the physical environment of the Heritage Gardens Park as it added a dozen indigenous trees and a memorial bench.
The trees were made available through a Tree Canada grant, which Home Hardware was successful in garnering, and were planted the day after National Tree Day.
Don Craig of Tree Canada said he has been planting trees for 57-years. Some of the first trees he planted are still standing. He said he enjoys bringing his grandkids out to see them.
Since its inception in 1992, Craig said Tree Canada has planted over 82M trees across the country. The Home Hardware franchise has been one of the longest standing partners of the not-for-profit organization to date.
Trees have many great qualities, he said before they were officially planted, noting they help improve moods and provide the air we breath.
Kimberly Seguin, one of owners, of Essex Home Hardware, was pleased the tree grant was obtained locally, and thanked employee Jessica McFarlane for the work she contributed to the project. She was also pleased to unveil the new park bench that was installed at the Heritage Gardens Park in memory of her grandfather, Arthur Seguin.
Seguin noted her grandfather began Home Hardware in the area in 1965. His first store was Seguin’s Home Hardware, which was located at the west-end of Windsor. Arthur passed three-years ago. So, adding the memorial bench, which Fierce Metal Works created, to the Heritage Gardens Park was a great way for the Seguin family, who has owned the Essex site for six-and-a-half years, to pay tribute to him.
“This bench is a reminder of where we came from,” she said, adding her grandfather inspired her family members to work hard and grow.
Seguin always appreciated it when her grandfather would pop by the store after his retirement to show support and provide advice.
Councillor Morley Bowman thanked Home Hardware for arranging the newest additions to the Heritage Gardens Park, and the students from Holy Name Catholic Elementary School for taking time out of their day to plant the trees. He noted the Town supplied the mulch and stakes for the tree and will water them in the future.