Gardens and greenery are going to help connect staff and patients at the South Niagara Hospital to nature and the outdoors.
Access to nature has been shown to have a positive impact on one’s health and wellbeing, which is one of the reasons why the South Niagara Hospital is going to have 14 gardens and terraces, as well as green roofs, outdoor walking paths and even a designated wetland on the northwest corner of the property.
A lot of attention was given to the types of plants and trees that will be included in the gardens. A preference was given to durable, low maintenance options that are native to the Niagara region and would thrive in each location. In the Indigenous Healing Garden, many of the plants are culturally significant for Indigenous Peoples, such as white sage, sweetgrass and wild strawberry, and were selected with input from Indigenous community partners. Plants in this garden can be harvested and used in traditional ceremonies.
While it looks like grass from afar, the green roofs actually consist of low-level plants that are low maintenance, durable and tolerate the heat and cold. Not only do they look nice, green roofs have a positive environmental impact. They act as an insulator and can absorb sunlight, helping with building heating and cooling. They also absorb water and support stormwater management, amongst other environmental benefits.
With a little under two years left in construction, most of the green roofs have already been installed and will be completed by the end of this year. Landscaping around the site is beginning in some areas, with trees being planted around the perimeter of the site by this fall. Some of the garden spaces are beginning to take shape as well and will be planted by the end of next fall. With this early greenery and garden work, EllisDon is taking advantage of the warmer months to get ahead of a task that often gets left until the end in many construction projects.
Close-up of the green roof plants on the South Niagara Hospital, photo June 2026
Read this article and more in the latest issue of the South Niagara Hospital Project Newsletter.
Read the Issue!
