Kamloops, BC – On Thursday, October 30, 2025, hundreds of community members, supporters, Gardengate participants, volunteers, and team members gathered at 915 Southhill, Kamloops to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Gardengate, the flagship community garden program operated by Open Door Group. The event, held from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, marked a milestone in a program that has supported and nurtured mental health, well-being, and food security in the Kamloops community for a quarter century.
“Every time I visit Gardengate in Kamloops, I’m struck by how magical it feels,” said Alona Puehse, CEO of Open Door Group. “A few years ago, while visiting Robert Wright, who leads the Gardengate program, he reminded me that what’s on the ground isn’t dirt—it’s soil. That small shift in perspective has stayed with me. Soil is alive—it nourishes, sustains, and helps things grow. And that’s exactly what Gardengate has done for 25 years.”
Since its founding in 2000, Gardengate has grown beyond a traditional garden. Through partnerships with the Kamloops Food Policy Council, Interior Health Authority, and numerous community organizations, the garden has become a place of care, purpose, and belonging for individuals with mental health challenges. Each year, it empowers over 1,500 participants and contributes an average of 18,000 pounds of fresh produce to local food security initiatives.
Gardengate’s impact extends well beyond program participants. Families, neighbours, and school children regularly engage with the garden through annual events such as Pumpkins of Light, educational visits about food security and mental health, and hands-on volunteer opportunities. The garden has become a space where community connection, learning, and compassion thrive.
The 25th anniversary celebration was a joyful testament to this impact, bringing together the people who have nurtured Gardengate over the years. Attendees enjoyed the vibrant autumn setting, shared stories of growth and resilience, and reflected on the garden’s role in fostering well-being, inclusion, and connection.
A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who made the event possible and who continues to support Gardengate: the staff and program participants who prepared and hosted the celebration, the volunteers who helped with set-up and activities, and the Starbucks Kamloops volunteers who served warm coffee and added extra warmth and energy to the afternoon.
“What a privilege it was to be at the garden today, celebrating with so many people,” remarked one volunteer. “Gardengate is not just a garden—it’s a paradise that helps everyone grow.”
Gardengate would also like to express sincere appreciation to all community partners, funders, donors, and supporters whose contributions—whether through time, expertise, or resources—have helped sustain this vital program for 25 years.
As Gardengate looks ahead, it continues to inspire a vision of growth—both in its soil and in the lives of those it touches. Here’s to many more years of community, connection, and flourishing.