B.C. neighbours unite to fill hallways with art, gardens with fairies to inspire positivity

CTV News

6 days ago

Adam finds out how a pair of neighbours improved their moods by inspiring others.
SAANICH, B.C. — More than having a bad day, Liette Wilkins was enduring a whole bunch of them.
'I needed something to lift me up,' Liette says. 'I usually do gardens.'
But because she was dealing with a debilitating health issue, Liette's garden was dirt, and Liette was depressed.
'I was feeling 'down and out in Beverly Hills,' as I call it,' Liette says.
It turns out her neighbour Claude Gamache was facing a few health issues too.
'We were both going through something intense at the same time,' Claude says.
The difference was Claude could still do what brought him joy.
'I've been making art all my life,' Claude says. 'Since I was a little kid.'
Since his opera-singing mom taught him a song in French that translated to, 'Show me how to love, show me how to give, how to share' – Claude suggested that he and Liette share their creativity.
'You need to get up and go and start doing something that makes you feel good,' Liette says.
While that's easier said than done when it comes to depression, there was that other D-word that was more manageable.
'The D-word is dull-looking,' Liette laughs.
She and Claude felt the hallways in their apartment building were dull-looking and the walls were blank.
'There was nothing,' Claude says. 'Not a piece of art in the whole building.'
B.C. neighbours use garden fairies to spread positivity
So, they approached their neighbours and invited them to donate a meaningful picture, before Liette and Claude refurbished all sorts of thrift store frames, and got permission to fill the hallways with more than than 400 pieces of art.
'The beauty of that is to know that you get to meet the people,' Claude smiles.
After cultivating a sense of community inside, Liette and Claude turned their attention to her empty garden plot outside.
'Let's make a fairy garden,' Liette said, before searching thrift stores for items to create it with.
So, they transformed the bare soil into a bountiful stage for countless characters and colours — by asking one question.
'What can we share to help lift people up?' Claude smiles.
Claude and Liette say it not only inspired other tenants to get creative with their gardens, it also prompted so many folks walking by to stop and smile that they started collecting thank you notes and documenting dozens of positive interactions from people of all ages.
'Now I come out here when I feel 'down and out in Beverly Hills' and it makes my heart happy,' Liette smiles.
Because if we work to elevate others, Liette and Claude have learned, positivity is perennial.