Latest news with #HealingGarden
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Melania Trump visits Children's National Hospital
Melania Trump made a surprise visit to Children's National Hospital for a patriotic arts session in honor of July 4th. The first lady joked about her husband's love of golf when kids asked if she shared the President Donald Trump 's love of the sport. 'No, I don't play golf,' she laughed, but disclosed that she used to play. The visit comes as her citizenship is under scrutiny after Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett (Penn.) questioned if former model turned First Lady truly qualified for the 'Einstein visa' that garnered her entry into the United States. An online petition is circulating calling for her deportation as her husband's administration cracks down on migrants who entered the United States illegally. On Thursday, the first lady's focus was on the Fourth of July holiday. She joined the children in the hospital's Healing Garden to paint rocks, cups and other items with patriotic decorations. Sitting with nine former and current patients of the children's hospital, Trump joined-in for an art project. 'Welcome First Lady Melania Trump,' read a sign made by the young artists. The first lady told the kids: 'You look beautiful.' She brought goodie bags with blankets and teddy bears with 'Best Best' t-shirts. The kids went outside after their crafts session with Trump to use their art to decorate the garden at the hospital. She also unveiled a new flower - the 'External Flame' hybrid tea rose, which is a highly fragrant yellow rose. Following her visit to the healing garden, Trump is making private visits with heart and kidney transplant patients. The first lady has made children's wellbeing a priority through her Be Best program. Trump visited the hospital every year around Christmas during her first tenure as first lady. It is a longtime tradition for the spouse of a president to visit the children's care center around the holidays. After the hospital visit, she will join President Trump in the Oval Office to meet with freed Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander and his family. Alexander was held hostage by Hamas for 584 days in Gaza and was released in May as a 'good will gesture,' by the terrorist group. On Friday, the first lady and the president will host a military picnic on the South Lawn and view the fireworks that evening.
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘Every step counts': Runners raise awareness for residential school survivors on Canada Day
Runners tie orange ribbons and messages around the St. Albert Healing Garden gazebo at the end of fourth annual Run for Reconciliation on July 1, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Sean McClune) A rippling sea of orange was seen in St. Albert Tuesday as over 500 people showed up to run and walk to raise awareness for residential school survivors. The Run for Reconciliation began at the Lions Park at 9 a.m. on Canada Day and ended at the St. Albert Healing Garden – about a three to five kilometre stretch. Amanda Patrick, the founding organizer of the run, said the event is to honour and remember those impacted by residential schools. 'The reason we do it on Canada Day, and why we wear orange, is to say that we want to honour those residential school survivors, honour those children that never made it home, and honour the families that live with the intergenerational trauma,' said Patrick at Tuesday's event. RECONCILIATION Amanda Patrick, the founding organizer of the St. Albert Run for Reconciliation is seen at the event on July 1, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Sean McClune) 'Canada Day is a good day to do it because we love this country and we want to celebrate it, but we also want to honour and remember the past.' Patrick started the run in 2021 after the discovery of 215 potential unmarked graves at the Kamloops Residential School in B.C. 'I felt very impacted by that and wanted to do something,' said Patrick. 'And then it turned into an annual event.' Patrick said more and more people are participating year after year. In 2024, there were about 400 participants – today, the number climbed to over 500. Orange ribbons were provided to participants to carry while they ran or walked along the route. After arriving at the Healing Garden, people tied their ribbons around gazebo posts, and some attached notes to them. RECONCILIATION Runners tie orange ribbons around the St. Albert Healing Garden gazebo at the end of fourth annual Run for Reconciliation on July 1, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Sean McClune) Hazel McKennitt, a 77-year-old residential school survivor has been coming to the run every year since its inception. 'It makes us stronger, it keeps us going,' said McKennitt, who went to a residential school in Manitoba from when she was 10 years-old to 16. 'Child welfare is still an extension of residential schools, the trauma is still an extension of residential schools, and it's going to continue if we don't tell the truth about residential schools,' said McKennitt. This year the run raised funds for the Poundmaker's Lodge Treatment Centre in St. Albert. The centre is an Indigenous cultural and spiritual-based addiction and mental health treatment facility. RECONCILIATION Runners gather Lions Park in St. Albert, Alta., on July 1, 2025 for the fourth annual Run for Reconciliation. (CTV News Edmonton/Sean McClune) 'A lot of the people that visit their organization have suffered from intergenerational trauma, and so we really wanted to bring the funds we raise home,' said Patrick. In June, a fire damaged the treatment centre, temporarily displacing clients. 'The funds this year are needed even more than ever,' said Patrick. Nearly $4,000 had been raised as of Tuesday afternoon, with more donations expected until the end of the day. Donations can be made here.
