Billie Wilder Therapy Garden Toronto ON

The Billie Wilder Therapy Garden is located at the EW Bickle Centre for Complex Continuing Care, at 130 Dunn Ave. in the Parkdale area of western Toronto. Funded by a family foundation in memory of their mother (Billie Wilder), the garden was imagined as a “a place for all to connect with nature”. Managed by the University Health Network’s Bickle Centre, the garden was designed by SpruceLab Inc. in collaboration with PLANT Architect Inc. in 2024 and is now completed. The garden will provide the rehabilitation centre’s patients and their families, as well as staff and visitors, with a restorative landscape that is designed to offer healing, joyful experiences.

The healthcare centre offers rehabilitation services for inpatients and outpatients living with more than one complex condition at a time (tended to by a team of interdisciplinary healthcare providers), as well as for geriatric patients needing rehabilitation and dialysis. For some residents, this therapy garden will offer a connection to nature that they may otherwise not be able to enjoy due to health issues and limited mobility. The design includes improved accessibility and safety for patients with limited mobility and wheelchairs and mobility devices, as well as restorative design techniques such as organic forms, joyful colours and artwork that brings life into the space (e.g. large, colourful bird motifs affixed to the paving, and biodiverse native species plantings). Attention was paid to creating interesting views from windows above, for patients, staff and visitors to enjoy from within the building.

The central, circular wood deck and ramp have integrated wood bench seating for sitting outside and to accommodate larger groups, and is made of sustainable thermally modified ash wood, with a stainless steel metal edge (wheelchair bumper). The provision of shade offers comfortable microclimates for sitting outside or walking in the garden in hot summer months. Sensory plants are proposed with tactile qualities (e.g. softness) and aromatic healing properties that are known to improve an overall sense of well-being and decrease stress.