Planting Peace

Fanshawe students design a garden in memory of Our London Family.

In 2021, our community was horrified when a terrorist attack rooted in Islamophobia targeted London’s Afzaal family. Since that time, many have looked for ways to show their support, express their grief and offer comfort.

In 2023, the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario contacted Fanshawe to request student volunteers who could build a commemorative garden in the Islamic Cemetery of London in honour of the Afzaal family, now widely known as Our London Family. Emily DeBeck, a secondyear student in the Business Marketing program who is completing a co-op placement with the College’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team, took the lead.

“This project was clearly very special from the start,” says Emily. “The goal was to provide a space where people can come and pay their respects in an area that is flourishing and peaceful.”

Emily partnered with Alex Bright, a second-year student in the Horticulture Technician program, to create a plan for the garden. They assembled a team of students and, working with faculty members in the School of Design, created a design for the garden, taking great care to include elements that have special meaning in Islamic culture.

“Islamic gardens have a lot of symmetry and geometry in their design,” explains Alex. “I used the concept of symmetrical quadrants for the layout, and we also plan to adorn arbours with some key Islamic symbolism in the shape of the crescent moon.”

The arbours were installed in the fall of 2023, and the flowers will be planted in the spring of 2024.

“My hope is the garden will evoke a sense of calm and peace,” says Alex. “I hope it provides a space for contemplation while being surrounded by the colours, scents and sounds of nature—a place of remembrance and healing.”