Jack Heppner never set out to win awards. For him, the true reward was seeing the Altona Community Garden flourish into a place where people could grow not only food but also friendships.
Nonetheless, the Altona resident was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his dedication to developing the garden into what it is today.
“I am happy to receive this, but I also want to say thank you to the community, to the town, to everybody who has been involved,” Heppner said in reflecting on the honour. “It’s not just me. There’s no way in the world I could have done this by myself.”
Heppner spearheaded the project in 2017, though he is quick to emphasize that it was a group effort from the start.
“It was fortunate that we worked on a task force of three from the beginning. Joel Martin, Jason Peters, and I were a small force that was committed. We met every week and worked at it.”
What started as a small initiative has now grown into something remarkable. The first year, the garden offered 54 plots. Today, it boasts 200 plots, including raised beds for accessible gardening.
The vision for a shared growing space has evolved into a thriving international community. Last year alone, 150 families rented plots, with newcomers from Mexico, Africa, Ukraine, Russia, and South America among them.
“For many newcomers, this is the place where they integrate,” Heppner said. “Maybe they have a job, or don’t have a job yet. They see all kinds of people on the street or at the grocery store. But how do you actually connect with people? If you’re gardening next to somebody, you spend time with each other. Then you say hi and start communicating. This is the place where you meet people.
“You’re working side by side, and then you start sharing your lives. People from all parts of the world talk, share plants, and produce. That’s always been very good to see.”
With support from Altona town council and various local organizations, the garden has expanded far beyond its original scope.
“There was so much support. Now we have a decorative berm, a sandbox area for the kids, a pavilion with places to sit, a shed full of tools, and compost free for the taking.”
One of Heppner’s fondest memories is of an older gentleman, a retired lawyer from Colombia, who visited the garden daily while visiting his children in Altona.
“He came here and sat at the pavilion, reading every day. In Spanish, he said, ‘This is paradiso! You guys don’t know what you ha -= ve here.’ That was always rewarding, to talk to people like that.”
The garden’s entrance has also become a source of pride, transformed into a beautifully landscaped park-like area.
“Gord Sawatzky was involved in developing the park area at the front of the pavilion. Aaron Sawatzky designed it. We asked Gord to take those designs and make them reality. He committed to three years of work at the garden. It’s just beautiful.”
Even as he steps away from managing the project, Heppner is excited to see where new leadership will take it.
“I’m 78 now, and I felt that it was time to back off and let someone else take the helm. I have another chapter in life. I’ll still support the garden, but I won’t be managing it. I’ve had eight really good years with this project.”
Reflecting on his time with the garden, Heppner considers it one of the most fulfilling experiences of his life.
“I’ve had a varied life. I’ve lived in different places. But I think my years working at the community garden are probably the most rewarding.”
