The Crossroads Hospice Labyrinth Healing Garden is nearing completion and it's already proving popular.

Of the seven benches, 23 stepping stones and 24 inspirational stones available for purchase, only a handful are left. Crossroads executive director Barb Henham says it's an indication of just how much the community is behind this endeavour.

"People are really taking advantage of the giving or naming opportunities," she said, and offering their support for the healing garden.

The inspirational stones ($2,500) will be inscribed with words such as those in Crossroads' motto — "dignity, choice, compassion" — as well as care, faith, grace, hope and peace. The stepping stones ($1,000) will be built into the pavers of the garden path and the benches ($5,000 to $10,000 each) will be placed at the entrance, throughout the garden and at the centre of the labyrinth.

Donors names will be listed on a sign at the labyrinth garden, along with a coded map to show which stone or bench was purchased; they're not going on the pieces themselves as a way of keeping the space from becoming a memorial garden.

"We want people's names to be recognized," said Kelly Parry, Crossroads' marketing co-ordinator. "But it's not a memorial garden, this is a healing garden," Henham added.

The nearly 3,000-square foot labyrinth garden features a paved path inlaid with stones and surrounded by plants that went in last week. It differs from a maze in that the labyrinth leads walkers on a single path that leads to the centre; it's designed to offer a chance to reflect, relax, meditate or just be in a quiet place of contemplation.

Both Henham and Parry are thrilled to see the garden, in Port Moody's Pioneer Memorial Park, becoming a reality. Crossroads has been working on the labyrinth concept since 2004; the landscape architect, Blasig Landscape Design and Construction Ltd., signed on in 2005 to offer free design and consultation services.

"We have to commend Blasig," Henham said. "They thought they were doing this in 2005 and they've stuck with us. The president of the company even went to Squamish recently to hand-pick the stones."

Crossroads is hoping that kind of support extends to the wider community and that the public will "take ownership" of the gardens and do its part to protect them (though security features such as lighting and increased police surveillance are being incorporated).

"We want to offer this to our patients, their families and the public as an extension of the services we already offer," Henham said. "This is a lasting legacy to the community."

• For more information on the Crossroads Hospice Labyrinth Healing Garden, visit www.crossroads.bc.ca.

spayne@tricitynews.com