Thursday, November 6, 2025

Stone Garden brings Renison Community together for Memorial Celebration

This week, Renison University College held its first annual Stone Garden Memorial Celebration, where we remember community members who have passed away. Hereafter, it will be held on the first Monday following All Souls Day each year.  

For this inaugural event, community members were invited to attend and submit a name (or names) of people they would like commemorated. Each name was read aloud, and attendees had an opportunity to add a stone to the Bryant Family Stone Garden in memory of their loved ones. These stones represent how each of these lives is foundational to Renison’s ongoing story. Included amongst the stones was one found on Juno Beach in France, complete with a bullet hole worn away by time and tide and a stone that made its way to Renison from Israel. 

The celebration included a reception in the Great Hall where attendees could choose a stone bracelet as a reminder of their connection to Renison, and to their loved ones.  

Thank you to everyone who attended; you made the day special and memorable and the thoughtfulness that went into the stones planted in our garden was evident. A special thanks goes to Gerry Mueller for reading the names of loved ones.  

We look forward to this celebration continuing annually. If you have any questions about this event, please connect with Cort Egan, cort.egan@uwaterloo.ca  

Welcome sign for Stone Garden Memorial Celebration

Members of the Renison community hosted the first annual Stone Garden Memorial Celebration on Monday, November 3, 2025.

A person at a podium with people standing and listening.

After some initial remarks, the names of those to be remembered were read aloud.

People chatting with one another.
Two people reading a list of names listed on a bord.
People in the garden placing stones.

Following the remarks, attendees were invited to place a stone in the garden.

People in the garden placing stones.
Three people standing together in the garden.
Two people in conversation.
The Bryant Family Stone Garden.

The Bryant Family Stone Garden was established in 2022 by the late Darrol Bryant and his partner Susan Hodges-Bryant. The garden is intended to bring the community together in ways that are meaningful.

A stone with a Canadian flag in it.

One of the stones placed in the garden was found on Juno Beach in France. It has a bullet hole through it, which has been worn down over the years. The person who brought the stone added a small Canadian flag.

People mixing and mingling at the reception.

Following the celebration, attendees were welcomed to the Great Hall for a reception, and had the opportunity to choose a stone bracelet.

A man looking at a wooden cross sculpture. He reaches out to touch it.
Welcome sign for Stone Garden Memorial Celebration
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Members of the Renison community hosted the first annual Stone Garden Memorial Celebration on Monday, November 3, 2025.
A person at a podium with people standing and listening.
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After some initial remarks, the names of those to be remembered were read aloud.
People in the garden placing stones.
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Following the remarks, attendees were invited to place a stone in the garden.
The Bryant Family Stone Garden.
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The Bryant Family Stone Garden was established in 2022 by the late Darrol Bryant and his partner Susan Hodges-Bryant. The garden is intended to bring the community together in ways that are meaningful.
A stone with a Canadian flag in it.
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One of the stones placed in the garden was found on Juno Beach in France. It has a bullet hole through it, which has been worn down over the years. The person who brought the stone added a small Canadian flag.
People mixing and mingling at the reception.
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Following the celebration, attendees were welcomed to the Great Hall for a reception, and had the opportunity to choose a stone bracelet.