Planting seeds of hope at the Ryerson Grove

“It’s part of my core beliefs that you are what you do. If I have the time, talent or treasury to move something forward, I’ll try to help.”

Rodney Yip (computer science ’82) helped Camp Trillium (external link)  – a camp for children battling cancer, and their families – in a big way last spring, when he sponsored the planting of 70 seedlings in honour of Ryerson’s 70th anniversary in 2018.

He not only gifted the trees, he also planted 50 of them himself, in an area now called the Ryerson Grove.

“Rodney is very much an environmentalist and is very supportive of Camp Trillium,” said Fiona Fisher, director of fundraising for Camp Trillium. “So he came to the open house on April 28, and wore his boots and his jeans and came out to plant.”

Growing care

The Ryerson Grove is part of a larger planting effort that took place at the camp to celebrate its 35th anniversary. About 150 white pine and cedar trees were planted by camp supporters and volunteers, many in honour of loved ones.

“Everybody came out and planted their own tree and chose where they wanted it to be, so that this way, 10 years from now, they can pinpoint the spot where their tree went,” explained Fisher. “As the trees grow, it will be a beautiful area for our families to spend time in and for us to run activities.”

Yip, who’s been a Camp Trillium board member since 2015, agrees.

“From their hectic, intensive treatments and going back and forth to the hospital, these kids and their families just need to have a breather and a nice green space where they can play, watch the animals, do crafts or just sit around and read,” said Yip. “This is a place of friendliness and calm so I hope I've helped create an oasis for these children to help them heal.”

Before retiring in 2015, Yip worked as a disaster risk recovery and business resiliency expert with IBM Canada for 33 years. Through this work, Yip came to believe that caring communities are essential for our society’s survival.

“If we create a stronger safety net for the population, then the more resilient our society will be in the face of adversity,” he said.

The Ryerson connection

To this end, Yip has established a student award in the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, sponsored a beehive in the Ryerson Urban Farm, has been a mentor in the Science Discovery Zone, and continues to strengthen Ryerson’s connection to Camp Trillium.

“Last year, they hired a Ryerson nurse to be on staff and we’ve had a number of students participate as volunteers at the camp,” he said. “I’d like to grow that relationship even more.”

So would Fiona Fisher: “We've had great students coming from Ryerson to join us so we've been very lucky,” she says. “The nurses get to see the kids away from the clinic, when they're doing things they love to do, like canoeing or a ropes course or climbing the rock wall. They see the other side of the child not just the sick child who's in the hospital receiving chemotherapy. I think it's rewarding for everyone.”

Making a difference

Camp Trillium is a registered Canadian charity that offers free programs for more than 3,100 children a year.

“As a cancer survivor, Camp Trillium represents everything that is so important during your cancer journey,” said Fisher. “It’s a place where your friends will be, a place you know you will have fun and laugh, a place that allows you to be who you are, not to be recognized for a disease but to be recognized for your unique self. And that is what every childhood should be about.”

If you’d like to add to the Ryerson Grove at Camp Trillium (external link) , another planting will take place next spring. Learn more (external link)  about how you can help.