Memorial garden honouring 5 killed at Brentwood house party officially opens

A memorial garden designed to honourfive students killed at a Calgary house party in 2014 is officially open.

Quinterra Legacy Garden, located in South Glenmore Park,was created in the memory of Lawrence Hong, 27, Josh Hunter, 23, Kaitlin Perras, 23, Jordan Segura, 22, and Zackariah Rathwell, 21, who were killed at a party meant to celebrate the end of the school year.

The families of the victims held a small, private event in October 2020 to unveil the space, but were unable to hold an official grand opening due to pandemic restrictions at the time.

On Saturday, musiciansMike Fraser, Aaron Young, SBW and the Mocking Shadows performed, kicking off the garden's use as an outdoor performance space.

Barclay Hunter's son, Josh, was a drummer. He heldan EP release partywith his bandZackariah and the Prophets just two days before he was killed.

"That's the way we thought we could honour Josh and the other kids, was to find something that was going to be uplifting and positive and that would inspire people to be creative, and to do good things in their lives with music and arts," Hunter said.

Hunter said his family comes to the park oftenand said he's been moved to see children playing with the permanent, outdoor musical instruments in the space.

• Memorial garden for 5 killed at Brentwood house party opens in South Glenmore Park

There are free performances by local artists scheduled at the park on Aug. 19 and 26.

Sheila Taylor, CEO of Parks Foundation Calgary, said the park's opening is bittersweet.

"This was born out of tragedy but what we have is a place that will bring such joy and happiness to others, and it's a place that really reflected the individual personalities and passions of each of these young people," Taylor said.

"This is their legacy."