Article content

In the grassy, tree-filled, scenic spaces of South Glenmore Park — the parents of five young people taken too early are building a legacy in their memory through a unique garden with five permanent chairs in their children’s names.

Almost five years ago, Calgary was shaken by the sudden loss of Zackariah Rathwell, 21, Lawrence Hong, 27, Joshua Hunter, 23, Kaitlin Perras, 23, and Jordan Segura, 22 — all violently stabbed to death at a house party in Brentwood in 2014 while celebrating the end of university classes.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Families of Brentwood massacre victims launch legacy project at South Glenmore Park Back to video

A judge ruled that their attacker, Matthew de Grood, was suffering from schizophrenia and didn’t know his actions were wrong. He was found not criminally responsible and remains under psychiatric care, including medication that has kept his symptoms in “full remission” since 2014.

But family and friends are working to push away the darkness of that horrible memory and find light in their project — the Quinterra Legacy Garden, which will house interactive musical and play elements along with a 30-foot diameter stage for programming, such as music, theatre and healing circles.