Emma Rooney, Creativity Facilitator

So much of my inspiration comes from spending time in High Park.

So much of my inspiration comes from spending time in High Park.

Inspiration comes from many places. For some, they experience inspiration in a song or a scent, while others are moved by a piece of artwork or the feeling of the earth beneath their fingers.

I have always been inspired by art and nature.

Throughout my childhood, I was given the freedom and encouragement to spend lots of time playing outside, working on art projects, and writing stories. I learned quickly that a connection to nature is an essential ingredient in the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, and that to feel alive we must constantly feed our creativity.

We all have a creative side, a side that needs to be nurtured in order for us to live healthy, fulfilled lives.

I am grateful to have grown up in a nurturing home on the banks of the Rouge River with my parents, Moira and Tim, as my guides. It’s this magical place that has helped to shape my business.

I am grateful to have grown up in a nurturing home on the banks of the Rouge River with my parents, Moira and Tim, as my guides. It’s this magical place that has helped to shape my business.

I’m a creativity facilitator who specializes in therapeutic gardening, cooking for wellbeing, and storytelling. My experience as a horticultural therapy intern at Providence Farm, a model therapeutic community on Vancouver Island, was instrumental in shaping my philosophy of care, which weaves together caring for the land and caring for people. 

Since then, I’ve been fortunate to work with many innovative local organizations, from the High Park Children’s Garden to Greenest City in Parkdale and Ecosource in Mississauga. As a community programmer, I’ve enjoyed using my skills to support diverse populations and age groups with getting involved in important environmental and social justice issues. I’m the horticultural therapy practitioner at Copernicus Lodge LTC, a Toronto Master Gardener, and a volunteer at the High Park Nature Centre. I’m also a certified forest therapy guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. I look forward to welcoming you in the Forest Bathing Studio, a place to connect with your senses and nature nearby.

I believe elders represent the generation with the deepest wisdom, yet too often their voices go unheard. Blooming Caravan seeks to capture these one-of-a-kind stories for families and communities while nurturing the creative spirit of elders. Through cooking, gardening, and storytelling, the Blooming Caravan experience is artful, inspired by nature, and nourishing to your overall well-being.

 
Many wonderful mentors and teachers continue to support my development as a facilitator. Photo credit: Tish Carnat, Milky Way Garden

Many wonderful mentors and teachers continue to support my development as a facilitator. Photo credit: Tish Carnat, Milky Way Garden

 
“We didn’t know we were looking for Emma until she came into our lives.”
— Bob. S, husband and care partner


~Website photos by Melanie Gordon, featuring Moira, Tim, and Emma Rooney