'A Tribute to Shirley, Love Ed': B.C. senior builds 'Wizard of Oz' garden to honour wife of 66 years
When Ed Lien lost his beloved wife, Shirley, in 2017 after 66 years of marriage, he knew he wanted to stay in the home where they raised their family.
But six decades of memories made it difficult. So the 90-year-old North Vancouver, B.C., man poured himself into a front yard project.
“It was very important for me to be able to do this, because I needed a focus,” Lien said. “It simply began as building a fence, and it grew into a project for the Wizard of Oz.”
The classic film was the couple’s favourite.
“We loved the colour and the dancing,” he said in an interview with CTV News. “And we were particular fans of Judy Garland and Ray Bolger, and Ray Bolger was the scarecrow, as you probably know.”
So after adding a winding yellow brick path through his front yard, he added a scarecrow in the garden. There is a tin man and his oil can hanging from a tree, a cowardly lion peeking out from some bushes, and a Dorothy cutout is there in her iconic blue checkered dress.
Lien has also planted seven different colours of roses around a large arch made of interlocking wooden chain, that he hopes will grow into a rainbow.
Next door neighbour Nora Iliakis has marvelled at the senior’s creativity and effort.
“It’s become this beautiful garden full of lots of surprises. And impressive, it’s very impressive the work that’s gone into it,” she said.
Ed Lien built a 'Wizard of Oz' tribute garden for his late wife at their North Vancouver home. (Shannon Paterson / CTV News Vancouver)
Lien says the garden has helped him channel his grief over Shirley’s death, and gave him reason to get up in the morning. He plans to keep adding to it.
“And I intend to continue to live in our family home, because her things are there. Her purse is still on the windowsill upstairs where she left it. It gives me comfort,” he said.
There is a small plaque inside the front gate that reads, “A Tribute to Shirley, Love Ed.”
And what would she think of the Wizard of Oz-themed garden and the attention it’s receiving?
“She would be amused. At the same time, she never ever drew attention to herself, so as I’ve said before, there would be a bit of a conflict there,” said Lien.
The garden is a constant reminder of his love, and his loss.
“Of course many times I’ve become depressed,” said Lien. “But it would be so much worse if I wasn’t living here.”
He believes Shirley would have wanted him to stay. After all, there’s no place like home.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.