Families who have lost loved ones to addiction now have a permanent place to remember them in Winnipeg.

Amidst the busy downtown streets and the Red River, the small memorial garden sits peacefully within the trees on Waterfront Drive.

Mayor Brian Bowman says, "Not only will it serve as a tribute, but hopefully it will motivate all of us, as Canadians, to do more to prevent similar occurrences from happening to other families."

Bowman says that addiction issues can, and do, affect everyone - no matter your race, religion, economic standing - and there is more to be done to help these people and their families.

The new garden, while being a place for memorializing those lost to addiction issues, can also be a place to motivate the community and country to search for better solutions to this crisis, Bowman says.

"With the growth and renewal that happens in our seasons in Winnipeg, it allows us to rededicate our selves to make sure we are doing more to combat addictions. You know, it affects a lot of people. If this modest gesture, to have this memorial garden, facilitates greater conversation, more action in the community, provides a meeting place where you can come together, to honour loved ones lost, I hope - that's a beautiful effort - that provides a very small level of comfort."

After some words from a mother who advocated for the garden, and lost her son to an overdose, families who lost their sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters were invited to plant flowers in the garden. Mayor Bowman also took part in the gardening.