Violet Zoie Gardner

Violet "Zoie" Gardner (1918 – July 10, 1998), commonly known as Zoie Gardner, was an English-born Canadian foster parent and volunteer in Edmonton, Alberta. Gardner was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1997 and invested in 1998. She was known for decades of care for children and youth with disabilities, unhoused children, children who were difficult to place, and others who found long-term care in her home.

CBC News described Gardner as a local dressmaker, opera lover, and foster mother. Zoie Gardner Park in Edmonton’s Balwin neighbourhood is named in her honour.

Early life

Gardner was born in Manchester, England, in 1918. Her family migrated to Canada when she was about one year old. The family lived in a homestead near Grande Prairie, Alberta, before later moving to Edmonton. She was the eldest of eleven children, left school after Grade 8, and worked as a dressmaker.

Foster care and caregiving

Gardner was recognised for her long-term care of children and youth in Edmonton. She cared for hundreds of children with little financial support from others in a 13-room house in the Calder area of north Edmonton from the mid-1960s.

Gardner was closely associated with Edmonton Opera. Her Order of Canada citation refers to her as an opera lover and notes that she introduced children in her care to Edmonton Opera performances.

Death and legacy

Gardner died in Edmonton on July 10, 1998 at the age of 80. In 2014, the Unitarian Universalist Community of Victoria established the Zoie Gardner Overseas Fund from a bequest by James “Jim” and Bernice “Bunny” Hackler. The fund supports education for girls and young women in low-income countries. Gardner received several public honours and recognitions for her caregiving work. She was named Outstanding Citizen of 1961 by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. In 1971, marking her 30 years as a foster parent, she was awarded a citation by the Edmonton Foster Parents’ Association. A congratulatory letter from Community Development Minister Alvina McClellan to Gardner was tabled in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta as Sessional Paper 39/98 on February 2, 1998.

Zoie Gardner Park is a public park with an area of 0.85 hectares in Edmonton’s Balwin neighbourhood. The park is located at 12710 70 Street and was designated in 1987. The park contains a mural by Heraa Khan called When the Fish Flew. The work was added during the park revitalization and is described as reflecting Gardner, the playfulness of the park, and the diversity of the surrounding neighbourhood.