A Birthday Campaign and a Legacy for Hendrix Walter Blues in the Community He Called Home

Press Release – Almonte Civitan Club

Last year, leading up to November 14, the Ottawa valley showed support for a family grieving the sudden loss of their 10-month-old baby boy, Hendrix Walter Blues Saunders. The community lit up their porches and houses in blue to show the family of Hendrix that they were in the communities’ hearts. 

And those kind actions made a difference. 

Robbie Saunders, grandmother to Hendrix, recalls how difficult it was in those first weeks and months after Hendrix passed to stay home. That being in the family home didn’t feel comforting, it felt triggering. So, Robbie and her two daughters,Juliet (mother of Hendrix), Olivia, and granddaughter Taliyah, would go for an evening drive, for a distraction, and to look for blue lights. Blue was Hendrix’s favourite colour, it was in his name, and it became a gentle reminder of him.

The Saunders family doesn’t want Hendrix to be forgotten. Almonte was his home. He was born here, he lived every day of his life here, and he passed here. 

Robbie has been looking for a way to honour her grandson, to leave a legacy in his name. When she learned about the Almonte Civitan Accessible Playground and the possibility to have a piece of play equipment named after Hendrix, she felt like that was the right choice. 

“Having his name on something more meaningful than a bench. The playground felt fitting because it’s for children, other kids his age would be playing there,” she said. “Hendrix loved the swings and he was just starting to discover the slides. It would be wonderful to name the swings or a slide for Hendrix.” 

Robbie started making organic fire-starters and candles from some of the dried flowers from Hendrix’s memorial and selling them with profits going directly towards the goal of giving Hendrix a lasting legacy at the accessible playground. She found crafting with purpose helped with her grief. Now, the whole Saunders family is helping including Juliet, Olivia, and even some cousins. 

November 14, 2026, is Hendrix’s heavenly birthday. He would have been two years old. The anniversary of his death and his birthday are days the Saunders family want to mark or celebrate in some way. His birthday especially feels like a chance to celebrate him, to remember how he loved bunnies, how he always wanted to play with his big sister Taliyah, and how happy he was. His big smile, his curly ringlets, and his big brown eyes full of love. 

To celebrate Hendrix’s second birthday, the Saunders family will be hosting a Christmas Craft Market at their family home at 224 Johanna Street, Almonte, to raise funds for Hendrix’s Playground tribute.

“When we heard that Robbie was making crafts to sell in an effort to raise money so her family could name a piece of the playground in Hendrix’s name, we knew we needed to support her, that’s why we’re rallying together to raise $10,000 in one day for Hendrix,” said Lou Ann Cousins, Almonte Civitan President.

The one-day birthday fundraiser will direct all funds raised toward naming a piece of playground equipment in Hendrix’s honour, so he will be remembered for multiple generations.

The Almonte Civitan Accessible Playground is planned to break ground in spring 2027. Designed with accessibility in mind, it will include multi-generational swings, roller slides, accessible walking paths, shaded seating area, sensory play features, and spaces for both active and quiet play, creating more ways for children of all abilities to play together.

Together, the Saunders family and the Almonte Civitan Club hope to raise $10,000, reaching this goal will give the Saunders Family the opportunity to choose a piece of playground equipment that feels meaningful to name in Hendrix’s honour.

Community members can make a gift on November 14 at https://almontecivitan.com/remembering-hendrix/. Every contribution will help give a little boy a lasting legacy. 

This time next year, the Saunders hope to celebrate Hendrix’s birthday by seeing his name as part of the playground, surrounded by kids his age, who will know him as part of Almonte’s history. Forever remembered in his community.

Written by Michelle Bergsma

About the Almonte Civitan Club

The Almonte Civitan Club is a volunteer service organization that has supported the Mississippi Mills community since 1972. Best known locally as the stewards of the Almonte Civitan Community Hall and soccer fields. Beyond these facilities, Civitan members regularly raise funds to support groups and initiatives across the region.

The Almonte Civitan Club is currently fundraising to develop an accessible playground, which is set to break ground spring 2027. The vision is to build an accessible playground that will support social connection, physical activity and well- being across generations. The playground will have accessible walking paths, shaded seating areas, sensory play features, and spaces for both active and quiet play.