This month’s Climate Hugs recipient is Alli Lavoie, a teacher at Ballenas Secondary School in Parksville.
Lavoie has taught in District 69 for 15 years, nine of those at Ballenas. Three years ago she attended a training session as a representative of Ballenas with the Regional District of Nanaimo's Zero Waste Program.
Following the training she was inspired to apply for a grant from the RDN to set up an Eco Club at the school. She recognized some students would welcome an opportunity to do something about environmental issues through active stewardship, and the club would provide an opportunity for education, fun and socializing while they undertook recycling activities in the school and other projects in the community. Every Ballenas student is welcome to join the club, which meets at lunchtime, but also uses school instruction time to carry out some projects.
The club has participated in numerous projects and initiatives. The first focus was internal, working with a Zero Waste grant to develop composting and recycling of lunch packaging and leftovers in the high school. This project is ongoing and includes waste audits in the school and providing lessons about recycling to the Grade 8 students entering the school each fall.
Club members also participate in constant reminders and education for all school members to use the recycling and composting bins provided. In addition to developing public speaking skills, students have been able to promote the use of reusable bags and straws, purchased with grant money, and discourage the use of single-use plastics. Lavoie encourages club members to follow their interests. A group attended a climate symposium in Courtenay in November and students are also planning a lesson to deliver to peers in each homeroom. They hope to connect more in the future with the learning community, perhaps arranging for club members to visit elementary school classrooms to make presentations.
Club members have volunteered with Streamkeepers and Friends of Shelley Creek to help with invasive species removal. On Earth Day, they assisted with tree-planting in Grandin Creek along with Kwalikum Secondary School students. They have been involved in tree-planting excursions several times over the three years, including working with the Nature Trust at Englishman River Estuary. The club also assisted with the children’s day of the Brant Wildlife Festival. They plan to participate with the Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society in activities at Romney Creek in Parksville.
Lavoie feels the club has developed well, taking up opportunities to help in the community as they come along. She says they are a great group of students, and she hopes some will choose an environment or climate change topic or activity for their Grade 12 capstone projects.
We congratulate Lavoie on her initiative and her leadership. She has provided Ballenas students with opportunities to learn about local environmental issues, and to experience hands-on activities to address some of them by working co- operatively in the school and in the community. Fifty dollars, donated by the Nanoose Bay Lions Club, will go to the Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society in Lavoie's name.
Climate Hugs appears monthly in the PQB News
