Covering council meetings, you read a lot of letters from concerned residents and local businesses. It’s rare to see a group of young people attend. And rarer still that they bring along their own graphics.
But during a May 28 committee of the whole meeting, mayor and council received correspondence and a delegation from Grade 1 and 2 students from Signal Hill Elementary concerned about losing tree cover at the Pemberton school.
“We have noticed that a lot of trees have been cut down [for] the French school building,” read the delegation, together. “We are worried about not having enough shade and homes for animals [and] too much wind. Could you help us get and plant some bigger trees for [Signal Hill Elementary]?”
Students added they have already planted seeds to replace the downed trees.
The new francophone school building will sit behind Signal Hill, between the elementary school, Tiyata Village, and the highway. A groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited francophone school was held on May 6. Construction is scheduled to wrap in 2027.
Another student read from a series of posters produced by the classes, highlighting the specific role trees play in cleaning the atmosphere, promoting biodiversity, and providing shade and a wind buffer.
The committee was receptive to the students’ concerns.
“Trees are really important. We all feel the same way,” said Mayor Mike Richman. “And I could see now that the French school is being built, there's a little more light [and] a little less shade. There is a plan with the French school to do some tree-planting [and] landscaping as they build on that site. So it might take a little while, the trees might take a little while to grow enough to provide good shade, but that is the plan.”
Richman added that to see residents—specifically, the Village’s younger residents—tune in and show up was rewarding.
“We also think it's very cool that because the trees are important to you, you guys decided to come here and talk to us,” he told the assembled students. “That's the coolest part, because that's how things work. That's how we know how to change things, make decisions, is when people like you tell me—tell us—what's important to them.”
