Chicopee Hills Public School is looking greener thanks to the efforts of students, teachers and members of Landscape Ontario’s Waterloo Chapter.
Each year, the Chapter organizes a local greening initiative, inviting schools to submit proposals for a $5,000 project. This year, Chicopee Hills Public School in Kitchener, Ont., was selected for its strong proposal and commitment to ongoing maintenance. Because saplings are highly vulnerable in their first five years after planting, having a reliable plan to care for the young trees was a critical factor in the school’s successful bid.
Two Landscape Ontario member companies, Earthscape and In Your Backyard, completed the work on May 14, alongside primary and junior classes, planting 175 trees in a single day.
Beyond the environmental benefits, the project helps Landscape Ontario maintain a strong community presence, said Brenda Welsh, owner of In Your Backyard and a board member of the Waterloo Chapter.
“We would like to encourage youth to get involved in the trades, so if education around landscaping and horticulture starts at the primary level, by the time these students get to high school and post-secondary education, they are already connected to Landscape Ontario,” Welsh said. “It’s also a great way to connect with parents who are also homeowners and show them that companies under Landscape Ontario are reliable and do great work.”
The school community fully embraced the Chapter’s initiative.
“Partnering with Earthscape and In Your Backyard to plant trees gave Chicopee Hills students a meaningful opportunity to collaborate and give back,” said school principal Jenni Guy. “Our school grounds are a true community hub, and the school council has been eager to add natural shade elements to the yard.”
Principal Guy added the project allowed older and younger students to work together on an initiative that will benefit the local environment for generations to come. In doing so, students learned about native Ontario tree species, developed practical care skills and perfectly embodied the school’s motto: “We are caring. We are creative. We are a community. We are Chicopee Hills.”
The community’s dedication will continue throughout the summer, with many families volunteering to water the trees over the summer school break.
