Tillicum Elementary School students have planted over 1,200 shrubs and trees on school grounds as a part of a collaborative effort between the District of Saanich and the Greater Victoria School District (SD68).
The Tillicum Green Infrastructure Project was also largely overseen by Indigenous stakeholders from the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations who helped guide the work.
In March, a public engagement session was held, and since that time, much of the feedback gathered from the session was taken into consideration, resulting in what became the landscape design for the school site.
The goal was to provide more greenery to the school site, along with opportunities to learn of native species to the region and their benefits.
“The Tillicum Green Infrastructure Project aims to mitigate growing climate change impacts while integrating Indigenous knowledge of natural systems, Indigenous plant species, and sustainable practices,” says Rebecca Newlove, Manager of Sustainability, District of Saanich.
Planting was preceded by a blessing of the land, which was held on September 29th, and was led by Elder Maryanne Thomas of the Esquimalt Nation.
“Today we are going to be marking the ground and asking our ancestors if we can borrow the land for the plants to have a bed to grow in,” said Elder Thomas to open the ceremony.
Tillicum Elementary School Principal Aaron Parker says this will benefit all students in learning about local landscapes and climate change.
“It has been such a heartwarming experience to see all of our students helping to plant hundreds of plants on the school site within new natural areas, as part of a rain garden, and around a new outdoor classroom,” said Parker.
The project was supported by a $396,865 grant from the Province.
