Trees of life: N.B. man on a mission educate youth while planting trees at schools across province
A New Brunswick man is on a mission to plant 25 trees in 25 different schools at the province, while educating students of all ages, on how to properly grow these plants and their importance.
Jim Landry is the executive director of Landscape New Brunswick and was at Harbour View High School on Douglas Avenue in Saint John on Friday morning, where he took the classroom and a group of students outdoors for a hands-on lesson.
“I think this is where the learning happens,” says Landry. “This is where you get the opportunity to get some students together as a group and talk. I’ve planted with groups of 10 … I think we had 70 or 80 at a school in Moncton yesterday.”
Landry brought with him two special oak seedlings to plant during his visit to the high school in Saint John, both with a connection to Vimy Ridge – a connection that his family also shares.
“These are trees that came from Vimy Ridge in France 104 years ago, and so I plant them in honour of my uncle,” says Landry. “But also, I try to relate the life of my uncle and his death at Vimy Ridge with everybody’s family – because there’s so much connection back a hundred years ago with that battle.”
Emily Lennon, a teacher at Harbour View high who teaches biology, environmental science and general sciences, says this week they’ve planted a hundred trees on their campus.
The school has already implemented several outdoor initiatives, including a garden, and Lennon hopes to see an arboretum on the property.
“I think the overarching thing is that they’ll hopefully carry that on in their future in terms of their own interests,” says Lennon. “And understand the changes that are happening for future generations.”
For students at the school, it was also a valuable lesson in sustainability and how a small act can make a big difference.
“You dig a hole and put it in and it’s super easy,” says grade 11 student Julia Wiezel. “It’s something everyone can do literally anywhere.”
“It was fun, helping the environment,” adds grade 11 student Hannah Renault. “It’s good to learn about the environment especially for the future too.”
Planting seeds for the future, one tree at a time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.