5-year project officially opened by Filmon

Details

Published on Monday, June 19, 2017

By Sheila Runions

The Rivers Banner

Five years ago Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) contacted Rivers Collegiate Institute (RCI) to consider being one of 11 Canadian schools to join the national network of wetland centres. At that time, principal Mike Klassen reported in Rivers Banner, “Even to be considered for this is worthy.” These centres were created to engage all levels of youth, with a focus on high school students mentoring their elementary-aged peers.

Since that time, the centre at Rivers has grown to exceed all expectations at all levels of organization and government. The centre has won several awards in recent years and when Rivers Train Station Restoration Project committee asked the school to tie into their June 9 100th anniversary celebration with Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon, the school enthusiastically agreed. As train committee chairperson Donna Morken said during her morning ceremony.

"Had it not been for the railway requiring gravel for the rail beds, the walking trail and soccer pitches, Rivers Wetland Centre of Excellence would not have been formed. As the gravel pit reclaimed itself, the depressions held water and the area became home to many birds, animals and vegetation.”

As another report states, Filmon and guests were treated to a luncheon before convoying to RCI where they were muscially greeted by Grade 12 guitarist Jesse Silvius, strumming gently in the school’s foyer. Beyond the foyer doors were tables of information and displays of awards Rivers Wetland Centre of Excellence has won: an un-dated DUC plaque of recognition; Manitoba Conservation Districts Association and Canadian Wildlife Federation engraved acrylic trophies, a picture of the gate sign award from Little Saskatchewan River Conservation District (all won in 2016) and Manitoba School Boards Association premier award for school board innovation (2017).

All students from both RCI and Rivers Elementary School, as well as train station members and interested area citizens, attended a 45-minute ceremony in the gymnasium. It was here that Morken continued her comments: “Her honour [Filmon] spoke of the contribution railways have made in connecting our country and how the Rivers station began the community. This wetland area was created because of CN Railway digging a pit for aggregate. Millennium Park was created and while it includes soccer pitches, seating areas and walking trails, there was one piece that was formed naturally. This self-reclamation piece was a wetland that formed in the depressions. Through the initial effort of the staff and students of Rivers Collegiate, Riverdale Municipality and DUC, a partnership was formed to preserve this area. Since that initial discussion, this has become a community project with over 15 different organizations coming on board to support this initiative financially and through countless volunteer hours.”

RCI principal Mike Klassen welcomed everyone to the “grand opening of our Wetland Centre of Excellence” and he introduced the same dignitaries present at the morning train station ceremony: Filmon, MP Robert Sopuck, MLA Greg Nesbitt, Mayor Todd Gill,  as well as Nathalie Bays from DUC and Barret Miller from Fort Whyte Alive. “We had hoped to host this at the wetland centre; however, with the potential for severe weather today, we made some programming changes so we could still make this all work. We’re still celebrating the great thing the students and community have done over the last five years.”

He then asked Filmon to say a few words and she started with a joke: “I had to come here under an umbrella! Don’t you think you’ve taken this wetlands too seriously?” After the snickering in the gym died down, she continued to say Canada’s “land of abundance has sustained [animals] and people, but it can be fragile so we need to respect the land. Projects like this are an outstanding addition to student resources. You have created a lasting gift to your community. To the students who have worked on this award-winning centre, it will always be a source of well-deserved pride for you. Building a beautiful, healthy, sustainable community is a present that gives to its community. I wanted, in my term as lieutenant-governor, to do something beautiful, lasting and sustainable, so I learned of a tree 20 years in the making. It was then-unnamed, so we had the opportunity to name it. It started from a silver maple and was cross-bred with the eastern maples so it’ll be a glorious red; we’re going to plant that tree for you to bring your children back to see and you can say you planted it. This is a lasting legacy of those who dedicated themselves to this centre; may it bring you joy for years to come.”

Sopuck told the crowd he “loves the outdoors. I’ve spent my life outside and I’m a marine biologist. When I worked for Delta Waterfowl, I was involved in a lot of conservation projects. It’s really important for you young people to remember the chain of conservation; it started with North American Waterfowl Association, then DUC, your conservation district and you are the next link. You are our future conservationists.” He then presented Klassen a certificate of “Congratulations!… for your commitment to wetland conservation and wide range of environment activities.”

Nesbitt believes the wetland centre is a “model for promoting biodiversity and conservation of wetlands in Manitoba. It shows what co-operation can accomplish. Rivers Wetland Centre of Excellence drew national attention when Canadian Wildlife Federation recognized it with the 2016 Youth Conservation Award for the contribution by youth of the area to this project. I want to commend all those involved in making this a reality, and encourage continued efforts to educate the young and old on the importance of conservation.”

Gill was mayor of Rivers before provincial-enforced municipal amalgamation in 2015 so his councils have worked with RCI since day one. He brought “greetings from Riverdale Municipality and Town of Rivers. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of our home country Canada, we also celebrate the wetlands project and the relationships that have supported the project through to today and into the future. The relationships that support such projects are a true testament to the liberties we as Canadians enjoy.”

Bays reminded everyone the history of wetland centres across Canada, of which four exist in Manitoba, “But oh my goodness! Rivers has broken the mould and gone above in everything. The amount of work in your signage, the infrastructure, planting, your dock, the planning. We are proud to be part of this work in Rivers.”

Miller is not only a Fort Whyte Alive special projects interpreter, but he is also a board member for Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM). He explained his job is to “work with special projects; if it involves youth and environment and is not in our educational brochure, then I work with them. Five years ago I started to work with Rivers and it quickly spun into something to support students and their programs, to share with their school, community and country. Many people are passionate about conservation and they may talk about what you have done, but very few people have actually accomplished this. I am pleased to announce Rivers, of all 47 kindergarten-Grade 12 applications received from across Canada, Rivers was picked as EECOM’s outstanding school! I am VERY pleased to present this award.” He then asked Klassen to accept the certificate which is the “2017 Award of Excellence recognizing Rivers Collegiate as the outstanding K-12 school and school division.” Miller collected the award at EECOM’s annual convention in Nova Scotia on May long weekend. Klassen then said, “Being part of the EECOM board until last year, I am humbled to receive this award.”

Centre’s history and future

With dignitary greetings officially over, Klassen read his own speech, part of which included: “Over the past five years, we have been very fortunate to work with many people on a local, regional, provincial and national stage in bringing this project together. Although we have a long way to go, we have made great strides in bringing a project to life for our school, community and visitors to the area. This is a project that will be here many years to come for our school and community to enjoy. There is no better classroom than the great outdoors. Today, kids need to spend more time outdoors, learning about their surroundings and developing a sense of place. We are lucky to have such programs in our school. We’ve had endless support for this project [he quit after listing 22 partners] and we thank you all for helping make this happen. Finally, thank you to my friend and wetland colleague, Donna Morken for all she has helped with over the past five years. I’ve learned a lot about how to be involved in helping build a community and community school from you. You are an inspiration, a mover and a shaker and I thank you for all you have done and continue to do for RCI, Rivers and Riverdale. The CDC is now looking at a 20-25 year plan for the wetland; I may not be around that long and I only originally talked of three to five years. We have planted over 100,000 trees and other plants there; it’s exciting to see new animals in the area — even a black bear has been spotted there in recent weeks! Nature just keeps giving and it never takes away; the outdoors is without a doubt the best classroom.”

To every student Filmon provided square plastic lapel pins and paper stick flags, each with the Canada 150 logo. Manitoba Forestry, Manitoba Education for Sustainable Development and Envirothon Manitoba supplied a white spruce tree seedling for each student. CN Rail gave each student a rubber stress train to squish, which Klassen said would be useful for students as exams are just around the corner. Rivers & Area Community Foundation had maple-flavoured and maple leaf-shaped cookies for all, but before cookies were served, Filmon joined the students and led them in cheers of “Happy birthday, Canada!” as they excitedly waved their flags. Other student gifts were supplied to them when they returned to their classrooms.

As part of her Tree Project, Filmon was to have visited the wetland centre to plant her maple near the wetland entrance but non-stop rain prevented that plan from fruition. The school planted it on Tuesday, June 12; it will be one of 150 trees Filmon provides for Canada’s 150th birthday. The tree was developed by Portage la Prairie’s Jeffries Nurseries and named by Filmon as a Regal Celebration red maple.