Golden Hills students honour the Legion’s centennial

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Golden Hills School Division students, as an extension to their regular curriculum, participated in planting trees at Brave Park to honour the Legion’s centennial anniversary. 

Jennifer Franssen Arnaud, public relations chair for the Strathmore Legion Branch 10, explained the idea came up in discussion regarding what to do as a legacy project for the occasion. 

As Grade 1 students each year are given trees to plant, it was suggested that rather than send the seedlings home with the kids, have them proudly planted in a public space. 

“It happened that we know Scott Silva (director of sales and marketing for Lakewood of Strathmore) quite well and he was here visiting with Donovan one day and I said, ‘I need your help,’” said Arnaud. “We needed a legacy project for the Legion to honour 100 years and what better thing to do than plant trees because they will be around forever?”

The idea was put out to Golden Hills School Division, which quickly sparked enthusiasm to participate. 

Though the formal dedication has not yet taken place, students were out in Brave Park planting trees, May 19, which will be followed up once a plaque is made to commemorate the Legion. 

“We staked each tree with a survey stake so that we know where it is and we don’t want the lawnmower taking it out. We (also) put each child’s name on their stake, and they took ownership of digging their own holes and planting the trees.”

In addition to Brave Park, future seedling plantings have been suggested to be allocated to pathways throughout Lakewood, in key public gathering spaces, and to incorporate the partnership into a community home building program. 

Local builders and homeowners have been suggested to have the opportunity to participate and have trees planted on newly developed private properties. 

Silva added the team behind the project was grateful to have the support of Eagle Lake Turf Farms, and Eagle Lake Nursery for the materials to pull it off. 

“We are big proponents of the Legion, but this program really only came into effect not even a month ago,” said Silva. “I was propositioned with an idea and I said, ‘let’s do it,’ because it is for the kids, it is for Brave Park, and it is to honour the Legion.”

According to Silva, two Grade 1 classes from Wheatland Elementary were in participation for the event, which he suggested aims to turn into an annual event in order to spread the trees throughout the community. 

“We have got lots of plantings going on and you can’t necessarily just put a forest in a park, as much as we would love to … that park belongs to the town now.”

“We have already got some spots already proposed around the ponds because we have another round of landscaping going on this summer, so those areas will potentially be getting more plantings.”

An exact date for the commemoration was not given; however, it will take place once the plaque has been created and acquired.