Lakeside Academy set for planting day

MONTREAL - A greener future lies ahead for a Lachine high school, courtesy of the Cool Your School! project presented by National Bank in collaboration with the Canadiens.

In late May, Lakeside Academy completed the third and final workshop for their greening and landscaping project. Grade eight students planted the seeds for their predecessors, who took control of the wheel and put the petal to the metal for the final seminar, focusing on flowerbed designs.

The grade nine students rose to the challenge, as they branched off into smaller groups to design the gardening grounds that will decorate their campus.

"This greening initiative is important for our school as its goal is to positively impact the environment while giving students and staff a beautiful campus to enjoy," said Angela Troli, Community Development Agent at Lakeside Academy. "The students involved will have the opportunity to be part of the decision process and have a voice to express their vision of the project."

Three workshops up, three workshops down. Now, it's time to plant, plant, plant around.

On June 6, the action will shift from the classroom to the school's outdoor campus where 11 trees and nine shrubs will be planted in addition to the aforementioned flowerbed sectors.

Phase two of the project will feature an outdoor classroom that will allow students to attend class in a cooler environment. The development is projected to be ready in September, in time for the beginning of the next school year.

About Cool Your School!

This new initiative, introduced in January 2023 as an addition to the Goal is Green program, represents the evolution of the Canadiens' long-standing partnership with National Bank and their strong desire to make a positive impact in the community.

The Canadiens and National Bank have partnered with GRAME for the planning and execution of the planting project. GRAME works for a better environment in collaboration with citizens, communities, organizations, and governments by intervening in the field, deploying education and awareness programs and issuing recommendations rooted in the scientific rigor that has characterized it since its creation.

"By supporting schools in a participative approach to greening [their campus], we hope to educate students about the impact of their project on the environment and for the well-being of the city, all while creating facilities that reflect their own image," said Eva Doan-Lavoie, Project Manager, Greening and Development at GRAME.

For more information on the Cool Your School! initiative, click here.