Eurêka Primary School plants greener future, outdoor classroom

LAVAL – The sky is the limit for students of Eurêka Primary School.

As winners of the second annual Cool Your School! contest presented by National Bank in collaboration with the Canadiens, the Laval-based institution is transforming a patch of schoolyard into an open-air learning space featuring bench tables, large trees, edible shrubs and a blackboard.

The outdoor classroom, which was initiated on-site on June 17 alongside former Hab Steve Bégin and Quebec comedian Mégan Brouillard, brings a literal breath of fresh air to the school’s students, who will also be immersed in an interactive educational program about the environmental shift and climate crisis affecting our planet.

The innovative learning hub, where the walls are trees and the ceiling is the sky, provides the young scholars an opportunity to soak in their latest math, science and history lessons in a fun and engaging setting while building a stronger connection to nature.

This year, National Bank teamed up with Le Semoir, an organization that specializes in environmental, ecology and eco-citizen-based workshops for children, to lead the makeover at Eurêka Primary School.

The Cool Your School! contest offers schools in the Montreal area the chance to win a landscaping project on their campus, as well as maintenance service for two years after planting. The 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. This year, the contest drew 130 applicants from schools in the Montreal area.

Keep an eye on canadiens.com for information on how to apply to next year’s contest. For more information on the Cool Your School! initiative, click here.