The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, August 6, 2010 · 24 T.A.B. takes off with environmental projects By Nathan Howes OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF It pays to go green -- just ask T.A. Blakelock High School students who received $2,000 through a partnership between Oakville Toyota and Evergreen to make their school grounds more environmentally friendly. Evergreen is an environmental non-profit organization that works with Canadians to bring nature back to urban communities. It is celebrating its 10th year of a national partnership with Toyota Canada dealerships, designed to transform Canadian school grounds into natural learning environments. Together, they have worked with 1,600 schools and 814,000 students across Canada. In 2008-2009, the ToyotaEvergreen program contributed more than $220,000 to 140 schools. "Evergreen has been re-nat- uralizing school grounds for 20 years already across Canada. We've planted these trees, shade and seating areas, creating vegetable gardens and other types of green zones that transform asphalt school grounds to an outdoor classroom," said Anthony Westenberg, Evergreen public relations manager. Westenberg explained the Blakelock's butterfly garden project. "The project was developed with a landscape architect and students. They created a scale model of the garden as well as a mural of what they wanted to do," said Westenberg. "The garden that they're going to have on the school ground is raised (garden) beds, sheeting and other structures that the students are going to construct." The green project was started well before Evergreen and Toyota got involved, which was earlier this year. Students have been working on this project with science teacher, Terry Warcholak for about five years. The funding came in quickly after Warcholak sent in the application to Evergreen. The money will help build a raised garden bed. "What we need to do is to bring in approximately 20 pieces of armoured stone. And create, not exactly a circle, more like an oval, and then we will be planting native perennials and shrubs in that raised garden bed," said Warcholak. "I've already bought the perennials and the shrubs that will go in there. We've spent approximately $500 out of the $2,000 that we've received." Along with the EvergreenNIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER Toyota grant, the students have been initiating their own WHO WANTS TO ACCEPT THE CHEQUE?: Oakville Toyota President Frank Apa presents Burlington's Alexander's Public School Eco Teams with $750 for the Evergreen Program at Oakville fundraisers. One such event dubbed, Toyota. Ecoppolooza raised $500. A week later, a car wash raised have been responsible for the things like arbour, there's a $400. recycling program at our pergola that we want to put in. "They've done a lot of the school; we've added green bins Most of the plant material is in fundraising. I'd say at least 60 in the cafeteria," said place with the exception of the to 70 per cent of the money Warcholak. raised garden bed," said that's been raised so far has "In the past, we've been Warcholak. come from the kids." involved with planting the garThe next phase in the projThe butterfly garden isn't dens in front of the school ect will be a grand opening of the only green initiative the (and) involved in Atlantic the butterfly garden in the students have been involved salmon re-stocking." courtyard in September. A date with. Since the school has It could be two years before has yet to be determined. received gold certification the butterfly garden is com- Anyone is welcome to attend. through the Ontario plete, once most of the major "It's really starting to take EcoSchools program, this wooden structures are in place. shape," Warcholak said. means it is consistently involved "There's still stuff we need "Initially, the progress was really in environmental projects. to do. Most of what we need to slow but we're gaining momen"We've had students that do at this point is putting in tum I think. We will get there." AWNINGS YOUR BACKYARD SPECIALIST Residential, Commercial Awnings, Canopies, Portable Shade Structures YOUR BACKYARD SPECIALIST Residential, Commercial Awnings, Canopies, Portable Shade Structures Enjoy the outdoors relaxing under a Sunguard awning manufactured with your choice of fade proof Sunbrella fabric, and powered by a reliable Somfy remote controlled motor. STOCK AWNINGS AVAILABLE FOR FAST INSTALLATIONS! OTHER SHADE PRODUCTS TOO Call us or visit our showroom at: 4090 Ridgeway Dr. #10, Mississauga 905-569-8566 Monday-Friday 9:30am to 5pm Saturday 10am to 3pm www.sunguardawnings.com