Vancouver-based charity FORED BC Society recently sponsored its annual National Forest Week contest and a group of students from École Francophone Kimberley were among the four selected winners.
FORED provided cash prizes and had entries from students aged 5 to 18 from all over B.C. and the rest of the country. The theme for this year’s contest was “Canada’s Forests: Supporting Biological Diversity.” Students submitted artwork, photography and video entries that touched on how forests support ecological diversity.
“Every year, we are impressed with the talents of youth artists who contribute their original photos, videos and artwork to our National Forest Week Contest,” said Bart Zych, FORED BC Society’s Voluntary Chair. “Their ability to blend artistic expression and an appreciation of all the diverse values of our forests is truly admirable.”
Students from grades 4 and 5 at École Francophone submitted a painting showcasing some the many animals that make their home in the forest.
École Francophone Kimberley principal Sylvie de Grandpré said that the students’ artwork, with the theme of connecting to Ktunaxa land, had already been completed when they heard about the FORED BC contest.”
“The students and their families were keen to participate,” de Grandpré. “We are a small rural public school so this is definitely exciting news. A fun fact about this project was surely doing plasticine work outdoors during the very first day of snow!
“This honour from Fored BC highlights the importance of working with students to view place as home to beings who are kins whether they are plants, animals, rocks, insects, and so many more.”
The students were very pleased to learn they had been selected as one of the winners.
“I was surprised that out of all of Canada we were picked,” said Elizabeth.
“I love foxes! It’s a nice suprise because we took a picture of the log with the mushroom and I made it out of plasticine,” added Clara.
You can learn more about FORED at foredbc.org