A garden dedicated to a Kelowna teacher is now officially open as of Oct. 27.

Pearson Road Elementary含羞草研究社檚 Outdoor Exploration Centre was inspired by long-time teacher Isabel Alvez-Vicente, affectionately referred to as Miss V by the community.

Miss V taught kindergarten at the school for 23 years but stopped due to Lou Gehrig含羞草研究社檚 disease, otherwise known as ALS. The idea of the school garden was inspired by Miss V含羞草研究社檚 love for gardening, as well as her dedication to the school.

Various businesses, sponsors and community members worked on the outdoor space for about three years before it became what it is now.

One of those contributors is Miss V含羞草研究社檚 own brother-in-law Chuck Cullen, who works for TEAM Construction Management. With his work and community connections, he was able to help assemble the group that worked on the garden project.

The result culminated in an outdoor garden with planters, two greenhouses, and an overall beautiful space for students and teachers to enjoy and learn from.

Cullen said the experience of working on the garden was amazing.

含羞草研究社淚 came into this situation, this group of people, who wanted to honour her in the form of this garden. I just helped put it together along with everybody else,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淚t was no more or less me or anybody, it was just everybody pulling together and collaborating and getting involved.

含羞草研究社淭his garden means everything. The children can come here and learn, get their hands in the dirt and see where their food comes from含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 a fundamental part of our life every day, and Miss V really loved that.含羞草研究社�

Before it opened, students at the school were able to use the garden, planting various plants, fruits and vegetables, which they harvested and turned into their own salsa.

Miss V含羞草研究社檚 daughter Ana Lucia Vicente cut the ribbon, standing in for her mom.

含羞草研究社淚 can含羞草研究社檛 even put into words what this means to us. It含羞草研究社檚 just so amazing,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淣ow that it含羞草研究社檚 finally here, it含羞草研究社檚 crazy and I含羞草研究社檓 just so grateful to everyone involved.含羞草研究社�

Vicente said her mother went down to the garden to see it before officially opening, and she said there was nothing but tears of gratitude on Miss V含羞草研究社檚 face.

含羞草研究社淪he含羞草研究社檚 always loved gardening. Even in her kindergarten class, she had seedlings in little cups, that含羞草研究社檚 how she taught the kids,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 hoping they can bring those seedlings out into this big garden space. It含羞草研究社檚 just nice to come here and know she含羞草研究社檒l always be part of Pearson.

含羞草研究社淚 hope when people come down here, they can feel her essence and her legacy in the space.含羞草研究社�

Cullen said he hopes students coming to the garden learn more than just planting.

含羞草研究社淚 hope they learn the value of collaboration and community and working with each other to achieve a common goal,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淚t will always take a team. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a community to build a garden.含羞草研究社�

READ MORE: 含羞草研究社楢 beautiful dedication to a beautiful person含羞草研究社�: Kelowna school opens new outdoor space

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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