Laval Liberty, Souvenir Elementary win ‘Eco-School’ certification

Better eco-management
Students from Laval Liberty High School and from Souvenir Elementary School were present for a ceremony held on Nov. 15 in the gym at Souvenir Elementary, during which Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt gave them large framed certificates attesting to their responsibility in environmental management.

The CRÉ is a consultative organization made up of the mayor and councillors of the City of Laval, which interfaces with local elected representatives from the provincial government. The organization, which has counterparts all over the province, was created by Quebec to facilitate better communication between the municipal and provincial levels of government.
To be certified, the schools had to develop better management of waste materials while promoting sustainable development through an educational program. The implementation of a Green Brigade in each school was also a pre-requisite to receiving the CRÉ’s certification. Since 2009, the CRÉ has issued 32 certifications to schools in Laval.

‘On the right path’
“When I see the Green Brigades and I see the work being done in these schools, I tell myself that we are on the right path,” said Vaillancourt, who has implemented a significant number of programs in Laval to encourage more ecological-sustainability in the city’s management.
“Our school board is very proud of the participation of its Laval schools in the eco-schools certification program,” said Albina Pace, the SWLSB commissioner for Ste-Dorothée and part of Fabreville. “Special congratulations go to Souvenir Elementary School and Laval Liberty High School who are continually committed to raising awareness of sustainable development.
“These schools are certainly role models in terms of eco-citizenship,” she continued. “Under the leadership of their dedicated principals, they have risen to the challenge and raised the bar every single year. Students, you are the leaders of tomorrow and today you are certainly an inspiration to every single one of us.”

Board believed in project
Pace said the SWLSB believed in the project right from the start and is proud of the achievements that have resulted. “Again congratulations to the students who have demonstrated leadership skills and who are dedicated to making this planet a little better for everyone,” she said.
She concluded with a quote from French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of Le Petit Prince: “You do not inherit the earth from your ancestors; you borrow it from your children. Thank you and good luck to the students and teachers of our Laval schools who are making sure that every day brings a better tomorrow.”