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

Pearson Road Elementary害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 disease, otherwise known as ALS. The idea of the school garden was inspired by Miss V害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚 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,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚t was no more or less me or anybody, it was just everybody pulling together and collaborating and getting involved.

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

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害羞草研究所檚 daughter Ana Lucia Vicente cut the ribbon, standing in for her mom.

害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 even put into words what this means to us. It害羞草研究所檚 just so amazing,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淣ow that it害羞草研究所檚 finally here, it害羞草研究所檚 crazy and I害羞草研究所檓 just so grateful to everyone involved.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 face.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 always loved gardening. Even in her kindergarten class, she had seedlings in little cups, that害羞草研究所檚 how she taught the kids,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 hoping they can bring those seedlings out into this big garden space. It害羞草研究所檚 just nice to come here and know she害羞草研究所檒l always be part of Pearson.

害羞草研究所淚 hope when people come down here, they can feel her essence and her legacy in the space.害羞草研究所�

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

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

害羞草研究所淚t will always take a team. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a community to build a garden.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: 害羞草研究所楢 beautiful dedication to a beautiful person害羞草研究所�: Kelowna school opens new outdoor space

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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