The Rotary Club of Mission has teamed up with a local secondary school, an international aid project, the municipality and the provincial government to undertake a significant environmental project.
Hundreds of trees have been planted on a greenway project that will eventually become a trail in the Cedar Valley area, south of Tunbridge Avenue.
On Oct. 22, students from Hatzic Secondary School and Mission Sunrise Rotary Club members converged on the site to dig holes and plant trees that are native to the area. The students undertook the work as a fundraising project for their planned trip to Guatemala to build a home in association with Habitat for Humanity.
The funding for the trees was provided by the Trees for Tomorrow Program, a provincial grant and the students’ work by accessing a provincial grant under the Trees for Tomorrow program. The provincial grant provides funds for riparian area restoration and environmental stewardship. The program is facilitated by the District of Mission and Stave Valley Salmonoid Enhancement Society.
To help the students in their task the Rotary Club of Mission set up rain shelters, cooked hot dogs and provided drinks. Area residents were invited to stop by and have lunch with the students.
The community spirit demonstrated caught the eye of one Tunbridge area resident and local merchant. While the Rotary Club was serving lunch the owner of the Taco del Mar restaurant in Mission delivered a car load of nacho chips, salsa and hot cheese sauce. The generous gesture was unexpected but very welcome by the students and the Rotary Club.