March 22, 2011
Development of Stormwater Management Guide for Schools Supported by Provincial Government: Melnick
– – –On World Water Day, Minister Congratulates Ecole St. Avila for Innovative Rain Garden Project
Rivers West River Corridor Inc., a non-profit organization that helps promote and sustain the natural, cultural and recreational values of the Red River corridor, is receiving $24,000 to oversee the development of a Stormwater Management Guide for Schools based on the successful École St. Avila rain garden, Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick announced today.
“There is an increasing desire among schools to improve their grounds with greening projects such as rain gardens,” said Melnick. “Every little drop counts and I am thrilled to be able to mark World Water Day with the students of École St. Avila who have worked hard in partnership with Rivers West to develop such an innovative solution for water management.”
The Stormwater Management Guide for Schools will help schools understand the concept of stormwater management, implement a stormwater management system and use the system as an educational tool.
“The financial contribution received from the Water Stewardship Fund will allow Rivers West to create the pedagogy piece for a Stormwater Management Guide for Schools that will be distributed to over 900 schools in Manitoba,” said Penny McMillan, chair of Rivers West. “This will also provide us with leverage dollars to develop the resource guide as well as a new multi-platform teaching tool for students and teachers.”
Rivers West has previously developed three curriculum resource guides with teaching tools including The Historic Places of the Red River, Habitat Means Home, which focus on Red River riparian habitat, and Red River Basin Water Systems, to teach students about water systems and watershed processes. These guides are now being used by educators throughout Manitoba.
“Today, we are celebrating World Water Day and learning together as a school and as a community how important water is for our existence,” said École St. Avila principal Gordon Campbell. “With this unique rain garden playground, we are helping to keep our water in Manitoba clean.”
Over $20,000 was also provided to École St. Avila’s Down the Drain rain garden project through the Manitoba Water Stewardship Fund.
Further information on the École St. Avila project can be found at: www.pembinatrails.ca/stavila/schoolgroundgreeningproject/index.html.
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