On March 18, ten Grade 8 students from École Marie-Anne-Gaboury (MAG) were very excited to have the official opening of their warming hut.
"The students intended to build a functional warming hut for the outdoor skating rink created in the field for the past three years," said Principal Tyler Milloy. "The goal was to create a warming hut that had a message to share with others."
The planning process, a collaborative effort that spanned January, was followed by the start of construction in February. The students, along with their teacher, Mme Gagné, and head custodian, M Robert, worked diligently. Their efforts were further supported by councillor Brian Mayes, who backed the student presentations and provided funding for the project.
"The students decided to highlight global warming in the Tundra and its effects on polar bears," said Mme Gagné. "The research found has shown that, if we continue our carbon output, all the arctic ice will be gone by the summer of 2040."
This fact shocked students, and they wanted to raise awareness. Did you know that the Arctic loses 150 million tons of ice every year? Will this cause flooding worldwide? Students have depicted this impact on the warming hut by including paintings of polar bears and the landscape of the Tundra, including the Northern Lights.
Lucas, Owen, and Cole measured, built, and assembled the studded wall, floor, and roof structures. Our artists, Lucio, Trent, Julianna, Rhyann, Rebecca, and Lara painted the outer murals depicting the Tundra landscape and the Northern Lights on the roof. Jaime painted the interior wall depicting a polar bear.
The students hope their project will be helpful for students and community members using the rink in years to come. They also hope it will cause others to reflect on this important issue of global warming and consider their own carbon footprint.
