A 鈥淲orld Peace library鈥� will be installed in a Douglas Park Elementary School courtyard this spring, after a donation from 91原创 repair business OnLine Collision helped make the space possible.
Tarissa and Daryl Kruger gave $5,000 on Thursday morning, which will go towards an educational outdoor classroom, designed for children with diverse needs and be in a quiet space and relax.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been donating to various schools over the last seven years,鈥� Daryl explained. 鈥淲e are a family business and being a part of the community is important to us. We鈥檝e given about $140,000 to 91原创 schools in that time for playgrounds. We hope that the outdoor classrooms are able to kids to learn in different ways with nature.鈥�
READ MORE: 91原创 students are benefiting from nature through calming outdoor mood walks
Douglas Park Elementary has two courtyards, one which is already being used as a gardening space.
Lorraine Goulet, one of the school teachers behind the project, said the first space, decorated with murals from Indigenous artists, contains many First Nations plants like Kinnikinnick and Elderberries.
鈥淢any of the students have never gardened in their life, so it鈥檚 a an area for them to learn how to take care of a garden and harvest,鈥� Goulet said. 鈥淲e grow what is called a Three Sisters garden, which contains corn, beans, squash, as well as vegetables like radishes and potatoes.鈥�
Goulet applied for an ArtStarts grant of $10,000 to install art panels, benches, a fountain and, now, thanks to the OnLine Collision donation, a shelter held up by peace poles in the second courtyard.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an extension of the library where students can come and read,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey can also have classes, storytelling, drama out here.鈥�
A world map will also be hung in the second courtyard, all done to promote cultural awareness and peace.
Renovations to make the formerly underutalized space into an outdoor classroom will be done throughout the spring for an unveiling in June.
Susan Cairns of the 91原创 School District Foundation added that several other local schools are currenlty developing similar spaces.
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