Students from James Hill Elementary and 91原创 Fundamental Middle & Secondary School have helped to resuscitate the much-loved Salmon Enhancement Program.

Earlier this year, the federal government decided to halt funding for the program, which has been used for many years to help educate students about local salmon, as they watch them grow in their classrooms and then release them into local streams.

News of the program not receiving any more federal funding didn鈥檛 sit well with students from the two 91原创 schools.

鈥淭he ending of this program hit our school very hard as the students in Mrs. Hobbs鈥� Grade 2 class have been privileged to be exposed to this program for so many years,鈥� said James Hill Elementary principal Chris Wejr.

Hobbs is also the district leader with the program.

After hearing that the funding was being cut off, Hobbs鈥� students along with Grade 6 students from 91原创 Fundamental wrote letters to Dominic LeBlanc, Canada鈥檚 Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

鈥淒ue to their efforts, along with an online petition, the government reversed its decision and funding will continue,鈥� Wejr said.

Cloverdale-91原创 City MP John Aldag shared the news in a video on his Facebook page last week.

鈥淪tudents at James Hill Elementary School and 91原创 Fundamental School wrote Minister Dominic LeBlanc to have their say on recent cuts to the program,鈥� Aldag wrote on his Facebook page.

鈥淭he Minister and Parliamentary Secretary Terry Beech, MP listened to how vitally important this program is and not only restored funding, but also topped it up.鈥�

In the video, Aldag said, 鈥淭hey wrote to express how important the program is to their class and our community.鈥�

On June 28, Aldag spent an hour in the classroom with the James Hill Elementary students to honour their efforts.

Hobbs, who has been involved with the program for more than 30 years, calls it 鈥渢he heartbeat.鈥�

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a fantastic program,鈥� she said. 鈥淪tudents are always enthralled with it. Often, one of the students鈥� fondest memories from James Hill is the salmon program. It鈥檚 wonderful, and I鈥檓 so happy that the government decided to reverse their decision and save it. It鈥檚 a wonderful learning experience for the students.鈥�