Fernie students to paint the town for fish

Students from Fernie Secondary School display their Paint the Town for Fish posters at Fernie City Council. (L to R): Kaitlynn Chahley, Kayla Nord, Jessica Hutchinson, Tessa Holmes, Linnea Uphill, Amanda Ross, Sophia Sanchez and Jodi Thompson. —

Photo courtesy Columbia Basin Trust

Know Your Watershed student action project raises awareness of fish habitats.

Grade eight students from Fernie Secondary School (FSS) will “paint the town for fish” this May, an outcome of their participation in Columbia Basin Trust’s (CBT’s) Know Your Watershed program.

Tessa Holmes, class spokesperson, recently introduced the project to Fernie City Council.

“We want to paint the storm drains around Fernie to remind residents that only rain should go down them,” Holmes said. “Pollution off streets, driveways and homes is carried in storm water, which goes directly into the Elk River and can harm fish.”

CBT has provided $1,000 to support the two classes participating in the project.

“We’re pleased to see youth actively working on a project about water,” said Kindy Gosal, CBT director, Water and Environment. “Congratulations to the students, their teacher and the environmental educators for initiating this project in Fernie.”

“Class posters will be used for public education at the school and throughout the community during April and May,” said Mike Tomney, FSS grade eight science teacher.

Know Your Watershed is a CBT water stewardship education program aimed at grade eight science classes. This hands-on education initiative helps students understand where their water comes from, how it is used and where their water goes after it is used.

The students are looking for adult volunteers interested in supervising painting teams on the blitz in May when students are painting the town for fish. If you can help, please contact Lee-Anne Walker, Know Your Watershed environmental educator, at 250-423-3322 or [email protected].