The Mall at Piccadilly went green for Earth Day Tuesday, April 22 as School District 83 students held an Environmental Expo.

Students from kindergarten to Grade 12 presented their environmental inquiry projects to the public at the event that ran from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with other eco entertainers also participating. Projects included a range of topics, from the timeline and lifespan of salmon and herons, to making rope from scratch, the placement of birdhouses, whirling disease in fish and firesmarting schools. The Planning, Animals, and Learning Society (PALS) from South Canoe School's Outdoor Program were also handing out seedlings for people to plant, while providing tips on how to make them thrive and benefit the environment. 

Joining the students were Yukon award-winning environmental singer songwriter Remy Rodden, as well as local singers Juanita Austin, Jim McConnel and former music teacher Joan Southworth. Secw茅pemc storyteller Kenthen Thomas shared traditional stories, while event organizer and retired environmental educator Kim Fulton brought to life the Lorax and Yertle the Turtle with their eco tales. 

In media release from SD83, Fulton added that "one of the most exciting aspects of the event if that it extends beyond students simply sharing their projects. The next steps focus on mentorship and building community connections."

In addition to the local aspects of Earth Day, teacher Dave Ramsay brought his B.C. Tomorrow Simulator that functions as a kind of time machine. It enables students to look back in history and see the changes that have taken place, and go forward into the future to see how the environment could look given current trends.  

In what SD83 said is a week of "celebration of stewardship and of our connections to the land, air and waters" of the Secw茅pemc, there will be various events at individual schools during that time.