A garden dedicated to a Kelowna teacher is now officially open as of Oct. 27.

Pearson Road Elementarysa国际传媒檚 Outdoor Exploration Centre was inspired by long-time teacher Isabel Alvez-Vicente, affectionately referred to as Miss V by the community.

Miss V taught kindergarten at the school for 23 years but stopped due to Lou Gehrigsa国际传媒檚 disease, otherwise known as ALS. The idea of the school garden was inspired by Miss Vsa国际传媒檚 love for gardening, as well as her dedication to the school.

Various businesses, sponsors and community members worked on the outdoor space for about three years before it became what it is now.

One of those contributors is Miss Vsa国际传媒檚 own brother-in-law Chuck Cullen, who works for TEAM Construction Management. With his work and community connections, he was able to help assemble the group that worked on the garden project.

The result culminated in an outdoor garden with planters, two greenhouses, and an overall beautiful space for students and teachers to enjoy and learn from.

Cullen said the experience of working on the garden was amazing.

sa国际传媒淚 came into this situation, this group of people, who wanted to honour her in the form of this garden. I just helped put it together along with everybody else,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淚t was no more or less me or anybody, it was just everybody pulling together and collaborating and getting involved.

sa国际传媒淭his garden means everything. The children can come here and learn, get their hands in the dirt and see where their food comes fromsa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 a fundamental part of our life every day, and Miss V really loved that.sa国际传媒�

Before it opened, students at the school were able to use the garden, planting various plants, fruits and vegetables, which they harvested and turned into their own salsa.

Miss Vsa国际传媒檚 daughter Ana Lucia Vicente cut the ribbon, standing in for her mom.

sa国际传媒淚 cansa国际传媒檛 even put into words what this means to us. Itsa国际传媒檚 just so amazing,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淣ow that itsa国际传媒檚 finally here, itsa国际传媒檚 crazy and Isa国际传媒檓 just so grateful to everyone involved.sa国际传媒�

Vicente said her mother went down to the garden to see it before officially opening, and she said there was nothing but tears of gratitude on Miss Vsa国际传媒檚 face.

sa国际传媒淪hesa国际传媒檚 always loved gardening. Even in her kindergarten class, she had seedlings in little cups, thatsa国际传媒檚 how she taught the kids,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 hoping they can bring those seedlings out into this big garden space. Itsa国际传媒檚 just nice to come here and know shesa国际传媒檒l always be part of Pearson.

sa国际传媒淚 hope when people come down here, they can feel her essence and her legacy in the space.sa国际传媒�

Cullen said he hopes students coming to the garden learn more than just planting.

sa国际传媒淚 hope they learn the value of collaboration and community and working with each other to achieve a common goal,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淚t will always take a team. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a community to build a garden.sa国际传媒�

READ MORE: sa国际传媒楢 beautiful dedication to a beautiful personsa国际传媒�: Kelowna school opens new outdoor space

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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