NEWS HIGHLIGHT
Kwantlen hort students
give shelter to needy
Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s School of
Horticulture contributed to a community building initiative as 30
students, joined by staff and faculty, worked over 300 hours to install
a
green roof for Salvation Army’s “Gateway of Hope” building in Langley.
Dec.
30, 2009, Langley, B.C. – Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s School of
Horticulture contributed to a community building initiative as 30 students, joined by staff and faculty, worked over 300 hours to install a
green roof for Salvation Army’s “Gateway of Hope” building in Langley.
“The
green roof installation project at the Gateway of Hope building was a great
thing to be a part of,” said student-volunteer Alexis Wiessler. “The hands-on
experience and exposure to new and modern branches of horticulture are
incredible, not to mention the feeling of warmth that comes from being part of such
a good and charitable community project.”
The
green roof will provide a number of benefits such as extending the life of the
roofing membrane, moderating storm-water runoff, increasing building energy
efficiency, and improving the rooftop view for residents. The students have
also planted native species in the adjacent riparian zone to re-establish
biodiversity and suppress invasive plants.
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Kwantlen
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Maple
Ridge resident and horticulture student Sherilyn Gale said the group welcomed
the opportunity to work on both a river riparian as well as assist in the
installation of a live roof. “This project provided practical experience that
enabled me to learn the importance of sustainability and its significance to
the community’s future well-being.”
This
unique community project exemplifies Kwantlen’s first-class education which
provides its students with real world experiences and practical skills for
employment.
“We
felt that the project provided excellent educational value and an opportunity
to contribute to a community building initiative,” said Kwantlen horticulture
instructor Michelle Nakano. “Green roof technology and ecological restoration
in urban settings demonstrate a more sustainable approach to urban landscapes,
and students benefit from being exposed to these applications in a real life
context.”
The
Salvation Army’s Gateway of Hope building is a modern, state-of-the-art
facility for the homeless and at-risk population in Langley. The three-storey
development provides 30 emergency shelter beds and 25 supportive independent
living transitional beds for the homeless or those at risk of homelessness in
the community.
For
more information about Kwantlen’s School of Horticulture, visit
kwantlen.ca/hort.
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