Nov. 8, 2010, Vancouver – Kwantlen Polytechnic University horticulture
students partnered with Cornerstone Church and gave the Beaudoin family
in Port Moody a home renovation makeover.
Nov. 8, 2010, Vancouver – Kwantlen Polytechnic University horticulture students partnered with Cornerstone Church and gave the Beaudoin family in Port Moody a home renovation makeover.
Chantal Beaudoin is a single mother with a 10-year-old son, whose aging home in Port Moody was in desperate need of repair. Compounded by her serious mobility problems, the result of a train accident six years ago, modifying her house and landscape for improved safety and accessibility was critical to the Beaudoin family.
Similar to the television show “Extreme Makeover Home Edition,” the Beaudoin family was sent away for a week while Kwantlen and Cornerstone Church completely renovated their house and yard. Over the course of two days, 25 Kwantlen turf management students volunteered their skills and time in the midst of a busy midterm week to give the Beaudoin family a functional and esthetic outdoor space. Leading their fellow Kwantlen horticulture students in this challenge, Alyssa Chuback, Alexis Weissler and Fred Tucker developed a yard design and worked diligently to secure donations and materials of over $9,000 from nine organizations in the turf and landscape industry.
“Kwantlen horticulture students gave 110 per cent to this makeover project, working tirelessly to show their compassion for a deserving family,” commented Stan Kazymerchyk, Kwantlen turf management instructor. “They demonstrated hard work, respect, cooperation, creativity and showed excited smiles throughout the whole process. I am very proud of everything our students were able to accomplish.”
On the first day of construction, 11 Kwantlen turf management students worked on the Beaudoin’s home as they tilled compacted soil, integrated compost and installed a premium back lawn complete with an irrigation system. On the day of completion and final reveal, a crew of 15 students concluded the project while impressing the Beaudoin family with a beautiful yard that was built in such a short time. Details of this project include:
• A showcase front yard of perennials, trees, bulbs and mulch.
• Meticulous grading and installation of paver stone patio.
• Accessible raised garden planter boxes with arbor with drip irrigation.
• Beautiful border bank of perennials, waterfall and covered hammock.
Kwantlen’s yard makeover projects from the previous three years are still being kept in great condition. The families think of their new yards as soothing, peaceful sanctuaries and have continued to improve their yards even further. These yard makeover projects evidently bring a strong, positive impact in people’s lives.
Kwantlen’s School of Horticulture provides students with opportunities in greenhouse and nursery production; investigations into forest infestation by insects and fungi; and research into environmentally safe practices of weed and insect-free urban grass surfaces, parks and home gardens. For more information, visit: kwantlen.ca/hort.
Print this page
