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

Pearson Road Elementary乌鸦传媒檚 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 Gehrig乌鸦传媒檚 disease, otherwise known as ALS. The idea of the school garden was inspired by Miss V乌鸦传媒檚 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 V乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淚 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,乌鸦传媒� he said.

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

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

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 V乌鸦传媒檚 daughter Ana Lucia Vicente cut the ribbon, standing in for her mom.

乌鸦传媒淚 can乌鸦传媒檛 even put into words what this means to us. It乌鸦传媒檚 just so amazing,乌鸦传媒� she said.

乌鸦传媒淣ow that it乌鸦传媒檚 finally here, it乌鸦传媒檚 crazy and I乌鸦传媒檓 just so grateful to everyone involved.乌鸦传媒�

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 V乌鸦传媒檚 face.

乌鸦传媒淪he乌鸦传媒檚 always loved gardening. Even in her kindergarten class, she had seedlings in little cups, that乌鸦传媒檚 how she taught the kids,乌鸦传媒� she said.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 hoping they can bring those seedlings out into this big garden space. It乌鸦传媒檚 just nice to come here and know she乌鸦传媒檒l always be part of Pearson.

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

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

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

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

READ MORE: 乌鸦传媒楢 beautiful dedication to a beautiful person乌鸦传媒�: Kelowna school opens new outdoor space

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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