Youth honoured for helping to restore pine forests

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The Georgina Island Day School was presented the "Young Heritage Leaders" certificate in achievement for their participation in planting more than 2,500 white pine trees on Georgina Island.

The children started by planting 1,000 white pine trees in 2000, then another 1,500 in 2002, reviving the forest that burned down on the island many years ago.

Ontario Heritage Foundation representatives Jan E. Gray and Shannon McFadyen visited Georgina Island to declare the participants as Young Heritage Leaders. "We hope this recognition encourages them to continue to pursue their interests in the heritage and environment field," said Gray.

Chief William McCue also congratulated the students for their award. "The students from Georgina Island School have been recognized for the tree planting they've done over the past several years. Many thanks to all the parents and volunteers who helped with this, and we would also like to thank Alysha Trivett for nominating our school for this award."

Courtney Charles and Faith Big Canoe were masters of ceremonies for this special event.

The Ontario Heritage Foundation and the London Life company work in partnership on the Young Heritage Leaders' program. The program provides communities with the opportunity to acknowledge local youth who have made outstanding contributions to preserving and promoting heritage.

Georgina Island Day School has been very busy this past month. With an invitation from the Markham Heritage Fair organizers, the children, along with their drumming and dancing teachers, Greg Big Canoe and Daliha Sahnatien, entertained more than 100 other students from around York Region. They have also been planting flower gardens and trees at the school and the island marina with instructions from master gardeners, Dorothy and Jim Pickering.