Groundbreaking Ceremony

Left to right: Doug Smith, Joan McIntyre, Franci Stratton, Ian Abercrombie, Irene Young, Victor Elderton, Ian Campbell, John Weston, John Lewis

An official groundbreaking ceremony and reception celebrating the beginning of construction of the North Shore Credit Union Environmental Learning Centre (NSCU ELC) was held on April 20, 2011.  Superintendent of Schools & CEO John Lewis led the well-attended ceremony under sunny skies at the North Vancouver Outdoor School in Squamish.  

“This (NSCU ELC) is the first step towards realizing our vision of becoming a national centre for environmental excellence that promotes a community of learning and leadership for outdoor education, investigation and research,” said Lewis.

Chief Ian Campbell of the Squamish Nation provided a traditional welcome, and thanked the School District and staff for their hard work and dedication to the project.  Other honorary guest speakers included: John Weston, MP West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky;  Joan McIntyre, MLA West Vancouver–Sea to Sky; Doug Smith, Vice-President Corporate Affairs, North Shore Credit Union; and Franci Stratton, Chair, North Vancouver Board of Education.

“The whole world is learning what we Canadians are doing well and doing better all the time and that is looking at our environment as our most vital legacy,” Weston said. “This place is way more important than I think you realize.”

For more information on the groundbreaking and the campus revitalization project, click here to read the feature story in the Squamish Chief.  

The North Shore Credit Union Environmental Learning Centre, a LEED Platinum building, is slated for completion December 2011.