A group of young Bashaw students have managed to raise money for a good cause while learning about a northern Canadian community.
Learning about the water crisis in Iqaluit on Instagram, Grade 2 teacher Reagan Miller saw an opportunity to mesh real-life learning with the classroom.
As part of the current Grade 2 curriculum, students learn about three Canadian communities, including an Arctic community.
“We learn all about Nunavut, and the culture and traditions there,” said Miller.
In October, City of Iqaluit officials said in a news release that the city’s water was “undrinkable” due to an oil fuel spill which had made its way into their water source.
The fuel contamination was first found in the water on Oct. 12.
READ MORE: Iqaluit’s water emergency has so far cost $1.5M, city may ask Nunavut for aid
Hearing about the issue, Miller brought the issue to the children in her classroom, who were on board with helping.
The students made posters which were put up around the school and a video that was published to social media.
“(The kids) were really passionate about bringing clean drinking water to Iqaluit,” said Miller.
To collect money, the students put a collection jar in the Grade 2 classroom and the school office, though some students did go into the community outside of school hours to ask other people they knew to contribute.
In total, the students raised $603.64 to go towards the cause.
The initial plan was to donate the money towards a GoFundMe set up for the residents of the city, however that fundraiser, having met its goal, is now closed, so Miller is researching other charities to give the money to.
To-date, the water emergency has cost the city $1.5 million, $1 million of which has been lost due to writing off the resident’s October water bills, and the remainder stemming from engineering and cleanup costs.
The fundraiser ran from Oct. 20 to Nov. 2, 2021.
-With files from The Canadian Press