2025 Pollinators: Coldstream Elementary

This year, five schools nominated by their communities received a $1,300 grant along with their F2SBC Pollinator Award to host a local field trip or school food feast. Here’s how Coldstream Elementary put their award to work.

At Coldstream Elementary, the grant allowed SD 22 Meals Coordinator Dawn Guenette (affectionately known as Gramma D) to expand her role in bringing healthy, local food to students. With the support of the award, she was able to set up a school-wide salad bar, open to both students and staff, featuring ingredients from local food producers. Families received information about where the food was sourced, helping connect the community to the growers behind the produce.

The salad bar quickly became a hit. Students who had never considered themselves “salad eaters” eagerly lined up to fill their plates. Dawn recalls one student declaring first thing in the morning, “I don’t eat salad.” Later that day, she noticed him at the salad bar and checked in afterwards. His verdict? “I loved the ketchup.” There wasn’t actually any ketchup — but there was beet hummus. “I’ll take that as a win,” Dawn laughed.

Beyond the salad bar, students also had the chance to get their hands in the soil. Two Grade 7 classes visited the sncəcmałqtn Agricultural Park, where they helped prepare a new garden space, then returned later to see how it had developed. They toured the community garden, learned about the growing food forest, and deepened their understanding of how local food systems are built and cared for.

To wrap up the school year, the students celebrated with a refreshing treat: fruit “ice cream” made with fresh, local strawberries — the star ingredient of the day.

Thank you so much, Farm to School BC, for this opportunity to engage with students in the all-important mission of supporting our local food producers.