How many kids can you fit in a tiny electric car? Last week, the answer at the District of Squamish's public work yard was 16.
On Thursday (May 23), approximately 210 elementary school students swarmed the municipality's facility as a part of Public Works Week. They toured through 11 stations, learning about everything from the wastewater treatment plant to the district's road fleet to landscaping.
The day showcased the people and equipment that deliver essential services to the community, Mayor Rob Kirkham said. An incredible amount of work goes into running the municipality's facilities on a daily basis, he noted.
It is a really good opportunity to provide an education for these young people, Kirkham said.
At a flower-planting station, students huddled around hanging baskets that they helped create. The baskets were then raffled off, with money raised donated to Squamish's Community Christmas Care.
District staff create 127 hanging baskets annually for downtown Squamish, municipal employee Sandy Steer said. To provide the plants for the baskets and other gardens, the municipality has two greenhouses, she said. Bulbs are reused annually and the staff have to build the live flower arrangements to withstand strong winds, Steer said.
It does take three weeks to build the baskets, she said.
Last Thursday marked the third year Squamish has participated in the national Public Works Week, district operations manager Bob Smith said. It's a lot of fun and helps youth understand what happens once the toilet is flushed or they turn on tap water, he said. Down the road, the day might help piqued some students' interest in the various jobs available at a municipality, Smith said.
Check out the event -
