ST. PAUL – On June 6, École du Sommet students from Grades 5 and 6, along with grandparents from the St. Paul community embarked on a tour throughout the Town of St. Paul, exploring monuments and sculptures that adorn the community.
The collaborative project between École du Sommet and the Association Canadienne-Française de l'Alberta (ACFA) aims to foster intergenerational connections and instill a sense of pride in the students' cultural heritage and community. The accompanying grandparents shared their knowledge with the students, who act as tourists in their own community.
Local artist Herman Poulin led the tour. He said among the purposes of the tour was to create a love for the students’ home community. Many of the students will spread their wings in the future, and there is no greater joy than watching children leave to pursue their dreams, but it’s also important that they maintain a connection to their roots, family, and home.
He said the tour aims to convey knowledge and history, while reminding the students of the collective effort that has shaped the community’s past. History, according to Poulin, is tied to the arts, and is visible in the monuments and sculptures throughout town.
Examples are the monuments and statues located at Lagasse Park, some depicting the history of Ukrainian settlers in Alberta.
Grade 6 student Hunter Taranko said those monuments and statues resonated with him, offering a visual reminder of “my Baba and Gido” who came from Ukraine many years ago. Taranko was also fascinated with the wagon statue located at the same park.,
École du Sommet Principal Lise Gratton said the idea for the project came about when she became principal at the school in August 2022. She recalled how Poulin asked her if she would be willing to tour some of St. Paul, to learn some of the town’s history.
When the opportunity for a $1,500 micro-grant for Francophone schools and communities across Canada came up, aimed at supporting a project that would be meaningful to their community, Gratton remembered her brief tour with Poulin.
The idea to take students on a “meaningful tour where they would learn about the community,” then began to take shape.
“How many times do we drive by a certain element in our community and take it for granted and not know why it’s there... it’s purpose?” asked Gratton.
By having the students learn about the community, it allows them to share that knowledge with others, such as their friends and family. That knowledge creates a sense of belonging, and students become proud of their community, added Gratton.
