​Pleasantside Elementary unveiled their new Welcome Post carved by Squamish Nation artist Xwalacktun at a special ceremony held on Wednesday, May 3. The Welcome Post was the culmination of the school’s Pleasantside Connects project.

Among the guests that attended the unveiling included SD43 trustee Barb Hobson along with Assistant Superintendents Reno Ciolfi and Rob Zambrano.

Pleasantside Connects was a multi-layered project designed to actively connect students to the land, art and culture of the Coast Salish people on whose territory the school resides. Through experiential learning in art, story and geography, students learned about the Seven Sacred Teachings of Aboriginal education: Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility and Truth. Students experience how these teachings connect us to self, nature and all our relations.

The project is an answer to the call by Justice Murray Sinclair for all Canadians to play a part in the Truth and Reconciliation process. The Coast Salish Welcome Post serves as a constant reminder of the school’s commitment to the reconciliation process.