Grounds for Change

Central

School List

School Name	Project Description
Andrew School Andrew, AB. Elk Island Public Schools Regional Division No. 14	Started as a Millenium project; seating and trees at front of school; open area seeded with fescue grass seeds, includes native wild flowers and shrubs
Colchester Elementary Sherwood Park, AB. Elk Island Public Schools Regional Division No. 14
Joseph Welsh Elementary Red Deer, AB. Red Deer School District No. 104 (Public Schools)	Has a courtyard garden with pond.
Normandeau Elementary Red Deer, AB. Red Deer School District No. 104 (Public Schools)	Normandeau Elementary has started to green their school ground with a courtyard (raised beds with veggies, shrubs, vines) and a log play area outside; the garden theme goes through the school, reflected in art projects and other areas.
Oyen Public School Oyen, AB Prairie Rose School Division #8	Listed on Evergreen's Project Registery - click here.
Riverview Middle School Devon, AB Black Gold Regional Division No. 18	Listed on Evergreen's Project Registery - click here.
Ronald Harvey Elementary School St. Albert, AB. St. Albert Protestant Separate School District No. 6	Ronald Harvey Elementary School's 'Discovery Garden' is a courtyard naturalization project with pond. Listed on Evergreen's Project Registry - click here.
Westmount School Strathmore, AB. Golden Hills School Division No. 75	Naturalization project installed.
Win Ferguson Fort Saskatchewan, AB. Elk Island Public Schools Regional Division No. 14

Board or District Details

Name	Board Activity
Black Gold Regional Division No. 18 www.blackgold.ab.ca/	Riverview Middle School in Devon has a naturalization project (see Evergreen website for details)
Canadian Rockies Regional Division No. 12 www.crps.ab.ca	Lawrence Grassi Middle School is being rebuilt, and the parent committee,with the support of the school board, is very interested in incorporating the concept of schoolyard naturalization into the planning of the site.
Chinook's Edge School Division No. 73 www.chinooksedge.ab.ca	Reed Ranch School is very involved with environmental concerns (Emerald Award in the Green Schools Program www.greenschools.ca ) and would like to plan an outdoor amphitheatre and butterfly garden.
Elk Island Public Schools Regional Division No. 14 www.eips.ca	Andrew School and Colchester Elementary have naturalization projects.
Golden Hills School Division No. 75 www.ghsd75.ca	Westmount School in Strathmore has a naturalization project. Three Hills School hopes to incorporate naturalization areas into their courtyard property behind the school, and perhaps even incorporate it into a new playground that is needed at the front of the school.
Grande Yellowhead Regional Division No. 35 www.gyrd.ab.ca	Niton Central School has a veggie garden in place, and has plans for new elements to be added.
Lloydminster Roman Catholic Separate School Division www.lcsd.ca/	Father Gorman Community School has some funding in place to start a naturalization project; planning is ongoing, and will continue in fall 2006.
Northland School Division No. 61 www.northland61.ab.ca	Fort McKay School is interested in the concept; plans to start with native plant butterfly garden at the front of the school; St. Theresa School has a large area of trees ranging from pine to swamp, representing all the trees native to the area.
Parkland School Division No. 70 www.psd70.ab.ca	Duffield School and Tomahawk School both interested in the concept, hope to start planning in 2006.
Prairie Land Regional Division No. 25 www.plrd.ab.ca	J.C. Charyk School very interested in naturalizing parts of their school ground. Both the caretaker and the board's Facilities Director are very supportive and willing to help with their plants. Delia School also inquired about the concept.
Prairie Rose School Division #8 www.prrd.net/	Oyen Public School has a naturalization project (see above).
Red Deer School District No. 104 (Public Schools) www.rdpsd.ab.ca	Normandeau Elementary has started to green their school ground with a courtyard and a log play area. Ecole Mountview has been working on the planning stages of a project for their inner courtyard; work will continue in fall 2006. Aspen View Elementary is also in the early plannin stages. All schools have received support from the David Thompson Health Region. Joseph Welsh has a courtyard garden with pond.
St. Albert Protestant Separate School District No. 6 www.spschools.org/	Ronald Harvey Elementary School's 'Discovery Garden' is a courtyard naturalization project with pond (see above).

Ecosystem Information

Ecoregion	Description
Rocky Mountains	School boards located in the most western part of the central district lie in the Rocky Mountain Natural region. Vegetation in this area is predominantly coniferous due to the cooler growing season and short frost free period. In the Subalpine subregion the dominant species are englemann spruce and alpine fir. In the Alpine subregion Krummholz vegetation grows and above the tree line the dominant species is lichen. (Click here for details on the Rocky Mountain Ecosystem)
Foothills	Found along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountain ecoregion. In the Upper Foothills subregion the forest stands are predominantly coniferous, with the primary species being white spruce, black spruce, lodgepole pine and occasionally subalpine fir. In the Lower Foothills subregion there is a mixed variety of forest species due to the transitional nature of the subregion. These include white spruce, black spruce and lodgepole pine, balsam poplar, trembling aspen, paper birch and balsam fir. (Click here for details on the Foothills Ecosystem)
Boreal	In between the Foothills and Parkland natural regions lies the most southernly section of the Boreal Forest Ecosystem. This section is predominantly the Dry Mixedwood subregion and commonly consists of pure deciduous forest stands of trembling aspen and balsam poplar due to frequent forest fires which inhibit the growth of coniferous species such as white spruce and balsam fir. (Click here for details on the Boreal Ecosystem)
Parkland	A large chunk of the Central district consists of the Central Parkland subregion which is characterized by a continuum from south to north of grassland with groves of aspen to aspen parkland, to closed aspen forest in the north. (Click here for details on the Parkland Ecosystem)
Grassland	There is a small chunk of Prairie grassland subregion in the southeast corner of the Central district. For more information regarding this subregion please see the South district description or click here for details on the Grassland Ecosystem.

Suppliers

Name	Services	Notes
Alberta Nurseries and Seeds Ltd. Bowden, AB. www.marketland.net	Supplies seedlings of several native trees and shrubs.	Delivery by Greyhound Bus available; website includes information on shelterbelts, as well as care and planting of seedlings.
BrettYoung (used to be Prairie Seeds) Calmar, AB. www.brettyoung.ca	Prairie Seeds produces, collects and supplies quality native seed for the resource and oil industries, reclamation projects, native pastures and urban landscapes. Prairie Seeds has the widest range of native grass species available for the Natural Regions of Western Canada. grasses and wildflowers.
Cheyenne Tree Farms Beaumont, AB. www.cheyennetree.ca/	Supplies a small number of native trees, shrubs and perennials; on-line catalogue.	Locations in Edmonton and Beaumont.
Eastern Slopes Rangeland Seed Ltd Cremona, AB. http://www.nativeplantproducer-esrs.com/ or (403) 637-2473	Specializes in bulk wholesale seed of grasses;some species of wetland plants, shrubs and trees.
Hannas Seeds Lacombe, AB. www.hannasseeds.com	Supplies seeds for native grasses
Laidlaw Nursery Tofield, AB. Contact: Ted and Eleanor Laidlaw (780)-662-2778	Saskatoons, chokecherries, pin cherries, cranberries - seedlings and nursery stock.	Phone ahead for hours and directions.
Parkland Garden Centre Red Deer, AB. www.parklandgarden.ca (retail) Contact: info@parklandgc.ca or (403) 346-5613	Wholesale and retail providers; do not specialize in native species, but have many available.	Retail catalogue available on line.
Pickseed Canada Inc. Sherwood Park, AB www.pickseed.com	Supplier of seed mixes for native grasses (and a few wildflowers)	Pickseed is hoping to develop a couple of different seed mixes (mown and un-mown) that would be appropriate for schools around the province. Definitely worth getting in touch with them.
Seaborn Seeds Rocky Mountain House, AB. www.crookedpost.ca Contact: Kirk, Tom and Sharon Seaborn shorthorn@telusplanet.net Phone: 403-729-2267	Supplier of native grass seeds, well adapted to the eastern slopes.	List and prices on their website.
Most garden centers will carry native species, even if they don't specialize. Also, see other regions for suppliers that may ship to you.

Naturalization Resources

Name	Services	Notes
Ellis Bird Farm www.ellisbirdfarm.ab.ca/ See website for contact information Red Deer, AB.	Nature-based school programs, Off-Site Programs during the winter and spring by EBF Biologist, Myrna Pearman (talks to schools on topics related bluebirds, backyard bird feeding and NatureScaping, award-winning school program, The Nestbox Program, is offered each spring.	Myrna Pearman is the author of 'Naturescape Alberta' and is a fabulous resource and advocate for schoolyard naturalization.
Kerry Wood Nature Center www.waskasoopark.ca	Hire a Naturalist (ideal for interpreting a naturalization project), nature-based school programs	Great place to visit to learn plants and animals native to the Red Deer area; staff may be good people to approach for advice!
Parkland Conservation Farm www.telusplanet.net/public/paripcf/ near Mundare	Increases awareness through education about wetland and aspen parkland habitats, soil conservation and agriculture practices that conserve soil, water and wildlife habitat. The Agro-Environmental Education Program encourages conservation practices in all aspects of the environment through interactive learning. The farm provides demonstration of conservation practices in agriculture to promote adoption by producers.	Provide outreach and site visits.
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/	See 'Biodiversity' for information on Habitat Conservation and Species Conservation	Good informatio on native plants, designing tree plantings for wildlife, endangered species etc.
Red Deer River Naturalists http://rdrn.fanweb.ca/	Great links to their newsletters, information on the Young Naturalists program, links to public events and programs and more.	The objectives of the society are to foster an increased knowledge, understanding and appreciation of natural history, and to support conservation measures dealing with our environment, wildlife and natural resources.

Funding Opportunities

Name	Services	Notes
Alberta Ecotrust www.albertaecotrust.com	Support of grassroots environmental projects through out the province.
Ecoaction www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction	Community funding to protect, rehabilitate or enhance the natural environment.	Deadlines Feb. 1st and Oct. 1st
TD Canada Trust Friends of the Environment www.td.com/fef/index.jsp	Supports the efforts of Canadians who are dedicated to the well being of the environment.	On-line application.
Explore the websites of other major companies in your area, they often have community investment programs you may be able to access. To download a list of funding opportunities click here.