What started out as a class project, turned into a great afternoon for some Grade 4 students from Sacred Heart Community School.

 

In November of 2015, the students wrote letters to Regina Mayor Michael Fougere regarding their concern of light pollution in Wascana Centre - particularly the historic globe lights found in the Centre.  

 

In consultation with Wascana Centre Authority, the Mayor responded to the students and acknowledged their concerns as the reasons why no new globe lights have been installed in Wascana Centre over the last number of years.

 

Wascana Centre Authority Ecologist Sarah Turkeli praised the students for being pro-active and further discussed the concerns of light pollution. “There are a number of concerns regarding light pollution such as nocturnal animals not knowing when they are supposed to be up and active. Migrating birds can have issues. There can be lots of negative environmental impacts.”

The students were also told about a number of street and pathway lighting projects over the past few years that have used new ‘downward facing’ and energy efficient lights. While some of the globe lights in Wascana Centre have been kept for historical purposes, there are no plans to add any new ones.

 

As part of their environmental education and to gain a better understanding of an urban park, the students were also invited to the Habitat Conservation Area for a guided tour by Wascana Centre’s Ecologist Sarah Turkeli.

 

The students were greeted by Regina City Councillor Mike O’Donnell and armed with binoculars, the group set out for a guided tour throughout the Habitat Conservation area and spotted a number of birds, animals and even a few turtles enjoying the sun.

 

The afternoon was capped-off with some pond-dipping and for many of the students this was their first opportunity to receive such a close-up experience with nature and wildlife.