Sault Ste. Marie City streets will receive a colourful transformation June 3 – 7, 2024. Over 700 Students from the Algoma District School Board (ADSB) and Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (HSCDSB), with support from the City of Sault Ste. Marie will participate in the Yellow Fish Road Program by painting yellow fish near storm drains to raise awareness about stormwater pollution.
Yellow Fish Road, a program offered by the national non-profit Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC) aims to raise awareness about the impact of stormwater pollution on local waterways. Students will paint yellow fish with the message “Rainwater Only” near storm drains to remind residents that anything entering the storm drains flows directly into the local waterways untreated. Students will distribute fish-shaped brochures to nearby households, highlighting the importance of preventing pollutants such as soaps, fertilizers, oils, and pet waste from entering storm drains.
Painting activities will be at 14 ADSB and HSCDSB schools. Motorists should be cautious and slow down when students paint on or near the roads. These activities are expected to take place during school hours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participating schools include:
- Parkland, 54 Amber Street
- White Pines Intermediate, 1007 Trunk Road
- Tarentorus, 96 Northwood Street
- Ben R. McMullin, 24 Paradise Ave.
- Queen Elizabeth, 139 Elizabeth Street
- Kiwedin, 735 North Street
- F.H. Clergue, 80 Weldon Avenue
- Greenwood, 8 Fourth Line West
- East View, 75 Arizona Avenue
- H.M. Robbins, 83 Balfour Street
- Pinewood, 3924 Queen Ste. East
- Korah Intermediate, 636 Goulais Avenue
- St. Basil Catholic School, 250 St Georges Ave East
- St. Mary’s French Immersion, 124 Gibbs Street
“This partnership with the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Trout Unlimited Canada allows our students to take what they are learning in their classrooms and put it into practice in a meaningful and memorable way. This education fosters a sense of environmental responsibility and empowers students to become stewards of their local ecosystems. They are learning the knowledge and skills needed to protect the environment and in turn, they can share this with their friends and family,” Jennifer Sarlo, ADSB Chair.
“Empowering our students to become stewards of our environment is our collective responsibility towards a sustainable future. Through our partnership with the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Trout Unlimited Canada’s Yellow Fish Road project, our students are learning about environmental responsibility and actively engaging in it. Integrating this into our curriculum aligns with our commitment to nurturing conscientious citizens who understand the importance of protecting our natural resources,” said Gary Trembinski, HSCDSB Chair.
“The City appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with local schools for a second year to make this event a reality,” said Emily Cormier, Sustainability Coordinator with the City of Sault Ste. Marie. “By fostering awareness about protecting our waterways, we are taking important steps to protect aquatic ecosystems and overall water quality.”
