To the editor;
I’m an Educational Assistant at Surrey Centre Elementary and am working with a small group of children who require support in their learning.
As part of a modified Social Studies plan on Canada’s government, I decided to place focus on our local municipal government and how we can make a difference and a change in our own community.
After okaying these modifications with our principal, James Pearce, I went ahead to work with my students.
Our focus was to seek help from the engineering department in Surrey regarding the ill-repair of the sidewalks that most of our students use to and from school each day.
On rainy days the sidewalks pool, causing the students to walk onto the soft shoulder where the cars frequently park. My concern was that the small children were not safe as they were stepping into harm’s way.
I had my students write letters which were intended for Dianne Watts, our mayor, and I had a lengthy letter as well to accompany their young pleas.
I took photos of the pooled sidewalks and was going to include a map of our local area. With the package all ready to be mailed, I decided to send off an email to the city to find out where I could best direct my concerns.
The email landed on the screen of Bob from the city’s engineering department. I figured that the response would take a bit, but to my surprise Bob showed up on site, 26 hours later, to take a look first hand at the sidewalks.
I was so impressed with the proactive, positive, and ensuring approach that this professional engineer had taken with our school.
He assessed the situation and has given me confirmation that he would do what was necessary to keep our students safe.
I still intend on sending Dianne
Watts the information, but can also add how impressed I am with our local government, especially this one government employee, Bob, who went above and beyond in his job to ensure the safety of Surrey Centre students.
When I shared the news with my students, they were so excited that we had taken part in making our local community a little safer for us all.
Davina Crawford
Surrey Centre Elementary