Collège Churchill High School students build shelters for strays

A group of Grade 10 students at Collège Churchill High School,have spent over 30 hours designing and building outdoor shelters for feral cats using mostly reclaimed materials. Once complete, the insulated cat houses will be donated to a local animal shelter as well as to a northern community.

Teacher Saul Correia spearheaded the initiative that blends sustainability in science, with practical arts to impact the community thanks in part to donated wood and shed paneling. Teacher Dylan Rasmussen, who sourced the donations, collaborated with Correia about doing a cross curricular project that would complete the unit on sustainability with his Grade 10 science class. 

“About 80 percent of these shelters are made using recycled materials. As a UNESCO school, we focus on things like sustainability and community partnerships. It shows students, not everything needs to end up in the landfill,” said Correia.

Teacher Saul Correia assembling the lid on the cat shelter
The shelters are designed to protect cats from the elements with a removable lid as well as an internal wall to block the wind.

“We had to get the floor done first, cut out each piece and assemble. It took a pretty long time but now it’s done, said Arsalan a Grade 10 student who helped build the shelters. “The cats are going to be safe, warm and not be exposed because it’s all covered up.”

For Teagan, another Grade 10 student involved in the project, she was excited to see her school work have a real impact on the community.

“This project relates to our sustainability unit, we’re reusing products and helping out,” said Teagan. “It makes me feel good, it’s nice to know we are actually helping out and doing something with our projects instead of just taking them home. We’re sending them somewhere that’s actually going to use them.”