OTTAWA—When the students of Ottawa’s Ashbury College suggested building a green roof a few years ago, it sowed the seed for a first-of-its-kind eco-project among Canadian independent schools that promises much more than conventional environmental goals.
While other schools have built green roofs to help reduce energy use and contribute to cleaner air, Ashbury’s roof will be more functional, allowing students to actually use it for classes and gardening.
Ashbury’s fundraising for the 525-square-metre octagon-shaped green space above the school’s theatre is halfway completed. It will double as an outdoor classroom for the all-boys Junior School (grades 4 to 8) and co-ed Senior School (grades 9 to 12).
“They can get their hands dirty, they can do measurements, they can make use of the gardens, there’s no barrier between them and the green roof,” said Kendal Young, Assistant Director of the Junior School.
She noted that the Junior School students “have been just real champions of this project and unbelievably excited.”
Wildlife such as birds and insects will allow the students to study habitats and the diversity of living things, right on the roof, Ms. Young said.
And the green roof will help integrate environmental education and protection into the curriculum.
