The Laskeek Bay Conservation Society is asking the school board for support, both moral and financial, to help ease its financial problems caused by a reduction in its major funding.
"Right from day one, an important part of our mission has been to provide opportunities for local kids to experience the outdoors and participate in some real hands-on biological research," society director Keith Moore told the board, meeting in Sandspit October 28. He also said that over the last 13 years, a total of 282 students from schools on the islands have taken part in the groups major project, the Limestone Island murrelet project. The society has never before asked the school board even for a letter of support, Mr. Moore said, but it now needs some help to continue providing its unique outdoor education experience for islands students.
Mr. Moore told the board he would like a letter of support that would help the society raise money elsewhere, and also asked for an annual $2,000 contribution. "We really want to try to work with you," Mr. Moore said.
Several trustees praised the society and Project Limestone, including Masset's Sharon Matthews who said she had spent a day on the island, and "I just envy anyone who could stay there for a week." The board voted to write a letter of support, but Chair Wayne Wilson said the board is on a tight budget with all its money already earmarked. But he suggested the request for financial support could be considered when the board starts work on its budget for next year in the spring.