The St Francis District Masonic Lodges gave a donation of $5,300 to the St. Francis Valley Naturalists’ Club on Tuesday to support that group’s efforts to promote the “Living Schools” project at Cookshire Elementary School and other local environmental education initiatives.
Funded by the St. Francis District Masonic Lodges, The Quebec Masonic Foundation, and the Grand Master Marc David’s Environmental Education Fund, the choice of cause was made in keeping with a focus placed by the Grand Master on environmental education this year.
Although the Masons have not been meeting in person for the better part of this year due to the restrictions of the pandemic, online networking and community outreach allowed the groups to help meet their usual fundraising goals.
Asked about the donation, St. Francis Valley Naturalists’ Club President David Wright said that for the moment the funds are being set aside while the club works on figuring out how to move ahead with its local projects. Whereas the club has been getting on its feet when it comes to working with local schools over the last few years, Wright said that the current context severely limits what is possible in terms out outside groups coming into schools.
“There are some ideas in the back of my mind,” the president said, adding that he has already reached out to the principals of the schools in the local board to broach the topic.
Masons invest in eco-education
By Gordon Lambie
