Grade 11 and 12 students from Gimli High School are leaving a lasting mark on the future of the Gimli Wetland Nature Preserve (GWNP) — one nesting box at a time.
Randy Woroniuk (left) and Tim Arnason (right) presenting Tony Michaluk with a certificate of appreciation
On May 20, carpentry teacher Tony Michaluk and several Grade 11 and 12 students gathered at the decommissioned wastewater lagoon site north of Gimli along Highway 9 to present eight hand-crafted nesting stations to members of the preserve committee and RM of Gimli staff.
A total of nine students participated in the project, although two students — Solomon Lewis and Carter Toomey — were away on the day of the presentation.
The nesting stations were built to support a variety of bird species, including wood ducks, owls, buffleheads and goldeneyes. Retired Manitoba conservation officer Randy Woroniuk worked with the students and teacher on the project.
“The nesting station initiative gives the students some ownership over the GWNP initiative, which is currently being developed by the municipality,” said Woroniuk. “It’s really great they are involved in this.”
Woroniuk said habitat for waterfowl continues to decline and noted the importance of restoring the former lagoon into a sanctuary for wildlife.
“Preserving and transforming the former lagoon into a sanctuary for wildlife is an important part of creating and preserving a home for birds, Muskrats and weasels,” he said.
Michaluk said the students completed all eight nesting stations in just two weeks.
“The stations were made of pine, stained with a safe, non-toxic cedar finish, and the interior was left natural pine,” Michaluk said.
The nesting stations will be installed once placement plans for the preserve are finalized.
Grade 11 student Madison Karish said the project allowed her to apply skills she had already learned while helping on the family farm.
“I’ve been around this a little while so I was good with it,” Karish said.
Fellow student Raymond Smith described the project as a lesson in efficiency.
“We got them done quick,” he said.
GWNP committee chair Tim Arnason thanked the students during the presentation and said youth involvement is an important part of the project’s long-term vision.
“This is incredibly meaningful for us,” Arnason told the students, adding that the committee wants young people engaged in every part of the restoration of the former wastewater lagoon into a publicly accessible wetland.
The wetland initiative is intended to support the health of Lake Winnipeg by converting the former lagoon into a functioning wetland ecosystem that filters nutrients, improves water quality and provides habitat for wildlife and migratory birds. Organizers also hope the site will become an educational and interpretive space focused on the history and ecology of the region.
Warren Hill, a lifelong resident of Gimli and member of the GWNP committee, said the project also carries deep personal meaning for his family.
The 144-acre site was originally settled 150 years ago by Hill’s ancestor, Oddur Anderson. Hill still lives on the property adjacent to the preserve.
“As a boy I spent countless hours exploring the marsh,” Hill stated. “It was a very special place and it will be again.”
GWNP committee member Gloria Thomas said climate change and recent wildfires are increasingly displacing wildlife and waterfowl from their natural habitats.
“We are seeing waterfowl here that are normally in other parts of the country, which is a direct result of the displacement of all creatures due to recent wildfires and climate change effects,” Thomas stated.
“More and more you see displaced wildlife and birds that have been forced from their natural habitats as wild fires and other natural disasters consume their homes year after year,” she added.
Thomas said involving youth in the project is essential as communities work toward environmental restoration.
“The youth of our communities know the importance of this, and this is why we are moving forward with youth involvement every step of the way,” she said.
Representatives from the Manitoba Métis Federation also attended the event, including project officer Luc Philippot and policy analyst Pheonix Combe.
“We appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the initiative and discuss the environmental stewardship work being undertaken by the Gimli Wetland Initiative,” said Philippot.
Michaluk said the students enjoyed the large-scale woodworking project and later learned more about the preserve through a presentation and video shared by the RM of Gimli.
“The duck box project was a great mass production project for the class,” Michaluk said. “The kids were blown away at the magnitude and significance of the project and felt really good about being a part of it.”
