LAURIE WEIR
Students from Duncan J. Schoular School had the opportunity to impress Smiths Falls town council on Monday, June 24 during a regular committee of the whole meeting.
Teacher Lindsay Pinch and her Grade 5/6 students shared a video they created which highlights 14 areas of town to help promote tourism.
The site includes animated talking lips with student voices that highlight such cool spaces as the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario, Lower Reach Park, Heritage House Museum, and the Rideau Canal, to name a few.
While showing some of the video features, councillors did well to hide their chuckles.
“That was really well done,” said Coun. Steve Robinson.
Mayor Shawn Pankow noted that he’d had the opportunity to preview the website at the school, and it was “just as much fun the second time,” he said.
“I think it’s important to understand how you see the world, and the things in Smiths Falls that you see that you like,” he said to the students who were in attendance. “It’s also important for us to understand that maybe we should be doing better for kids. So, always feel free to reach out if you think of something we haven’t thought of – you let us know.”
The mayor said the students did a great job of promoting the town, “in a very fun and energetic way.”
Coun. Peter McKenna asked how they were going to promote it. The students said they would publish it and the town can link to the site.
Coun. Dawn Quinn said this was “very impressive … what I see here (are) young minds that are growing and maybe one of you will sit up here as the mayor or town councillor and bring all that fun and education with you.”
Coun. Chris McGuire, chaired the meeting, thanked the students for their plug for Canada Day (please attend Lower Reach Park for all the festivities). “I can’t wait to see what you come up with next year for Grade 6/7.”
