SCI prepares for Vimy trip

Stayner Collegiate Institute students are fundraising with a clear goal of getting to the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

About 30 students in Grades 9-12 will travel to Northern France next April to mark the anniversary, by way of Amsterdam and en route to London, England.

Along with students from other area high schools, the SCI delegation will depart April 5, 2017, beginning their tour in Amsterdam with a visit to the Anne Frank House and the Jewish Museum, then travel to the Vimy region to take part in the 100th anniversary commemorative activities. They will visit the Wellington Quarries before crossing the English Channel from Calais and on to London to see the sights, like Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Students are taking part in an annual event at Base Borden next Saturday, April 9, this year commemorating the 99th anniversary.

They will be walking 3.6 kilometres, one kilometre for each of the 3,598 Canadians killed in the battle.

They are collecting pledges to offset their individual travel costs.

The cost of the trip is about $3,700 per student.

The school is fundraising with the hope of covering additional costs for transportation and supply teachers, which adds up to about $9,000.

They have launched a campaign to sell windshield washer fluid, which is now available at the school or through individual students. Two-litre jugs are available for $5 each, $15 for a box of four or $750 for an entire skid.

There are also sponsorship opportunities available. It costs $500 to sponsor a whole skid and stickers will be added to each jug with the name of the organization or business logo.

Other fundraisers are planned throughout the year, including a trivia night and a craft event on Thanksgiving weekend, where people will be able to rent a booth to sell their crafts.

People are welcome to visit the school during regular hours to purchase the washer fluid and call 705-428-2639 for sponsorship opportunities. The trip is being coordinated by teachers Janice McLeod and Pam Jeffrey.