Daisies for Diabetes

Students learned that diabetes is 3-5 times greater in First Nation peoples then that of other Canadians (States Canada). In talking with the students about what the NL Program would like to have as its community Project, the students and I came up with selling daisies for diabetes in April. Students take flower orders, provide a little information with each order about diabetes. All proceeds will go towards equipment at the Municipal park, which will help in creating active living and reduce the risk of diabetes with adding a piece of equipment to the community to be active.

Update (April 1, 2013)

Hello All,

Well all the Native Language students have been involved with creating a logo for the campaign. The students made their own posters providing information about the project, which have been distributed throughout the community in various businesses to promote the campaign. There has been 2 advertisements in the Red Lake local Northern Sun Newspaper reminding people to purchase a bouquet of daisies from one of our school canvassers.

A local flower shop will be providing the bouquets for pick up on April 17, 2013. Letters of Permission have been sent home and returned to have the students canvas the community. The students started canvasing on March 8, 2013 and and this will wind up on April 2, 2013.

I have been in contact with SHAW CABLE and I am looking at the possibility of having the student's campaign broadcasted on the local channel.

Later,

Tom Doherty
Native Language/The Arts Teacher
St. John's School

Update (June 28, 2013)

Red Lake and Area Northern Sun

On June 5, 2013, Michel Labonte, Municipality of Red Lake Recreation Supervisor and Facilities Manager, accepted a cheque on behalf of the Municipality of Red Lake for $732.20 from the Native Language Program, at St. John’s School. The funds will go toward the purchase of playground equipment at the Red Lake Municipal Recreation Center. In his address to those in attendance, Mr. Labonte noted that “St. John’s School students are not only regarded as leaders in their own building, but are recognized as Leaders of Education in the community through their involvement in projects that benefit the whole community such as Daisies for Diabetes”.

In November, at the invitation of Native Language teacher, Mr. Doherty, Northwestern Ontario Health Unit Public Nurse, Becky Kamm, conducted a diabetes presentation in the classrooms as part of the studies of First Nation’s Peoples. The Health Unit followed up the studies by providing staff and students with a healthy lunch.

Having learned that daily activity and exercise is a good prevention of diabetes, the students enthusiastically embraced the challenge to sell bouquets of daisies as a fundraiser to purchase playground equipment to benefit the whole community.

Local businesswoman, Cathy Majewski, owner of Forever Green, was thrilled with the opportunity to partner with St. John’s School. The campaign took on the name Daisies for Diabetes, and in March, the students canvassed the community and sold just under 100 bouquets of daisies. Mr. Doherty also secured a $500.00 grant from an initiative sponsored by the Canadian Teacher’s Federation called ImagineACTION. Its mandate is to create student social awareness and assist students in engaging in social justice initiatives. The grant money was used for advertising the campaign.

St. John’s School thanks the community for their generous response to Daisies for Diabetes, and expects to repeat the campaign next year as a proven student-driven initiative that benefits the whole community of Red Lake.

Update (October 21, 2013)

Hello All,

The Native Language Program at St. John's School will once more be conducting it's 'Daisies for Diabetes' campaign for the month of November in 2013. Proceeds will once again go to the Municipality of Red Lake Recreation Department to purchase equipment for the recreation center.

Update (March 20, 2015)

Due to the lack of a local flower distributor, increment weather, and competing organizations fundraising simultaneously we discontinued with the "Daisies for Diabetes" campaign.

Update (September 11, 2016)

The Project is finally finished :)