Woodworking Project to Honour West Vancouver Veterans

1,000 crosses and 500 more to come. Grades 8 through 12 woodworking students at WVSS created 1,000 replacement white wooden crosses in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion and WV District Parks Department. Another 500 crosses will be completed by the students in 5-6 months. These crosses replace the current crosses of West Vancouver veterans for Remembrance Day to honour and mark the sacrifice of the many who have fallen in the service of their country and to acknowledge the courage of those who still serve. 15 students assisted veterans with raising new crosses at the Capilano View on November 1^st.

Ben Scoten, woodworking teacher at West Vancouver Secondary notes that when the students were in the finishing glazing stages of the project, they were in awe of the sheer number of crosses, that each one represented a person from West Vancouver involved in international conflicts.  The students said it was hard work to create all the crosses in a span of a year but was sobering to think about the sacrifice others have made.

Ben explains how woodworking is a way for students to learn about life skills that they can not only use outside of school for their own needs but also as a way to serve their community. It teaches them that there is a larger picture that they can help through their acquired skills. After this project the students will be completing a Mexican train board project for Amica Seniors’ Residence.