The My Story Student Exhibition opened Nov. 14 at Wallaceburg District Secondary School, highlighting student creativity and personal reflections on the region’s waterways. The event, held in partnership with WATCH Citizen Science, brought together students, families, educators and community members for an evening of art and storytelling.
Parents and family members joined the celebration, filling the school library, which had been transformed into a gallery space displaying colourful, story-driven artwork. Students shared pieces exploring their relationship with the local environment and the role water plays in their daily lives.
Kris Lee of WATCH Communications said she was impressed by the entries and moved by how personal the stories were, adding that students were willing to share meaningful parts of their experiences. The sentiment echoed the atmosphere in the room as attendees viewed the artwork and the narratives behind it.
Art teacher Scott Lalonde, who serves as the liaison between the school and program manager Sherri-Anne Wills, opened the event by thanking students for their participation and creativity. Wills told students they were “amazing” and described them as the beginning of the larger exhibition planned for March at the Wallaceburg Art Gallery. She said participating students will receive a “golden ticket,” allowing them to bypass the general entry process for that show.
Principal Tiffany Cadotte also offered remarks, calling the exhibition “phenomenal” and praising the personal stories students shared and the ways they connected them to waterways.
The school exhibition serves as a prelude to the broader My Story Community Exhibition set for March, which will invite residents of all ages to contribute artwork and stories reflecting their own connections to water. Updates will be available at citizenscience.ca or through WATCH on Facebook and Instagram.
The initiative is supported by WATCH Citizen Science, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Wallaceburg District Secondary School. WATCH Citizen Science operates from Wallaceburg to Sarnia and encourages community members to observe and share information about their local environment.
