Three Schools Take 2015 Sudbury's Ugliest Schoolyard Title

By Nick Liard

Three local schoolyards are getting upgrades thanks to this year’s Ugliest Schoolyard Contest.

The 2015 winners are: Cyril Varney Public School, Churchill Public School and Ecole Publique Jean-Either-Blais.

Each site will get funding and supplies from local businesses to transform their schoolyards into greener and healthier outdoor environments.

The contest is presented every year by VETAC (Vegetation Enhancement Technical Advisory Committee), Greater Sudbury’s Regreening Advisory Panel.

The cash donations come from Glencore’s Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations, while other local businesses supply the materials.

The Sudbury Master Gardeners and Sudbury Horticultural Society assisted in the selection of plant material.

Last year’s winner, Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School in Val Caron, plans to officially unveil their transformation during a media event today.

Since the contest first started in 2005, 36 local schools have create greener and healthier schoolyards.