Rotary Club donation will help more kids enjoy the Bushplane

The most common barrier for teachers in the Algoma District to accessing the STEM educational programs at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre and Entomica is the cost of transportation.

That's according to the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie, which proudly presented the Bushplane with a $10,000 cheque last week in support of the centre’s Access to Education Program.

The program prioritizes students and schools in outlying communities such as Wawa, Thessalon, Echo Bay, Desbarats, and Heyden, where the rental cost for a bus can be up to eight times that of a local school, the club said in a release.

The club noted that in some instances, the cost must be covered by the families of the students, who are not always in a financial position to do so.

“These kids and schools are also a part of the Algoma District School Board,” education coordinator Tim Murphy shared with Rotary Club president Lynn Hollingsworth and incoming president Darryl Patterson.

“They can also take advantage of other things in the city, like visiting the Ermatinger National Historic Site. This donation will positively impact the whole cultural corridor in the community. If they are coming in from these other cities, they can come in and do other things as well as the museum. It really is phenomenal for the kids.”

The donation from the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie, in addition to an earlier donation from Sault North Rotary, will allow the Bushplane to potentially host all Grade 6 students in the Algoma District.

“This will fully cover the Grade 6 bus costs, so everyone can come and get that experience,” executive director Jamie Hilsinger said.  

The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, located in an historic 1924 hangar on Pim Street, is dedicated to preserving the history of bushplanes and forest fire management.

Since 1987, it has showcased Canada’s largest collection of bushplanes for public education.