
VEGGIE PATCH ADVENTURERS
LEAD PARTNER:

Combining literature, music and ecology, Veggie Patch Adventurers proposes a unique second-language learning experience for grade-school children.
With creative writing workshops created by bilingual authors (French and English) and visits from gardening and cooking specialists who cater to children, two language immersion classes will explore themes related to good life habits and will familiarize themselves with the vegetables of the garden. Their “adventure” in the veggie patch will lead them to compose (lyrics and music) a bilingual song accompanied by a professional video that will include all participating students and launch to much fanfare as part of the 2023 edition of the Blue Metropolis Festival.
The musical video of the Veggie Patch Adventurers will be launch on April 1st, 2023

THE PROJECT COLLABORATORS

NISHA COLEMAN
Nisha Coleman is a writer, storyteller, and actor based in Montreal. Her stories have been featured on the CBC, Moth Radio Hour, and Risk! among others. She facilitates writing and storytelling workshops, locally and internationally. Coleman is the co-founder of Strand Storytelling School and co-artistic director of the French storytelling series Enfabulation. Her memoir Busker: Stories from the Streets of Paris was published by Radiant Press in 2016 and her picture book, Dear Humans, will be published in the spring of 2023 by Linda Leith Publishing.

GROUPE APES
The education of young people has always been at the center of the concerns of the APES. Indeed, to be effective, raising awareness of eco-responsibility must begin at an early age, since everyone, at their level, in their own way, can take actions that will make a difference. Thus, since its beginnings, the APES has offered educational workshops, sometimes at the crèche or at school, sometimes on the occasion of one-off events, or even during public markets. The APES intends to participate in the education and awareness of new generations and makes it a point of honor to instill in them the values essential to the preservation of our planet:. https://missionapes.org/

SHANTHONY EXUM
Shanthony Exum also known musically as Miss Eaves, is a Montreal based-multimedia artist who sits at the intersections of activism and art. With a passion for celebrating confident femmes and non binary folk, Exum creatively uses her art to advocate for feminist issues, self-love, and the environment. Her artwork, specifically musically has been lauded by The New York Times, NPR, Billboard, New York Magazine, Elle, Glamour, Jezebel, and more, with her viral sensation “Thunder Thighs” landing on lists of feminist anthems alongside legends like Beyonce.
Exum aims to increase the visibility of marginalized people in her broader work of fighting all forms of oppression. In addition to advocating through music and multimedia platforms. She currently works as a freelancer and has worked with clients such as, McAuthor Foundation, UCLA, WITNESS, North Star Fund, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Black Futures Lab (founded by Alicia Garza), Brookings Institute and MTV.
Exum is currently illustrating “Dear Humans’ ‘ a children’s book written by Nisha Coleman which aims to educate children about climate change and environmental stewardship. “Dear Humans” is slated to be released in Spring of 2023.
THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

École primaire Sainte-Bernadette-Soubirous
Located in the very pleasant Rosemont―La Petite-Patrie borough, Sainte-Bernadette-Soubirous school is surrounded by a huge green space, Sainte-Bernadette Park. It has a large outdoor courtyard and a school park, where children can stretch their muscles during recess, for example. It offers its 660 preschool and elementary school students stimulating and enriching projects. Very dynamic, its teachers favor an active pedagogy. Why? Maintain the desire to learn and discover children. The word “collaboration” is our leitmotif. The values we favor are curiosity, autonomy, perseverance, politeness and, of course, pleasure!

ALLION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Another year is on its way with many adventures ahead and Allion is looking forward to instilling a passion for learning in its students through nurturing and challenging the students socially, emotionally and academically. As a STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art and math) school Allion is looking forward to the amazing projects and explorations this year throughout all the grade levels.