North Vancouver School District
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Hearts on Lonsdale

April 17, 2020
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North Vancouver School District's head office has been decorated with colourful hearts in a tribute to essential workers. photo Maria Spitale-Leisk, NVSD Communications


By Maria Spitale-Leisk, NVSD Communications


They wearily pass by the glass building in the Lonsdale corridor – on their way home to rest, or to return to the front lines.

A doctor, nurse, support staff member or maintenance worker who has just finished another overtime shift at Lions Gate Hospital.

A pharmacist who is also on their feet all day, dispensing medication to community members.

A grocer who is working longer hours to ensure local residents have the food and supplies they need.

When they reach Lonsdale and 21st, alone in their car or on foot, the front-line worker catches a glimpse of colour – a rainbow of hearts lovingly painted across the windowed face of the school district's head office.

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Giving Our Rainbow Hearts is the name given to the project, spearheaded by the social committee at NVSD’s Education Services Centre. 

The social committee had a vision to spread a cheerful message of support and gratitude to health-care workers via the windowed face of their office building, located on the Lonsdale corridor and in close proximity to Lions Gate Hospital.

A Coast Salish Welcome Pole, Kayachtn, positioned at the front of the ESC building, serves as the focal point for the project, reminding us of our ever-present connection to local Indigenous communities.

On the evening of April 16, with physical distancing procedures in place, a small group of ESC social committee members and their loved ones came into the building to create this impressive show of support for essential service workers. 

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Windsor Secondary Grade 12 student
Madeline Hallson puts the finishing
touches on her heart.


Non-toxic, water-based paint was used to create the vibrant-coloured hearts on the windows.

The hearts were strategically painted on windows across the second, third and fourth floors of the building, to depict an image of Kayachtn's outstretched arms releasing hearts into the sky – when viewed straight on.

The hearts represent solidarity and support for essential workers in our community, on behalf of North Vancouver School District staff.  

The collective image also represents hope.


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Boundary Elementary Grade 6 student
Fiala Yarbrough checks out the heart
display with her dad, Cody.