Students at Gibsons Alternative School and Elphinstone Secondary School are putting together a package of mementos for fallen soldier Robert Costall's wife Chrissy and one-year-old son Colin.
"It's a way for our kids to do something positive, active and concrete, and I think it will help them in their healing. They have had a lot to say, but nowhere to put that," said Sally Thicke, Gibsons Alternative School principal.
Thicke said school counsellor Tammy Saigeon came up with the idea. She knew Costall for many years and worked with him as a counsellor in the past.
"He was a very positive influence on people in our program. He had a positive impact on our students and our community," Saigeon said.
Costall attended both Elphi and the Alternative School, which he returned to yearly, talking to students about his choice to join the army and later his choice to go to Afghanistan.
He had a great impact on those students who saw him as someone who was making the right choices in life, and now students want to share their memories of him with his son.
"The focus is that they want to tell Colin about his father and they have lots of memories to share," Thicke said.
Students are now putting together stories and poems about Costall to send to Chrissy and Colin sometime in May.
"They may also put in some songs they listened to with him or list some adjectives about him and then we'll package it all up and send it off to Chrissy so she can have that in addition to all the other letters and cards she has already received. She can share those memories with Colin when he is old enough and starts asking about his father," Thicke said.
Extra support was brought in to the Alter-native School for students who needed it the week Costall died, and that support is still available, said Thicke.
"It's more informal help now, but we know the kids who are struggling and we check in with those kids," Thicke said, noting the memento project has helped students deal with their sadness.
"They are looking at the positive things. What Robert has left them with and remembering those times is helping to give healing."
