Gabriola Elementary Celebrates the 7th Annual Apple Day!
Gabriola Elementary students celebrated the 7th Annual Apple Day on October 9, 2026, with hands-on activities celebrating local apples, harvest time, and healthy eating.
Organized by Morgan Klassen and Rachel Dubois of People for a Healthy Community (PHC), the day brought students together with community members and volunteers to juice apples, bake, and prepare fruit for the months ahead.
Students enjoyed juicing apples with community member Betty Kehler, sampling the freshly pressed juice, and filling a large jug to be enjoyed at PHC’s upcoming weekly hot lunch. With support from Island Health dietitian Taylor Hartwig and Karen Alden, School Health Promoter, students also made Morning Glory muffins and prepared apples for dehydration and applesauce alongside community volunteers.
The food prepared during Apple Day will be enjoyed by students throughout the school year through PHC’s Garden Education Program, connecting children with local food, food preparation, and the journey from harvest to table.
The event fostered community engagement, nutrition education, and environmental awareness while highlighting the importance of local food systems and healthy living.
Thank You, Gabriola, for Supporting Local Food and Garden Education!
We are incredibly grateful to the local Gabriola farms and families who generously donated over 2,300 pounds of beautiful, locally grown apples and pears to PHC this fall!
Some of this wonderful harvest was shared with Ravenskill through its charitable donation program, earning $3 per pound to support PHC’s Garden Education Program. These funds help make hands-on learning opportunities possible for elementary school students, including Apple Day celebrations and weekly visits to the PHC gardens, where students connect with local food, growing, harvesting, and the natural world.
A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who donated fruit and helped turn Gabriola’s abundant harvest into meaningful learning experiences for our community’s children. We are also grateful to Betty Kehler, Island Health dietitian Taylor Hartwig, Karen Alden, School Health Promoter, and our wonderful team of community volunteers for sharing their time, knowledge, and enthusiasm to make Apple Day such a success.
Your generosity helps our community’s children grow a lasting appreciation for local food, healthy eating, and the people who make it possible. Thank you, Gabriola
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