Grade 5 Student Leads KSA Buddy Bench Initiative

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Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

When Grade 5 KSA student Lily Murgatroyd noticed the need for more inclusion on the playground, she decided to take the initiative to create positive change, one bench at a time.   

In October, Kamloops School of the Arts (KSA) added a new, welcoming feature to their playground area—a Buddy Bench. The project started with an idea from Lily, who approached KSA Principal Blair Lloyd about installing the bench. Lily remembered how her previous school had a Buddy Bench and how it helped kids feel more included.  

With Principal Lloyd’s support, and help from her family and friends, Lily then presented to the KSA Parent Advisory Council, and shared how Buddy Benches can make a positive difference for all kids to feel included and welcome:

“A buddy bench is a bench where someone goes to sit on it if they don’t have a friend to play with, and another friend can come over and play with them. It lets people know when someone feels lonely and needs extra kindness... Buddy benches make everyone feel included, and like they belong.”

There are nearly 40 Buddy Benches, also known as Friendship Benches, at schools across the Kamloops-Thompson School District. These simple additions to a school playground help foster a sense of belonging and inclusion. Ensuring that every learner feels welcome, safe, and connected while developing a sense of social responsibility are goals of the District’s Human and Social Development strategic priority.

To help fundraise for KSA’s new Buddy Bench, Lily and her friends sold nearly 100 friendship bracelets at school—reinforcing her message of friendship and kindness.

On October 23, 2025, Lily’s dream became a reality when the new Buddy Bench was installed at KSA. Cheered on by her classmates, Lily shared why this moment mattered to her and her school: 

“Sometimes I knew people who didn’t have enough friends to play with, so I wanted to make them happy. If someone doesn't have a friend, they go on the bench and then someone will come over. It means everyone has a chance to have a friend... I really hope people come here sometimes so I can play with them.”

Thanks to Lily’s kindness, determination, and leadership, KSA’s Buddy Bench will be a welcoming space for all students for years to come, reenforcing Lily’s powerful message: everyone deserves a friend.