Awards

Vision

Our vision for Canada is to create a more sustainable future through educating our youth. In order to do this we have planned and implemented a school wide event to promote sustainable living and to educate our student body on important environmental issues.

Action

The following is an overview of the Earth Day events that our student and staff ESD committees organized to take place for our school wide Earth Day event on April 23rd, 2018.

Period 1 – Theatre

James Beddome (Leader of the Green Party of Manitoba)
The Biggest Thing you can do for the Planet is to Become Politically Engaged

Mr. Beddome will tell us about his journey into politics with the goal of informing and inspiring our students to become politically engaged and active in their communities. In addition to being the leader of the Green Party of Manitoba, he is also a lawyer with the Beddome and Longclaws Law Corporation specializing in Indigenous issues and land claim cases.

Period 2 – Theatre

Dr. John Iacozza (Centre for Earth Observation Science – CEOS)
20 Years in the Arctic: Witness to Change

The Arctic is arguably the one region on the Earth that has experienced the most significant changes over the past two decades. This change is exhibited not only in the physical environment, but also the biological and human dimensions of this region. In this presentation, Mr. Iacozza will highlight some of his main research results and discuss his field career in the Arctic. He will also discuss the evolution of his field work, from using a camp on the ice with 4 people, to working on an icebreaker in the Arctic with more than 80 scientists and crew members.

Period 3 – Theatre

Andréanne Dandeneau (Voila Fashion)
The Slow Fashion Movement

Ms. Dandeneau is the proud owner of the Métis fashion label VOILÀ, founded in 2005. She believes in the slow fashion movement and continues to grow her company using only sustainable practices. Making a unique statement through her authentic indigenous-inspired print her goal is to always make customers feel good inside and out wearing her designs. Each garment is designed & manufactured in Winnipeg, MB using sustainable Canadian made fabrics and fair labor practices. Et VOILÀ! A beautiful fusion of European flair and influences from her Métis heritage art.

Andréanne was awarded the Excellence in Aboriginal Leadership Award from the Asper School of Business along with an Entrepreneurship Award for Sustainable Design & Environment from the Francophone Chamber of Commerce.

MMC Earth Day Sessions – Tue. Apr. 24, 2018
AM – Keynote Speakers – Large Group Sessions

PM Workshops (Classroom Sessions)

Classroom Session

Naomi Johnson (Canadian Food Grains Bank)
Impacts and Adaptation: Experiences of Climate Change around the World

Much of what we hear about climate change as Canadians, relates to our role in producing carbon emissions and how we can take small actions (use public transport, recycle, etc.) to reduce our contribution to those emissions (known as mitigation efforts). What we don’t hear enough of, is how climate change is already impacting people’s lives around the world -particularly those of small-scale farmers and women. This presentation will educate students on how climate change is currently impacting people’s livelihoods, and why small-scale farmers and women, are among those most affected. Adaptation strategies will be discussed, and students will learn how they can support those being affected through advocacy and contributing to a climate fund, based on individual or classroom carbon emissions. Understanding climate change from various perspectives, through both stories and science, is crucial to creating positive change.

Classroom Session

Ryan Johnson (Prairie Climate Centre)
Climate Change :Why it Matters for Manitoba

2017 was Canada’s 2nd warmest year on record, at 0.9 °C above average. But so what? Don’t warmer temperatures sound like a good thing for Manitoba? Using the brand-new interactive Climate Atlas of Canada, developed by the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg, this presentation takes a close look at what climate models say will happen to the climate of Manitoba should we continue to burn fossil fuels and release greenhouse gases. A heavy focus of the talk will be on solutions, including the Government of Canada’s plan to reduce its carbon footprint. We will also learn the basics of climate science and explore how climate models work. During the hands-on component of the talk, students will get to build their very own climate models so they can see for themselves why greenhouse gases cause the planet to warm. At the end of the talk, the presenter will play a short game of ‘climate trivia,’ where teams can try to win a very special climate change prize.

Classroom Session

Veronica Sharkey (Manitoba Environmental Youth Network)
Environmental Justice and Us

Climate Change is happening and it’s forcing us all to think about a greener future. Powerful action needs to be taken quickly, and it needs to be taken together as communities, businesses, governments, and everyday people. But how do we make sure that everyone is included in environmental solutions? Explore how environmental and social justice issues intersect, and where that leaves you.

Classroom Session

Candi Betzi (Manitoba Eco-Network)
Water in the Changing Climate

By interacting with a watershed model, we will discuss how climate is anticipated to affect our local water cycle and water within the Lake Winnipeg watershed. We will discuss our global water footprint and discover what each of us can do to reduce our impacts.

Classroom Session

Simone Davidson (Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre)
Prairie Raptors

In this program, students will learn all there is to know about raptors, specifically the raptors that call Manitoba home and are helped by PWRC. Not only are raptors very fascinating animals, but they are very important to our environment and many different ecosystems. Our wildlife ambassadors will also be present, so everyone can see up close their special adaptations.

Classroom Session
Curt Hull (Climate Change Connection)
Community Resilience and Climate Change

Our climate is changing. Action has been slow. We can be part of the solution. And we know what we need to do. Let’s discuss the solutions but also the changes we need to make to become resilient.

Classroom Session

Keana Rellinger (Manitoba Council for International Cooperation)
Climate Justice

In this workshop, students will learn about the multiple sides of the impacts of climate change. Beginning with the causes of climate change, students will explore what climate justice is and why it matters through a hands-on, engaging activity that promotes the idea of global citizenship. Throughout the workshop and activity, students will address how climate change is connected to the environment, economies and social well-being around the world.

Classroom Session
Zack Gross (Manitoba Council for International Cooperation)
Fair Trade and Why it Matters

My workshop will cover the basics of fair trade – what it is, what are the products associated with it, what are some of the injustices that fair trade addresses (eg. child labour, exploitative prices, gender issues), as well as what is happening in Manitoba that makes us a Canadian leader in fair trade and how schools can get fair trade designation. I will also address the connection between climate change and agricultural issues in poor countries around the world, and how the fair trade system is taking steps to combat climate change and support producers affected by it.

Classroom Session
Aboriginal Games (Oak Hammoch Marsh Interpretive Centre)

Learn how to play some of the traditional games of Manitoba’s Indigenous communities and the skills and knowledge that they promote.

Classroom Session
Barret Miller (Fort Whyte Alive)
Nature Walk and Scavenger Hunt in EK

Join Barret on an interpretive walk through the community where he will show students that nature doesn’t stop at the city border. The walk will take students west down Kimberley Avenue as far as the park behind Bronx Community Centre along the Red River and back. Dress for the weather!

Classroom Session Curt Belton (U of M and RRC)
Where does Stuff Come from and Why does it Matter?

Water, energy, food, consumer products; where does this stuff come from? Does it matter where stuff comes from? Does the fact that we use stuff affect the planet? Does it affect other people? What is mitigation and adaptation? What do we really need to have a good life? Be prepared to think about what you know about our basic goods and services and how we can live sustainably. Just like a choose-your-own-ending story, it is up to you to choose! You have more power than you think. Be prepared to share your opinion.

Classroom Session
(Art Room)

*** Available slot 4 only Tamara Fraser (MMC)
Create your own Sketchbook

Ms. Fraser will show students how to create their own DIY sketchbooks
Theatre

*** Available slot 4 only Film Presentation – Years of Living Dangerously

Hollywood celebrities and respected journalists span the globe to explore the issues of climate change and cover intimate stories of human triumph and tragedy.

We’re taken across the world to get various climate-related answers from experts, as well as residents who have been reduced to praying for rain in Texas and examining forests in Indonesia that sit on peat, a substance that could release ample carbon into the air in the event of a forest fire.

Some of Hollywood’s brightest stars, like Don Cheadle and Harrison Ford, go on their own expeditions measuring methane with NASA scientists and trying to understand why some accept manmade climate change and others say droughts and extreme weather are no more than acts of God. Meanwhile, journalist Thomas L. Friedman explores a drought that influenced conflict in three Middle Eastern countries.

Theatre

*** Available slot 5 only Take Pride Winnipeg Community Clean-up

Meet in the theatre to get supplies (garbage bags and rubber gloves) for a community clean-up. Your class will be assigned a particular area to pick up trash.

Reflection & Celebration

This was our third annual event- our goal is to continue to grow and improve it. The event was a huge success with great staff and student turn out and feedback. We did however discuss some ideas to improve it- here is a summary of the feedback that we discussed at our post event meeting with the student facilitators of our event.

Things to consider for next year:
– If we sell cinnamon buns order them ahead of time (we sold 4 dozen and raised $130)
– Put Earth Day on the school sign and contact media
– Ensure that we have student volunteers to host and thank each presenter- include on the Master Schedule
– Make sure that the office and admin remembers the altered schedule and changes the bell schedule and emails staff ahead of time
– Send out the Earth Day video, tunnel monitor and TA Challenge ahead of time
– Enjoyed this years sessions- lots of variety
Student Suggestions
– Have a variety of topics again
– Liked learning about ways to lower your ecological footprint
– More activities where you can make sustainable
– Students enjoyed getting outside
– Students really liked the games- have more games
– More hands-on activities
– More audience interaction with keynotes
– Let students know about the schedule so students on spare can sign up
– Liked the political topic, Arctic research, people that work in the field/first hand experience
– Encourage more teacher sign up- especially IB classes
– Make it an all day event- let students pick sessions
– Students like the TA challenge
– Even shorter speakers

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