Victoria, BC – Students across the region are being recognized for their participation in this year’s Cool It! Climate Leadership Training program.
From January to June, 844 students, representing 39 classes across the region, participated in the BC Sustainable Energy Association’s (BCSEA) program to empower youth to be environmental stewards. The workshops build students’ climate change knowledge, followed by a four-week call-to-action challenge to reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint at home with their families.
“Although this spring presented some obstacles for delivery and participation, students and their families, teachers and BCSEA staff quickly adapted to a new way of learning and delivering the sustainability program,” said Capital Regional District Board Chair Colin Plant. “Congratulations to the participants on their commitment to taking climate action and encouraging others to do the same.”
“Climate change is the challenge of our time,” said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps. “And I believe that the generation after us will not only be faced with the lasting impacts, but they’re also going to be the leaders we need to power future solutions.”
This year’s winning classes are grade 4 at Margaret Jenkins Elementary (Victoria), grade 4/5 at Cordova Bay Elementary (Saanich) and grade 4/5 at Dunsmuir Elementary (regional) schools.
"Our congratulations and thanks to this year’s winners, and all those students and teachers who participated. It’s fantastic to see the many climate actions taken and know the important climate conversations being started by these students as part of this wonderful program. When we act on climate together, we all win,” said Mayor Haynes, District of Saanich.
This year, the CRD sponsored 19 workshops through winter and spring, with an additional 10 workshops each sponsored by the District of Saanich and the City of Victoria in their communities for a total of 39 workshops region-wide. During the challenge, students committed to 9,369 actions that reduce energy and carbon emissions at home, which will result in a projected savings of 472 tonnes of CO2e annually, if continued for one year.
Since its launch in 2017, more than 130 classes in the region have participated in the program, with support from the CRD and member municipalities. In that time, participating students have reported taking more than 43,085 actions. In February 2019, the CRD Board declared a climate emergency and aims to lead and support accelerated climate action across the region.
For more information, visit www.bcsea.org/Cool-It.
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Nicki Fellinger
Communications Supervisor, CRD Environmental Services
Tel: 250.360.3287
Cell: 250.818.1489