Victoria, BC– The Capital Regional District (CRD) and its municipal partners congratulate students across the region for their enthusiastic participation in this year’s Cool It! Climate Leadership Training program.

Over this past school year, 2,423 students from 104 classrooms across the region participated in the BC Sustainable Energy Association’s (BCSEA) program that empowers youth to take action on climate change. The workshops, available to classes in grades 4-12, help build students’ knowledge of climate change, including the key causes, impacts, and solutions. The workshops are then followed by a four-week take-home challenge that encourages the students to work with their families to reduce their carbon footprint at home and in their communities. 

“We are continuously impressed by the students who participate in this program,” said CRD’s Manager of Climate Action Programs, Nikki Elliott. “It’s always incredible to witness their transformation over the four-week period and to hear about their experiences with taking action at home, school, and in their communities. Addressing climate change really does require an all-hands-on-deck approach, and the youth in our region continue to play a vital role.”

Here are just a few of the actions taken by participating students this year:

• started environment clubs or “Green Thumb Committees” at school;
• planted food and pollinator gardens;
• planned local family vacations;
• mapped safe cycling routes to/from school;
• learned about local government's climate response and wrote to their Councils.

 Classes in the region that reduced their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions most significantly over the four-week period were awarded prizes. The winning classes for this year are: Margaret Jenkins Elementary (Elementary School – Victoria), Keating Elementary (Elementary School - Central Saanich), Cedar Hill Middle School (Middle School – Saanich), Central Middle School (Middle School – Victoria), Lansdowne Middle School (Middle School – Saanich), and Edward Milne Community School (High School – Sooke). Class celebrations were held for winning classes.

 “We’re also grateful for the level of engagement from schools across the region this year, as well as the support from partner municipalities. This was the first year that we were able to deliver over 100 workshops, and we hope to keep the momentum going,” added Elliott.

 This year, the CRD sponsored 35 classrooms to participate in the regional program, with an additional 36 workshops sponsored by the District of Saanich, 16 by the City of Victoria, 7 by the District of Oak Bay, 5 by the District of Sooke, and 5 by the District of Central Saanich. During the challenge, students committed to 15,704 actions that reduce energy and carbon emissions at home, which will result in a projected savings of 450 tonnes of CO2e annually, if continued for one year.

 Supporting and delivering climate education is part of the CRD’s Climate Action Strategy. Since its launch in 2017, more than 400 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 80,000 actions to reduce their climate impact and help prepare their communities.

 For more information, visit www.bcsea.org/Cool-It.

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 government partners 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:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492