EcoSchools Canada: Supporting the growing environmental movement in Alberta schools

The library and art room at Edmonton’s Elmwood School are home to “Tinker Tanks,” storage units full of recycled materials that students can use in projects and artwork. Students create new objects like clothing and musical instruments out of everyday items like paper towel rolls and fabric.

The elementary school achieved Platinum certification, the highest level of achievement, in its first year certifying through EcoSchools Canada. Although the EcoSchools program only expanded nationwide in fall 2020, Alberta schools have already demonstrated enthusiasm for the program, with 73 schools certifying in the 2021-22 school year. In that year, the province of Alberta boasted the second-highest number of participating EcoSchools, after Ontario. A key to the program’s success in Alberta has been partnering with the Alberta Council for Environmental Education (ACEE). ACEE has been an environmental education leader in the province since 2005 and was a natural partner for localizing the EcoSchools program to the Alberta context.

“Prior to our partnership with EcoSchools Canada, [many] teachers in Alberta struggled to engage their students in environmental stewardship and climate action,” explains Marie Tremblay, Interim Executive Director at ACEE. “Teachers would often share [that] they felt isolated and lacked the expertise to initiate environmental projects with their students. EcoSchools Canada’s powerful online platform provides all the guidance and resources necessary for EcoTeams to get started, track their progress, and measure the collective impact of their actions. Thanks to our partnership with EcoSchools Canada, schools and EcoTeams now have an easy and fun way of joining the growing sustainability movement in Alberta and contributing to climate solutions.”

How the EcoSchools program works

1. Register. EcoSchools registration will open to all Canadian schools in late

September 2022. Visit www.ecoschools. ca to register your school today.

2. Launch your EcoTeam. EcoTeams are responsible for leading EcoSchools actions and initiatives and operate best with a diverse membership base, including students, teachers, principals, school administration, custodians, parents, and community partners.

3. Take action. The EcoSchools Action

Library consists of over 50 fun and educational projects, campaigns, lessons, and challenges that help schools assess and improve their environmental practices. Examples include growing a food garden, conducting a waste audit, and tracking school transportation emissions.

4. Certify and celebrate. In mid-May, all schools submit their application to

EcoSchools Canada for assessment.

Trained staff review and recognize all participating schools with a certification ranging from Bronze to Platinum. Once certified, schools receive a celebration package to share their accomplishments with their entire school community!

About EcoSchools Canada

EcoSchools Canada is a registered charity with a mission to nurture student leaders, reduce the environmental impact of schools, and build sustainable school communities. Our innovative, bilingual certification program is free for publicly funded schools and helps to incentivize, track, and reward environmental actions that reduce energy and waste, raise awareness, and incorporate environmental learning into curriculum. Established in 2005, we have worked with over 4,000 K-12 Canadian schools and have participating schools in over 65 per cent of school boards and districts nationwide.

To learn more about the EcoSchools program and join the growing EcoSchools movement in Alberta, visit www.ecoschools.ca. Alberta schools are also encouraged to connect with ACEE at www.abcee.org for region-specific opportunities. n

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