The full day event took place at Oakville’s Bronte Creek Provincial Park and included guest speakers Peter Love, Ontario’s Chief Conservation officer; Madhur Anand, Associate Professor at the University of Guelph and Canada Research Chair in Global Ecological Change; and José Etcheverry Research & Policy Analyst with the David Suzuki Foundation. Students heard from the experts and engaged in discussions on a variety of environmental topics. Students also participated in an eco-race challenge and capped off the day by planting 200 trees. Trees Ontario, Maple Leaves Forever and Conservation Halton generously donated the trees, which included Sugar Maple, Bur Oak and White Pine.

The event was only possible with the assistance of many partners including, Greg Bales from the Halton-Peel Woodlands & Wildlife Stewardship, Dave Boddington Bronte Creek Provincial Park Superintendent, Colin Lacey, Coordinator, West GTA Stewardship for Evergreen, and the students and staff from the participating schools. Tim Horton’s and Whole Foods kindly donated the breakfast and lunch, respectively.

QUOTES

“The protection of our shared environment is a top priority for our government and a key concern for many Oakville residents, including Oakville’s high school students. I wanted to organize an event that would give them a chance to talk about environmental issues with some of our provinces leading experts,” said MPP Kevin Flynn. “I want to thank all of the speakers, the students for their passion and energy, and those who graciously donated the trees we planted, and the breakfast and lunch”

“I’m gratified to see high school students taking such an interest in energy conservation and environmental issues,” said Peter Love, Ontario’s Chief Energy Conservation Officer. “I’m excited by their commitment to building a culture of conservation in Ontario, and I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from them in the future.”

"I am thrilled to see high school students and politicians join forces to take the stewardship of the environment into their own hands. It is clear that the solution to a lot of global problems lies in location action of this kind,” said Madhur Anand, Associate Professor at the University of Guelph and Canada Research Chair in Global Ecological Change. “There are increasing opportunities for students to pursue their interest in the environment in academic, governmental and private sector jobs. There are also added benefits, like spending lots of time in Nature!"

QUICK FACTS

• The Ontario government’s Go Green Plan will reduce Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions to 6 per cent below 1990 levels by 2014 – a reduction of 61 megatonnes relative to business-as-usual.
• By 2020 Ontario will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 15 per cent below 1990 levels – a reduction of 99 megatonnes relative to business-as-usual.
• By 2050 we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 per cent below 1990 levels.

LEARN MORE

For more information on OSTEP please visit their website at www.ostep.ca

To find out more about climate change, what our government is doing to address this issue, and for more tips, visit www.gogreenontario.ca.

For additional information contact:
Jonathan M. Craft, Legislative Assistant to Kevin Flynn 416-212-7308