The winning school gets a hybrid bus!
Why is Chouinard involved? “When I grew up, we were not really concerned about the environment and being careful of the earth and making sure that we were giving a future for the next generation,” says Chouinard. That’s changed, however: “Nowadays, the awareness is there. We’re making sure that things aren’t going to waste and we’re preserving the environment. Especially now that I have children, I think the best way to educate them is through school – [my children] started school in September.”
I asked Chouinard if she felt that the Vancouver 2010 Olympics brought across a sense of eco awareness that would help kids embrace the Canada’s Greenest Schools Contest. “When you have such a big event like the Olympics promoting environmentalism, I think the best way to then reach out and train and educate the new generation is through schools,” she said. “Every aspect of the Olympics was about being green.”
Why does this contest matter to the big picture? According to IC Bus, one school bus has the capacity to take 36 passenger cars off the road, and thanks to the kids who are riding busses (instead of being dropped off by car) 1.3 billion litres of gas are saved in Canada every year. I’m sure those number will be even more impressive as more schools use hybrid busses!
So how can students win the contest? Kids all the way from Kindergarten to Grade 12 can enter a photo collection, a piece of music, a video, an essay, or photos of a diorama, collage or piece of artwork. Whatever form the message takes, it has to say how the student or class would like to make their school a more green, eco-friendly place. Entries are due April 5, so click here to find out how to enter!
