Our Special Spaces 2017, Newmarket, pollinator patch © Smera Sukumar
Orillia, Ontario – On Friday, Ontario Nature welcomed 100 high-school leaders from more than 50 communities across Ontario to the annual Youth Summit for Biodiversity. The event began by celebrating the recent accomplishments of the Ontario Nature Youth Council, a group of teen leaders dedicated to conservation action and most recently, speaking up for declining wild pollinator species.
“I commend the Ontario Nature Youth Council for stepping up to the challenge and leading the way on pollinator conservation and awareness,” said Patrick Brown, MPP for Simcoe North. “I am pleased this grant will assist you with your educational workshops, presentations and events and encourage others to continue to protect our environment for our future.”
“Support for young people is very important to the Trinity-Spadina community and programs like Youth Action for Pollinators provide opportunities for children to not only take pride in their immediate surroundings, but to learn how even the smallest action can have great positive impact,” said Han Dong, MPP for Trinity –Spadina.
Over the past year, the Youth Council has continued to be a strong youth voice for pollinators by encouraging their schools and municipalities to become Bee Cities and Bee Schools (www.beecitycanada.org), with three confirmed declarations to date and five more underway. They also raised awareness through the delivery of over 30 educational workshops and presentations, and 10 pollinator habitat creation events. Thanks to the $50,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Youth Council inspired more than 1,300 youth to take action for pollinators.
“Ontario Nature is so pleased the Ontario Trillium Foundation chose to support our Youth Council’s campaign to protect wild pollinators,” says Caroline Schultz, Ontario Nature’s Executive Director. “The impact these young leaders have had on pollinator conservation and awareness is an inspiring reminder of how people of any age can make a positive difference in their communities and beyond.”
Ontario Nature protects wild species and wild spaces through conservation, education and public engagement. Ontario Nature is a charitable organization representing more than 30,000 members and supporters, and 150 member groups across Ontario. www.ontarionature.org
An agency of the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is one of Canada’s largest granting foundations. With a budget of over $136 million, OTF awards grants to some 1,000 projects every year to build healthy and vibrant Ontario communities. www.otf.ca
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For more information, please contact:
John Hassell, Director of Communications and Engagement, Ontario Nature, 416-786-2171, johnh@ontarionature.org