Close
Skip to Content
HDSB Logo
Main menu icon
I'd Like to...
  • Access eLearning courses
  • Apply for a Job
  • Find Adult and Continuing Education
  • Find My Local School
  • Find Student Busing
  • Get Homework Help
  • Pay Online
  • Register My Child for School
  • Rent School Space
  • Report A Student Absence
  • Request a Transcript
  • Resolve an Issue/Concern
  • Transfer within the Halton District
  • Volunteer
Alerts
  • Parents
    • Absence Reporting - SchoolMessenger
    • Before and After School Care
    • Find My Local School
    • HDSB Mobile App
    • Kindergarten
    • Privacy and Freedom of Information (FOI)
    • Report Cards
    • Technology & You
    • Why Choose HDSB?
    • Aspen Family Portal
    • Bus Cancellation and School Closure – Inclement Weather
    • Get Involved
    • Health and Well-Being
    • New to Halton
    • Protection from COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illness
    • Safe Schools
    • Transportation
    • Become a Homestay Host
    • Calendar
    • Halton Community Resources
    • Human Rights & Equity
    • Pay Online
    • Register My Child for School
    • Special Education Programs and Placements
    • Welcome to a New School Year
  • Students
    • Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education
    • Environmental Leadership
    • Halton Cloud
    • Homework Help, Guidelines and Tools
    • Library Services
    • Safe Schools
    • Student Senate
    • Welcome Centre for Newcomer Students
    • Calendar
    • Expelled or Suspended Students (H.O.P.E.S.)
    • Health and Well-Being
    • Indigenous Rights & Education
    • Online Resources
    • Secondary School
    • Transcript Requests
    • Community Involvement Hours
    • Graduation Requirements
    • High School Info Night
    • International Students
    • Protection from COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illness
    • Student Excellence Awards
    • Virtual Learning
  • Schools
    • Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education
    • Find My Local School
    • Information Technology in Schools
    • Program Accommodation Studies
    • Register My Child for School
    • School Boundary Reviews
    • School Hours
    • Transfer Schools within the HDSB
    • Who to Contact
    • Distribution of Materials to Schools
    • HDSB PA Days for 2024-2025
    • Our Schools
    • Protection from COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illness
    • Rent School Space
    • School Construction Projects
    • Secondary School
    • Transportation
    Image HDSB School Listings
    HDSB School Listings
  • Learning and Resources
    • Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education
    • Before and After School Care
    • Curriculum
    • English Language Learners-ELL
    • First Nation, Métis and Inuit Students
    • Health and Physical Education
    • Kindergarten
    • Literacy & Math Resources
    • Secondary Education and Pathways
    • Summer School
    • Arts Programs
    • Brightspace
    • De-Streaming
    • EQAO
    • French
    • International and Indigenous Languages Elementary
    • Library Services
    • Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
    • Special Education Programs and Placements
  • Our Board
    • 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP)
    • Board of Trustees
    • Contact Us
    • Halton Learning Foundation
    • HDSB Student & Staff Census
    • Human Rights & Equity
    • Livestream
    • Publications
    • We Are HDSB
    • Accessibility
    • Budget and Financial Information
    • Departments
    • Have Your Say Survey
    • HDSBcares
    • Indigenous Rights & Education
    • News
    • Reimagine Forward
    • Administration and Superintendents
    • Careers at the HDSB
    • Get Involved
    • HDSB Employee Groups
    • How to Resolve Issues and Concerns
    • Labour Updates
    • Policies and Administrative Procedures
    • Student Stories

Environmental Leadership

subnav icon More
Home/Students/Environmental Leadership/
Decrease Text Size Default Text Size Increase Text Size
Print Link
Share Link

More in this Section...

  • Environmental Leadership
    • Generation Green Virtual Conference
  • Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education
  • Calendar
  • Community Involvement Hours
  • Expelled or Suspended Students (H.O.P.E.S.)
  • Generation Green Virtual Conference
  • Graduation Requirements
  • Halton Cloud
  • HDSB Examples of Eligible and Ineligible Activities for Community Involvement Graduation Requirement
  • HDSB Student Excellence Awards - 2018
  • HDSB Student Excellence Awards - 2020
  • HDSB Student Excellence Awards - 2021
  • Health and Well-Being
  • High School Info Night
  • Homework Help, Guidelines and Tools
  • Indigenous Rights & Education
  • International Students
  • Library Services
  • Online Resources
  • Protection from COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illness
  • Safe Schools
  • Secondary School
  • Student Excellence Awards
  • Student Senate
  • Transcript Requests
  • Virtual Learning
  • Welcome Centre for Newcomer Students

Quick Links

  • Bullying Prevention
  • Community Involvement Hours
  • COVID-19
  • Get Involved
  • Homework Help, Guidelines and Tools
  • Safe Schools

Page Image

Page Content

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​In June 2020, the HDSB Board of Trustees passed the first - 
Student-led Climate Emergency Declaration.  As part of the Declaration, students acknowledged that they have a role to play in taking Climate Action within the Board.  Students asked the Board to listen to student voice, empower students to act, include students in sustainability directives and recognize student leadership in climate action.  ​

The goal of this Student Sustainability Leadership Award is to recognize student environmental leadership and to inspire others to take action. Nominations are open to all students in the Halton District School Board, and anyone may nominate a student.  Student action may occur within the school or within the local community our schools serve.

A selection committee composed of students and HDSB staff will evaluate all submissions. Awards will be presented by Student Senators or Environmental Management Team members - either at the Student Senate meeting or the student's home school.​

Student Sustainability Leadership Award
Nomination Form​​
​
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​
​
​​​
​
​ ​ Video Transcript​​​

TRANSCRIPT:

The Halton District School Board has a history of commitment to the environment and has forged strong partnerships in the community to advance this important work. With a renewed commitment through the Environmental Leadership area of focus in the HDSB’s 2020-2024 Multi-Year Strategic Plan, significant effort has been made to ensure the Board leads sustainable and green initiatives in our schools and workplaces.

Students are central to environmental leadership within the Board. A key initiative is the Student Senate-led Climate Emergency Declaration developed in response to the urgency of climate change. Recognizing the challenges climate change brings to the HDSB, this declaration aims to inspire students, families and staff to take collective action in combating climate change in their communities through various actions. Students will celebrate their peers for their commitment and leadership to school and community initiatives through a new Environmental Award program expected to launch later in 2022.

In partnership with the Evergreen organization, the Climate Ready Schools project is underway at Irma Coulson Public School in Milton where the school grounds are being re-imagined.. This project, a first of its kind in Canada, aims to help mitigate the effects of climate change by cooling outdoor learning sites with shade and better managing the infiltration of stormwater to minimize flooding.

Solar panels have been installed at Irma Coulson Public School where the system is now generating electricity - very exciting ! This green energy project complements other solar projects in place at John William Boich Public School, and M.M. Robinson and Iroquois Ridge high schools. Escarpment View Public School should be online this spring and Ethel Gardiner Public School in Halton Hills is expected to have solar panels installed next year. There are other technologies being implemented across the HDSB to support sustainability and efficiency, and they include Building Automation Systems, LED lighting systems and solar reflective window blinds.

Partnerships with numerous organizations such as the Halton Climate Collective and Halton Environmental Network have provided schools, students and staff with access to valuable expertise and resources. This helps the HDSB advocate for, and teach students about, a green approach to everyday living.

Now in its third year, the Halton Climate Collective organized a student-centred reading initiative called HCC Reads. This year it was supported by keynote speaker, author and climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe. Participants read her book, Saving Us, and Hayhoe educated viewers in a virtual presentation on how to best address climate action and encourage meaningful engagement and dialogue.

The HDSB continues to partner with the Halton Climate Collective and the Halton Environmental Network to support Generation Green, a youth-led conference through which students learn to become leaders by taking action on climate change. The focus for this year’s spring conference is, Driving Climate Action by Driving Less.

Dozens of our schools participate in the Ontario EcoSchools program. It’s an environmental education and certification program for Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools that helps school communities develop ecological literacy and environmental practices to become environmentally responsible and reduce the environmental footprint of schools.

We are very proud of our approach to environmental sustainability but we know there is more to do. The Halton District School Board remains committed to working alongside students to better understand the connections between ecosystems, social justice and climate and ensuring that the schools where we learn, the buildings where we work and the world in which we live are sustainable and safe places.

​​ ​
​

​

 The following are statements from HDSB students on the significance of this award to them:

Agamya (Burlington)
The Student-Led Sustainability Leadership Award is important to me and my community due to the fact that highlighting and awarding student leaders is essential in the HDSB. The award will encourage students to stand up for what they believe in and take initiative to launch projects that benefit the environment. One thing that any school board can always improve is student voice and recognition. This award will improve exactly this. Giving students the spotlight for the achievements they have earned will build a stronger sense of community. Lastly, this award will allow students to be significantly more involved in their own community’s environment. 
Fiza (Milton)
The student-led Sustainability Leadership Award is important to me because it’s crucial that the hard-working student leaders of HDSB are acknowledged and rewarded for their efforts. Giving the many environmental leaders across the board the admiration they deserve is necessary, considering the significance of student voice and its role in making HDSB more sustainable. The student-led Environmental Leadership Award will not only empower students to act, but help include students in sustainability directives, which is incredibly important.
Grace (Oakville)
The student-led Sustainabilit​y Leadership Award is important to me as it not only recognizes deserving students who have already demonstrated environmental leadership, but motivates others across the board to start. This will spark action and positive change in the HDSB. Ultimately, it emphasizes the importance of environmental leadership while including student voice, guiding us one step closer to a more inclusive, empowering, and greener future. ​

 Sustainability Leadership Award Recipients

June 2022 Recipients
Brant Hills Eco Team - Grace, Olivia, Sydney, Teegan, Kevin, Serena, Ava. - Grade 7/8
The Brant Hills EcoTeam has worked throughout the year to implement many activities into the daily life of students at Brant Hills that have positive impacts on the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Specifically, the group has implemented Lights Off Lunches and Litterless Lunches on a weekly basis, an EcoWeek information campaign with videos and discussion questions for every grade, as well as gardening tips and information culminating in a school wide clean up that encompassed not only the school, but the surrounding community.

Ethan - Escarpment View PS - Grade K/3
Ethan was the lead of the Fundraiser Warriors, who through the development and sale of the Acts of Kindness advent style calendar, raised funds for 24 different charities - one of which was Conservation Halton which received $578 for the planting of trees and restoring the natural environment.

Farwa Craig Keilburger SS - Grade 9/10
Farwa is passionate about raising environmental awareness both in school and in the community.  A member of community organizations as well as Eco Teams at both elementary and secondary levels, Farwa takes action throughout the year, and also recognizes the importance of optimism with a Climate Change Hope Wall.

Gabriella - Pineland PS - Grade 7/8
Gabriella challenges herself and her family and friends to take action by creating monthly calendars with daily opportunities to take action.  As a keynote speaker at the LSF Climate Action Youth Forum, she challenged youth to take small steps towards a more sustainable future.

Lily - James W Hill PS - Grade 7/8
Lily took on Earth Day as an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of caring for our environment.  She engaged the entire school through presentations and organization of an Earth Day Cleanup, and worked to plant gardens with younger students.  Lily led the EcoTeam through engagement, awareness, event planning and an implementation process that was inclusive of everyone!

Tommy - Iroquois Ridge HS - Grade 11/12
 Tommy was co-lead of the IRHS Green Team for the past two years, through shut-downs and virtual learning, Tommy kept everyone engaged with on-line presentations and socially distant outdoor meetings.  Tommy led the EcoSchool certification process (going for Platinum!), and included activities throughout the year such as clean ups, used clothing drives, tree planting and even the creation and placement of birdhouses!  A goal of Tommy this year was to expand the Green Team and leave it vibrant and viable with students from all grades.  Under Tommy's leadership the Green Team is stronger than ever before!
June 2023 Recipients
Dawn - Pilgrim Wood PS
Inspiring others to take action to preserve the environment, through education and demonstration of personal practices.

Fiza - Sam Sherratt Public School
Reaching beyond the school community and creating educational materials to address sustainability affecting everyone, including fast fashion and environmental degradation.

Frontenac EcoClub - Myelle, Nora, Nishita, Madison, Grace, Lily & Rameen, Grade ¾
Committed action and leadership within their school community, encouraging others to take action and learn about sustainability issues.

Grace - Oakville Trafalgar High School
Reaching beyond the school community, creating educational materials to address sustainability issues (Fast Fashion) and continuing to take action in the community.

Hannah - Thomas A Blakelock High School
Exemplary actions as a leader of the T. A. Blakelock Eco Club, including 2023 Eco-night, clothing swaps, butterfly garden rejuvenation, and working with the local community on sustainability issues.

Paige - Joshua Creek Public School
Using creativity, humour and art, as well as personal actions, to engage the school community in learning about and taking action on sustainability issues, including the role of food in our communities.

Abbey Park Group - Kareena, Aryaman, Violet
Recognizing the importance of community engagement, social relationships and environmental action and bringing them all together.


Board Office

Halton District School Board
J.W. Singleton Education Centre
2050 Guelph Line
Burlington, Ontario, L7P 5A8

Numbers

Phone: 905-335-3663
Fax:

Links
Email Us
A to Z ServicesAccessibilityContact UsTransportationFeedbackStaffCareers
​​​​​​​​​​​​© 2024 Halton District School Board, 2050 Guelph Line, Burlington, ON, Canada L7P 5A8, Phone Switchboard: 905-335-3663

Auto Attendant: 905-335-3665, ​Toll Free: 1-877-618-3456