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2005-2006 Winners

Whether the projects were big or small, each school submission to The Great EcoKids Challenge showed tremendous commitment and dedication towards improving the health of our planet.

1st Prize: a Sony VAIO FJ Series Notebook goes to St. Jude Elementary School in Greenfield Park, Québec for the following environmental initiatives:

Improving the Health of The Environment

• 

  A few members of St. Jude's EcoKids Club at the parallel event for the UN International Conference on Climate Change

  Initiating a school-wide Anti-Idling campaign with the goal of having the school declared an idle-free zone. The campaign involved a student led demonstration in front of the school and the distribution of information and decals to drivers.
• Writing to the Minister of Environment about the school's concerns on climate change.
• Participation in the Spring Acid Rain Watch online project.
• Working with the School Board Transportation Supervisor to ensure there is no idling by buses at the school. As a result of St. Jude Elementary School's request, a "No Idling" directive was sent to all school buses serving 22 schools in the region.
• Planting and maintaining a school garden.

Raising Environmental Awareness

• Presentation in the World of Solutions parallel event for the United Nations International Conference on Climate Change.
• Creating and distributing recycled paper notepads, Earth Day Canada brochures and climate change information leaflets at the local mall.
• Using the EcoKids Switch Off material to raise awareness during the Anti-Idling campaign.
• Creating an information bulletin board in their school's main foyer about the impact of idling on the environment.

2nd Prize: a Sony Mini-DV Handycam Camcorder goes to Grapeview Public School in St. Catharines, Ontario for the following environmental initiatives:

Improving the Health of the Environment

Grapeview's Green Team

• Challenging classrooms and other schools to reduce their garbage through litterless lunches during Waste Reduction Week. Overall, Grapeview reduced its weekly garbage by 10 large garbage bags.
• Greening the school grounds by participating in the annual spring clean up and planting several native trees (purchased with a grant from Toyota Evergreen) on school grounds.
• Daily recycling in the school and regular litter clean ups in the school yard and the adjoining city park.

Participating in Community Initiatives

• Selected by the Niagara Conservation Authority to pilot an Eco School Program. The project involves planting and maintaining a native garden.
• Selected as the city's first school to pilot St. Catharines' "Adopt-a-Park" program.

Raising Envi4ronmental Awareness

• Monthly environmental tips and updates in the "Grapevine" newsletter.
• Using the main hallway of the school as an "Environmental Information Centre" with Earth Day displays and a drop-off depot for recycling batteries, cell phones and ink jet cartridges.
• Regularly using EcoKids materials in projects and for distribution at the school.

3rd Prize: a Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera goes to Kanata Research Park Family Centre in Ottawa, Ontario for the following environmental initiatives:

Improving the Health of The Environment and Taking Community Action

• 

  Students from Kanata Research Park Family Centre visit Alcatel

  Holding a community Earth Day Festival and Fundraiser. Activities included a walk-a-thon and litterless picnic lunch.
• Partnering with The Marshes Golf Course to build and mount birdhouses.
• Participating in National Waste Reduction Week by starting a Battery Collection and Recycling Program in partnership with Alcatel.
• Initiating a centre-wide recycling program and participating in recycling activities such as making recycled paper.
• Using EcoKids materials to inspire ideas for projects and activities.

Honourable Mention: Cirque du Soleil - Alegria School

Raising awareness and reducing water use

• Assessing water use habits of the circus staff.
• Holding an awareness campaign about water use by making posters and distributing water conservation tips sheets
• Reducing water consumption through education and conservation measures.

A big thanks goes to The Great EcoKids Challenge sponsor, Sony of Canada Ltd, for the great prizes, and to all EcoKids out there who contribute to the health of the Earth in their own way.

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