Sometimes in 2020, it seems like the world has been falling apart around us but now youth in Airdrie have a chance to come up with ways to help put it back together by coming up with good ideas to help the environment.  

Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 ECO Youth Award program, a cooperative effort between the City of Airdrie and FortisAlberta.  Mara Pratt, Eduction Coordinator with Airdrie Waste and Recycling explains that the young people who have entered the awards program in the past have come through with some very clever ideas, and that's what they're hoping will happen again in 2020.  She says the program is meant to recognize young people and provide financial aid to implement or enhance projects with an environmental focus.

"So youth can use a current project or propose a new project to enter the competition.  It can be anything covering a wide range of environmental projects, so climate change, water, air, waste and recycling, soil, transportation, food, energy. All in that umbrella."

A financial award of $750.00, donated by FortisAlberta and the City of Airdrie, will be awarded to one submission winner in each age level. The prize is intended to assist with implementing a proposed initiative or to build on an existing project or program. Winners will be recognized and could get the chance to present their idea at an Environmental Advisory Board meeting.

The winners in 2019 included Heloise Lorimer School in Airdrie who came up with a sustainable farming program.  Pratt explains what it entailed.  "They're looking to get seeds and different tools and equipment.  They also grow plants under UV lights indoors and learn about hydroponics and aquaponics.  Eventually, those seeds partner up with The Farm project through Rocky View School Division where they actually take those seeds out to a farm and actually grown them through the summer."

Other award winners included Atlas Academy School, TRENDAI Clothing Company, and Megan Machan who started Airdrie Tree Huggers.

The situation with schools this year, and more kids being educated at home, has Pratt excited about this year's program.  "There's a lot more home-school kids and looking at kids in the classroom who might have a different view on the world," she says.  "I'm looking to see if there'll be more individual applications.  We're usually really strong with classroom applications but it's neat to see when a youth comes forward with maybe a group or a small team."

Pratt says they reached out to schools before starting the program this year to see if they felt it would be appropriate to run the program during the uncertainty.  She says overwhelmingly, the schools told them "definitely, yes."

A panel of judges consisting of members of City of Airdrie staff and members of the Environmental Advisory Board will evaluate the proposals and determine the prize recipients. 

The deadline for entries is December 7th, 2020.  To find out more about the awards or to enter go HERE.   

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