February 03, 2004

Over four thousand young Manitobans helped their communities last summer by participating in Environmental Youth Corps projects throughout Manitoba, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

"The Environmental Youth Corps encourages voluntary participation in activities that help improve and protect Manitoba’s environment," said Struthers. "Our communities benefited from the enthusiasm and commitment of young people who worked hard to make improvements we can all enjoy."

Funding of $187,285 was provided to 74 projects involving about 4,200 young people. Project sponsors apply for financial support to create and carry out environment related projects in their communities. Projects must relate to environmental protection, enhancement, rehabilitation, conservation and resource management.

"The Environmental Youth Program provides an opportunity for young people throughout our province to gain valuable experience while contributing to the greater community," said Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson. "Young people recognize the value of protecting our environment and the program helps them to channel their energy to meet this objective."

Struthers said that eligible projects include community cleanups, water quality improvements, tree and flower planting, rehabilitation of the natural environment, habitat preservation and other creative, meaningful projects designed to help improve the environment.

Approved projects are eligible for up to $5,000 in financial assistance to cover project costs such as supplies, equipment rental and transportation.

Applications are accepted in May, June, July and September from charitable and voluntary organizations, environmental organizations, service clubs, schools and local government organizations including municipalities, band councils and Aboriginal organizations.

LIST OF PROJECTS.

Kent Road School, Winnipeg, received $450 for 12 youth to create an outdoor courtyard classroom. The youth helped to design, plant and create a green space and a perennial garden.

Projet d’Embellisement de la Cours d’École, Lorette, involved up to 15 youth in a schoolyard enhancement and beautification project at École Lagimodière. Assistance of $5,000 was provided.

Friends of the Garden in partnership with St. Claude School received $5,000 for up to 150 youth to take part in a schoolyard and community beautification project planting flowers, trees and a berry patch, constructing composting bins and creating a walking path.

The Indian and Metis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg Inc. involved up to 10 youth in a community beautification and enhancement project. Funding of $2,330 was approved to help the youth participate in cleanup activities in the Lord Selkirk area in Winnipeg.

Holland Park Committee received $2,950 to help up to 25 youth in the creation of a park like setting at the edge of town. The youth constructed bird houses and planted trees and shrubs.

Westpark School, Portage la Prairie, involved up to 23 youth in a schoolyard beautification project. Support of $1,567 was provided.

Pacific Junction Playground Development Committee, Winnipeg, involved up to 35 youth to help plant trees, vines and shrubs. Benches and garbage receptacles were also installed with total funding assistance of $2,800.

Brock Corydon Parent Advisory Council, Winnipeg, received funding of $1,000 to involve up to 280 youth in creating an outdoor classroom or common ground with trees, shrubs, wildflowers, seedlings, wood chip pathways and benches.

Southwood Elementary School, Winkler, involved up to 290 students in a schoolyard beautification and enhancement project with funding assistance of $2,860.

Darwin Parent Group Gardening Committee, Winnipeg, involved up to 375 youth in creating an outdoor learning area and garden space to be shared by Darwin School and community. Funding of $1,405 was approved.

Spence Neighbourhood Association, Winnipeg, involved up to 10 youth in an inner-city garden and composting project with funding support of $3,963 to plant gardens and clean up the neighbourhood.

Fort Whyte Centre, Winnipeg, involved up to 75 youth in a forest, grassland and meadow restoration project. Funding of $3,350 was provided.

Ste. Anne Collegiate, Ste. Anne, involved up to 40 youth in a schoolyard beautification project by planning the green space, moving topsoil, and planting trees and shrubs. $2,559 in funding was provided.

Murdoch MacKay Collegiate Institute, Winnipeg, involved up to 40 youth in a schoolyard beautification project with funding of $4,020.

Brennan School, Newton, received $2,807 for up to 25 youth to plant grass, trees, shrubs, perennials and flowers.

The Town of Gladstone involved up to 15 youth in a recycling education campaign by creating and distributing brochures on the benefits of recycling corrugated cardboard and arranging a cardboard pickup schedule with local businesses. Funding of $2,280 was provided.

Isaac Newton School, Winnipeg, received $2,954 to assist up to 40 youth in the creation of an outdoor heritage courtyard garden by planting indigenous grasses, flowers, vegetables and trees.

George McDowell School, Winnipeg, received $1,386 for up to 35 youth to participate in a school beautification project planting shrubs and perennials in three new planters at the school entrance area.

Teen Stop Jeunesse, Winnipeg, involved up to 10 youth in the Bishop Grandin Greenway and Save our Seine projects. Funding of $4,346 helped the youth participate in cleanup activities and work in flowerbeds.

Winnipeg Metis Association Inc., Winnipeg, involved up to 10 youth as part of their It’s My Community Too project by assisting in community cleanup activities throughout Winnipeg. Funding of $600 was provided.

John Taylor Collegiate, Winnipeg, involved up to 500 students in a community cleanup and recycling program. Funding of $360 helped the youth participate in a cleanup of the school ground, create storage units for recyclable materials and pick up and sort the recyclables on a weekly basis at the school.

Donwood Elementary School, Winnipeg, involved up to 450 youth in a schoolyard beautification project. Funding of $800 helped the youth plant a shelter belt of 200 trees around the schoolyard.

St. Norbert Art Centre, St. Norbert, involved up to 50 youth in several projects such as a community compost demonstration site, creation of a wood chip path, cleanup of the riverbank and green space areas, and tree planting along the La Salle River. Funding for this project was $2,963.

Niverville Collegiate Institute involved up to 15 youth in a school beautification project. Funding for this project was $4,290.

Machray School, Winnipeg, received $4,050 and involved up to 250 youth in a school beautification project planting trees, container gardens and flowers beds, cleaning the school grounds and installing refuse and recycling containers.

Age and Opportunity Centre, Winnipeg, involved up to 25 youth in a project to clean up the surrounding area, create a community garden and revitalize the entranceway at the West End Senior Centre. Funding of $2,500 was provided.

Age and Opportunity Centre, Winnipeg, involved up to 20 youth in a community beautification and enhancement project in partnership with the Norwin 55+ Active Living Centre. Funding of $2,500 was approved.

Youth For Christ, Winnipeg, involved up to 10 youth in the Samsons Wilderness Adventure Team program cleaning and planting trees in Elmwood, creating a vermi-compost site and participating in activities raising awareness about the environment. Assistance of $510 was provided.

First Nation Limited Partnership, Winnipeg, involved up to 22 youth in their Junior Rangers Program in planting trees in areas near Bissett and Brokenhead and activities based on traditional knowledge and sustainable forest management practices. Funding for this project was $2,500.

Roland Home and School Parent Advisory Council with funding of $3,100, involved up to 84 youth planting shrubs, trees and vines, creating a butterfly garden and building bird houses and planters.

Fort Whyte Centre, Winnipeg, involved up to 120 youth in a tree planting project that helped to enhance and stabilize the west shore of Lake Cargill and in building bat boxes to create shelter and habitat for the little brown bat. Funding for this project was $2,750.

Dakota Plains Wahpeton First Nation, Portage la Prairie, with assistance of $2,500, had 20 youth in a community cleanup and tree planting project.

John W. Gunn Middle School, Winnipeg, involved up to 24 youth in a project to increase awareness of waste minimization efforts at the school. With funding of $1,850, the youth participated in a variety of activities including managing the recycling program and vermi-composting units at the school.

Growing Healthy Together, Gladstone, in partnership with Gladstone School, 4-H and the Odd Job Squad involved 80 youth in the completion of a nature trail featuring bird and bat houses and interpretative signs. Funding of $4,133 was approved.

Victory School Lighthouse Program, Winnipeg, involved 30 youth in a community enhancement and beautification project planting flowers in front of the school, community cleanup activities, and adopting local parks to keep them litter free. Funding for this project was $3,743.

Silverwinds School, Sperling, involved 20 youth in creating a park-like setting near the schoolyard by planting native trees and prairie plants as well as building bird houses and establishing a forest and grassland habitat for animals and birds. Funding for this project was $3,350.

Lord Selkirk Aboriginal Women’s Group Inc., Winnipeg, involved 10 to 15 youth in a community enhancement, beautification and recycling project. Funding for this project was $3,650.

Winnipeg Boys and Girls Clubs, Winnipeg, with funding assistance of $3,800, involved 10 to 12 youth in a project to transform a vacant parking lot into a usable green space and create a park-like setting for the neighbourhood.

Black River First Nation involved up to 18 youth in tree planting and trail development activities with interpretative and directional signs to create a natural park. Funding for this project was $5,000.

Buffalo Point First Nation involved up to 20 youth in a community and riverbank cleaning project. $2,505 in funding was provided.

Hollow Water First Nation, Wanipigow, involved up to 30 youth in a community cleanup. Funding of $2,020 helped the youth participated in cleanup activities in the community and on Black Island.

Berens River First Nation involved up to 24 youth in a community beautification project by cleaning park areas and planting trees, flowers and shrubs. Funding for this project was $3,130.

Whiteshell School District, Pinawa, involved up to 10 youth in creating xeriscape garden areas around Pinawa Secondary School and F.W. Gilbert School. Funding assistance of $1,000 helped the youth plant and maintain shrubs and flowers.

Berens River First Nation involved up to 50 youth in a community cleanup by removing garbage and debris from the riverbank and ditches. Funding of $1,160 assisted this project.

Ross L. Gray School, Sprague, involved up to five students in a school recycling project. Funding of $1,200 helped youth in organizing and picking up recyclable materials at the school and building recycling bins to expand the recycling program at the school.

Woodlands School involved up to 115 youth in the school’s Wildlife Habitat Restoration project. The youth planted trees, shrubs and prairie grasses. Funding for this project was $2,910.

St. Laurent Community Development Corporation involved up to 12 youth in a shoreline cleanup project along Lake Manitoba. Approved funding totalled $1,220.

Waterhen Community Council involved up to 43 youth in constructing up to 50-bat houses with funding assistance of $2,548.

Dauphin River School, Dauphin River First Nation, involved up to 10 youth in a community project by planting flowers and grass, and picking up garbage. Funding for this project was $3,860.

The Narrows Education Authority, Lake St. Martin First Nation, involved up to 50 youth in a schoolyard beautification project with $3,694 in funding assistance.

Fisher Branch and Area Playground Enhancement Committee involved up to 40 youth in a school beautification project. The youth planted fruit trees, flowers and a vegetable garden, and built bird and bat houses, bird feeders and a compost bin. Funding for this project was $5,000.

Pikwitonei Community Council involved up to 12 youth in a community composting project, including creation of a community backyard composting demonstration site. Funding for this project was $3,980.

Wabowden Community Council involved up to 10 youth in promoting recycling and raising awareness on the benefits of reducing waste. Funding of $700 assisted the youth to create posters, distribute blue bags and discuss recycling with residents.

Churchill Summer Youth Program received $854 to help about 90 youth in a community beautification and enhancement project. The youth planted 600 trees in Churchill, at the Study Centre and Twin Lakes.

Moose Lake Community Council involved up to 36 youth in a community cleanup project. The youth cleaned ditches and helped to clear away debris. Funding for this project was $3,263.

Cormorant Community Council involved up to 20 youth in a community recycling and cleanup project, including construction of a recycling bin, a community information campaign and a community cleanup along the roads, ditches and community playgrounds. Funding of $3,586 was provided.

Opaskwayak Cree Nation, The Pas, involved up to 10 youth in a community beautification project. The youth planted trees and cleaned up litter and debris from parks and roadsides. Funding for this project was $2,125.

Red Deer Lake Community Council, Burrows, involved up to 10 youth in a community cleanup and beautification project. The youth cleaned up litter and debris from parks and roadsides with funding assistance of $2,745.

Dauphin Joint Recreation Commission involved up to 15 youth in activities that helped them learn about the environment while protecting, enhancing and rehabilitating the natural environment of Vermilion Park. Funding of $4,115 was provided.

Spence Lake Recreation Committee received $2,510 to involve up to six youth in a community beautification and enhancement project in the Spence Lake Park Area. The youth planted trees and watered plants.

Wawanesa Lions Club involved up to 60 youth in the completion of two riverside trails along the Souris River with funding assistance of $1,100.

Crane River Recreation Committee involved up to 10 youth in the beautification of two parks. The youth watered trees and planted flowers as part of the Fun in the Sun program. Funding for this project was $2,510.

Pierson Environmental Group involved up to 40 youth in several projects. The youth participated in activities involving tree propagation, stream bank cleaning, and planting and transplanting trees from their tree nursery. Funding assistance of $4,520 was provided.

Shoal Lake Garden Club involved up to 90 youth in a park beautification project. The youth planted and watered plants and trees and participated in a community cleanup with funding assistance of $575.

Shoal Lake School involved up to 35 youth in the creation of a natural memorial garden in memory of three students. The students prepared, planted and maintained the garden on the school grounds. Funding of $200 was provided.

City of Brandon Community Services involved up to 140 youth in the Kids in Bloom program. The youth participated in various activities such as recycling, composting, green space awareness, community cleanup, planting and tree identification with funding assistance of $1,452.

Vincent Massey Enviro Club, Brandon, involved up to 15 youth in developing a prairie habitat around the school by planting native grass and other plant species creating a prairie habitat. Funding for this project was $1,252.

Barrows Community Council received $2,920 to involve up to 30 youth planting flowers and trees in community flowerbeds and participating in community cleanup activities.

Henderson School, Dauphin, involved up to 230 people in the creation of an outdoor classroom and park-like setting by planting flowers and trees. Industrial arts students from the local high school built six picnic tables. Funding for this project was $1,620.

Camperville Community Council, Camperville, received $2,563 to involve up to 14 youth in a community cleanup project of approximately 19 km along roadways and the repair and repainting of wooden garbage containers.

Rossburn Collegiate involved up to eight youth in a project to clean and restore the shoreline area of a drainage creek as a habitat for frogs and other small creatures. Funding for this project was $1,509.

Nature Valley School, Wawanesa, received $1,348 for up to 12 youth to help create garden planters and bird feeders for placement at the Glenboro Health District Personal Care Home.

Pine Creek School, Pine Creek First Nation, involved up to three youth in a community beautification project by removing garbage and debris along the highways. Funding of $940 was approved for this project.

Decker Colony School involved 47 youth in a schoolyard naturalization project. The youth created the naturalization plans for a schoolyard garden, planted shrubs and trees for a shelter belt, and constructed and erected bird houses and feeders. Funding for this project was $2,675.