The David Suzuki Foundation has announced this year’s finalists for the Prix Demain le Québec. The prize, which celebrates inspiring and innovative projects led by young people, is presented by Desjardins with the support of Nature’s Way.
35 projects were submitted to this year’s competition, with 15 chosen as finalists. Starting May 16th the public can vote for their favourite, and this, along with other criteria, will determine which projects win each of the three prizes, the Jury Prize, the Public Prize, or the Rising Stars Award (for youth aged 5-12). Prize winners receive $5,000, $2500, and $1,000 respectively. They will also meet David Suzuki and Severn Cullis-Suzuki virtually.
Voting is open until noon EST on June 13th.
There are some really inspiring projects up for the award. The 15 finalist are:
Ka mamuhitunanuatsh meshkanu is a collective healing journey on the ancestral territory of Lac-Saint-Jean with young walkers from the Ilu Nation.
Jardinons à l’école Jacques-Buteux (the Food Forest Project) involves students, parents, families and communities in a project that connects them to their food.
L’Espace Monarque et cie brings the Argenteuil community together to explore the world of local melliferous plants, insects, and the monarch butterfly.
Go! De la serre au friGO communautaire (Greenhouse to Community Fridge) involves more than 400 schoolchildren in an initiative to grow and distribute food.
Le Fantastique Fertilisant composts Saint-Rosaire school’s organic kitchen waste into fertiliser and distributes it to local private and community gardens.
Vers un engagement conscient is a science and outdoor project at Charles-Le Moyne Elementary School which includes public education and outdoor activities.
Sème ta Réussite du pavillon Saint-Boniface is an indoor hydroponic garden project educating students and the community about reducing greenhouse gases.
Mission : Passez à l’action! Collège Sainte-Anne students mobilize the inhabitants of the Magdalen Islands to take concrete actions for the environment.
L’Écothèque is an eco-social student initiative advancing the fight for climate justice based on three pillars: activism, art and education.
Kaskinohomatosowin allows young Innu to connect or reconnect with their culture and identity in Lac-Saint-Jean by discovering the forest after school.
EAU environnement et agriculture urbaine/Le jardin des Patriotes promotes urban agriculture to improve students’ living conditions and health.
CEVES UdeS encourages students to get involved in a variety of stimulating projects to animate the climate sphere in Estrie.
Les grands ESPAces is an outdoor and environmental education program at Assomption school to create an educational orchard and edible flower beds
Transition Radicale is a youth social and environmental transition group that engages in a variety of social and environmental transition initiatives.
Éco-motion involves a collective of professionals and researchers in environment and psychology specialised in the support of eco-emotions to help imagine solutions.
The winners will be unveiled on June 21.
Catherine Fisher, blogger
Image: Image: Ka mamuhitunanuatsh meshkanu journey, David Suzuki Foundation
