Episode 2 - Planting Seeds in our Schools: Ecoliteracy, Urban Gardening, and Leadership

The Earl Haig ECO Council is a student-led organization based out of Earl Haig Secondary School, located just outside of Toronto, Ontario. The ECO Council seeks to enhance eco-literacy among high school students and engage the school community in climate action through projects such as waste management, energy conservation, and urban gardening. Today we speak with the outgoing vice president and the incoming president of the ECO Council, who share their extensive learnings, knowledge, and joy gained from their climate action work.

Guest Bios:
Hana is currently a grade 11 student at Earl Haig. She has been the gardening executive on the ECO Council for two years and was elected as president for this upcoming 2022/2023 school year. Hana is also a part of the Wild Outside youth program hosted by the Canadian Wildlife Federation. She has learned a lot through this program and applied that knowledge within the ECO Council.

Julie just graduated from Earl Haig. She was the vice-president of the ECO Council, running initiatives like class visits, planting a pollinator garden, and giving deputations. She is also a long-time volunteer at the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Julie plans on studying environmental science at the University of British Columbia next year.

Mentioned in episode:
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (https://milkweed.org/book/braiding-sweetgrass)

Connect with Earl Haig ECO Council:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlhaigecocouncil/

Hosted and edited by Emiko Newman and Megan Pham-Quan.
With gratitude to Hilary Inwood of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and Stephen Hurley of VoiceEd Radio for their indispensable support and encouragement.