Local students plant trees for future

St. Vital

Raeesa Hoque is part of a group of passionate students — the ÉcOlympiens environmental club at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé, which is dedicated to improving the environment and striving to counter the detrimental impacts of climate change.

The group of 20 has been working hard to organize its ÉCOforêt Project, scheduled to begin in May with the support of the entire school. The project centres on restoring the tree population and diversity of the forest near the school’s back field.

“The goal of our project is to try and compensate for our school’s carbon imprint by planting trees in the forest, while simultaneously increasing the biodiversity of our forest’s plant and animal species,” explained Hoque, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at the school.

With the help of city councillor Markus Chambers (St. Norbert – Seine River) and his team, the group has obtained 1,200 trees. The school’s Earth Day activities included a thorough cleanup of the surrounding areas, particularly the Dakota Forest (Dakota Park), where the trees will be planted in collaboration with Urban Forestry Winnipeg.

“The environmental crisis is an issue that is complex and scary,” Hoque said. “However, we believe that with the right resources and people involved, we can make the changes we need in the world, for the present, and for future generations beyond.”

Fellow team member Paul Graham, 17, sees combating climate change as something that needs to be approached communally.

“The issue of climate change is very important to me because it will affect my future,”the Grade 12 student said. “I would like that future to be livable and enjoyable as well. I think that it should matter to everyone because we have the opportunity to turn things around if we want, but only if each person does their part.”

“Climate change is an issue that impacts us all, whether we want it to or not,” Hoque added. “What people often fail to realize is how privileged we are to have the resources we have, and how dependant we truly are on the environment.

“Can you imagine how humans would live without the resources Mother Nature provides us with? Humans are not separate from the environment; we are affected and have a direct impact on its status. Thinking of Lake Winnipeg right now, we are unable to properly swim in the lake due to the algae blooms.

“Think of the future generations — they might never get to experience swimming in the lake we once knew, an experience past generations would have stolen from them.”

For both Graham and Hoque, the ÉCOforêt Project is about hope.

“I think that it’s helped show me that many people are willing to help fix climate change, but that they just need something that they can help with,” Graham said. “Only you can decide whether or not you want to make positive impact.”

“The support we have received gives me hope for the future,” Hoque added. “It lets me know that there are people on our side and who care about making the necessary changes and progress to improve the environmental situation. I feel like our voices are being heard, and that there are places to seek for support. We just have to be brave enough to speak out and search for those opportunities. There are ways to improve and make the changes you want to see in the world.”

Visit the ÉCOforêt Project on Instagram: @eco_lympiens