Manitoba

Circle Garden

2016, Little Black River First Nation, Manitoba, Canada

Students at Black River Adult Education Centre wanted to go back to the land to learn. They wanted to use their traditional teachings to create a circle garden for the school to use and the community to learn from. “The benefits of sustainable garden are plenty. Gardening is an environmentally friendly way of using resources provided by nature, such as soil and rain water.”

Thanks to a contribution from Nutrien, students got to work, planting corn, beans, squash, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. The garden is a team-effort that brings the students to an outdoor classroom where they can learn about growing their own organic food.

Cigarette Disposal

2016, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

“The number one most littered item in Canada and worldwide are cigarette butts,” wrote Garden
City student Sheree. “People are simply unaware of the environmental impacts cigarettes have, or believe that because there is already litter on the ground, it would not make a difference if they followed suit. “ These cigarette butts end up in our water where they leach out chemicals and pose a hazard to wildlife mistaking the trash for food. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, Sheree discovered “cigarette butts are made of cellulose acetate, a non- biodegradable plastic, which can take up to 25 years to decompose.”
Her solution was simple- to purchase cigarette receptacles to place at two hot spots on school property so that cigarette butts could be disposed of properly. Thanks to a contribution from Nutrien Sheree was able to do just that!

School Garden and Outdoor Classroom

2016, Carman, Manitoba, Canada

“Agriculture plays a large role in the Boyne River Watershed,” so Bailey felt it was important for School Garden and Outdoor Classroom Student Implementation Manitoba
“the students of Carman Collegiate to have a basic understanding and knowledge of how agricultural practices impact their water and watershed.” As Bailey wrote, “Farm run-off is a main concern to the water quality of the Boyne River Watershed. If more people are educated on the topic, more people will have the watershed in mind and will voice their concerns.”

Bailey proposed an outdoor learning environment at Carman Collegiate, consisting of an outdoor garden and classroom. Thanks to Nutrien, Bailey and her fellow students have created a place where students can learn “the basics of gardening, and farming and also concerns involving agriculture and the watershed.” This outdoor space ties in nicely to the school’s Agriculture class and is helping to create a new generation of “better informed future farmers.”

Zapping the Zebras

2016, Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada

Although zebra mussels “are a Zapping Zebras Manitoba Student Project relatively new problem to Lake Winnipeg, as they were only confirmed in 2013” Brownyn felt it was important to raise awareness- and fast. “They reproduce extremely quickly and can rapidly invade new areas; the female zebra mussel lays approximately one million eggs in a year!” Zebra mussels create plenty of problems for water bodies, causing “millions of dollars of damage to the Great Lakes area alone.”

Since “the main way to prevent invasive species from invading Manitoba’s waters to clean any watercraft or water-related equipment that enters Manitoba waters,” Browyn decided to focus on an awareness campaign and boat wash at a popular dock in her community. Thanks to a contribution from Nutrien, she was able to do just that- her awareness campaign focused on preventing the spread of zebra mussels, along with water reduction tips and environmentally friendly boat wash, all for the sake of a healthy lake.

Under Counter Filler

2016 Tadoule Lake, Manitoba, Canada

Adrian Yassie is fascinated by science! After a field trip to a local wetland, Adrian learned about the importance of water filtration. That got him thinking about the drinking water at his school in the remote area of Tadoule Lake, Manitoba. Adrian proposed to purchase an under counter contaminant filter for his school fountain so that students and staff can enjoy healthy and safe drinking water at school- without needing to purchase bottles of water.

Thanks to Nutrien, Adrian was able to see his dream turn to reality!

The Paper Waste Crisis

2015 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Dr. Bajaj’s grade 8 science classes discovered how they could make their classroom more environmentally friendly. The students proposed using technology to help reduce paper use in the classroom.

“One problem our environment encounters is the pollution of paper waste. The papers we use in school and offices harm the environment. With all the ink and chemicals that are stained onto the papers, it too, poisons watersheds when not recycled or thrown away properly. Paper costs money and money comes from trees. One day, we will all be in danger when we overuse trees to harm nature as well as polluting air with the smoke that is released from paper factories.”

Thanks to a contribution from Nutrien, a document viewer was bought for the science classroom eliminating the need for so many student handouts. The document viewer is also interactive, and allows for students to get up close with nature- under the camera and in their classroom!

Medications, I Don’t Flush!

2015 Crystal City, Manitoba, Canada

Keeping our drinking water clean is important to Taylor Mutch. Taylor felt that more people in her community needed to be aware of a common problem facing our water systems: un-used and expired medications. Most people flush those down the toilet, but Taylor knew there was a better way to dispose of medication. She proposed working with her local pharmacy to create an information sheet to increase awareness.

“At the pharmacy, the pharmacist will safely dispose of the medication. Any medication can be returned to the pharmacy, including anything from doctor prescribed medication to over- the-counter medication like Advil and Tylenol. Hopefully, with people educated by my information sheet, they will stop throwing away or flushing their excess and expired medications. Then this will impact my community and watershed because there will be less harmful chemicals in the water.”

Thanks to a contribution from Nutrien, Taylor was able to create a brochure informing local citizens of the proper way to dispose medication, and why this is important. The pharmacy will be adding these information sheets to the prescription orders to help raise awareness, one person at a time!

Looking Good, It Just Might Kill You

2015 Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada

Angelica Soares noticed the nail polish used in her high school’s Cosmetology Department was full of chemicals that were ultimately making their way into the watershed. Angelica’s proposal was simple: switch to a formula with less chemicals, and educate people so that they consider how the products they are using for beauty aren’t so beautiful for the environment.

“Every time someone gets a manicure and/or pedicure, the nail polishes used are removed then disposed in a garbage bag. That garbage is then transported to the local dump where it sits, allowing the chemicals in the polish to secrete into the ground, which leads into our waterways.”

Thanks to a donation from Nutrien, Angelica was able to purchase new, 5-chemical free (toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, and camphor) for her school’s Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser- demonstrating the important link between human and environmental health. The Costemology department is currently using the leftover polish; Angelica also created brochures educating clients on these chemicals and the importance of Caring for Our Watersheds.

Outdoor Learning Area

2015 Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada

“When the students spend more time outside, they will become more aware of the environment and begin to appreciate its worth and want to take more care for what they do in the environment,” wrote Jessica Voth. The Selkirk student saw an opportunity in a nook between her school and the school’s library; a nook that had been abandoned and in much need of a clean-up. Jessica’s plans for the space included a rain barrel, cleaning out the overgrown plants and re-planting with herbs. She also suggested an outdoor bench for students to study at or eat lunch on, with the hopes of the space one day becoming an outdoor learning space.

Thanks to Nutrien, Jessica was able to purchase the bench that will set this plan into motion! “The area will be of value to everyone who uses it and spends time outside.”

Riparian Repair and Filtration System Project

2015 Gimli, Manitoba, Canada

“Riparian areas act as natural filters for the water going through them,” wrote Gimli High School student Meghan. “My hope is that by creating or enhancing a riparian area in an already existing body of water that leads to the lake I can reduce the negative impact of some of the water entering the lake.”

Meghan’s idea is an important one to the Interlake communities surrounding Lake Winnipeg. Indeed, through partnerships with Nutrien, the East Interlake Conservation District, and Ducks Unlimited Canada, to name a few, over 1500 willows were planted in a riparian area. These willows will play an important role in soil erosion, and the filtration of water going to the lake. Moreover, thanks to Meghan this project demonstrates the power of partnerships!