On May 8, 2019, I had the pleasure of presenting the Lyle Benko Future Generations Award to the Grade 5 students at the Regina Huda School, as part of the Sustainability Awards for RCE Saskatchewan (Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development)..
This award recognizes a K-12 project that demonstrates an outstanding contribution to Education for Sustainable Development in Saskatchewan. It is presented in honour of the late Lyle Benko who volunteered for APEGS for so many years and was one of the first recipients of our Friend of the Professions Award in 2013.
The Grade 5 students at the Regina Huda School led all other students at their K-12 school in a recycling campaign this year, collecting over 13,000 items and raising over $1,500 to purchase composting bins for a new community garden in front of their school in Northwest Regina.
RCE Saskatchewan is a voluntary network of local sustainable development leaders, educators, researchers and UN agencies united under the UN Global Sustainability Goals. It is one of over 160 RCEs recognized by the United Nations University since 2005.
RCE Saskatchewan partners include the United Nations University (UNU), the University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Luther College at the University of Regina, First Nations University of Canada, Campion College at the University of Regina, City of Regina, City of Saskatoon and Craik Sustainable Living Project.
The 11th Annual Sustainability Awards were presented at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Hannin Creek Education and Applied Research Centre in Candle Lake, Saskatchewan. Approximately 29 Saskatchewan initiatives were recognized. Participants also toured the centre’s facilities.
APEGS has been one of the sponsors the RCE Recognition Event since 2011. Since 2017, we have presented the event’s highest honor, the Lyle Benko Future Generations Award, to a deserving K-12 project in Saskatchewan. Tara Zrymiak, P.Eng., FEC brought greetings on behalf of APEGS to the main event.
The event also featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair at York University on Reorienting Education for Sustainable Development. He encouraged local sustainability leaders to see the importance of their efforts.
Videos of the ceremony and keynote presentation are available at www.saskrce.ca.