In 2017, 32 Saskatchewan organizations took advantage of over $21,000 in EcoFriendly Action Grants to protect, preserve, or repair our natural environment. Take a look at what they accomplished.

EcoFriendly Sask NatureCity Awards

NatureCity awards were presented to Blazing Star Wildflowers for protecting and promoting our region’s native vegetation and wild flowers, Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation for providing a safe place for injured and orphaned wild animals while encouraging public tolerance and understanding of wildlife, and Louise Jones for her passionate and tireless work and leadership helping to protect the Northeast Swale, one of Saskatoon’s most significant ecological areas.

The birds that live and migrate through Saskatoon are in danger of losing their way and crashing into buildings. Michael Masure, Executive Director of FLAP Canada, spoke during Saskatoon’s NatureCity Festival about adopting bird-friendly building guidelines. He also led a technical workshop for developers and building managers and an early morning walk around downtown Saskatoon to identify building hazards and rescue any injured birds.

The events were co-sponsored by Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation and Saskatoon Nature Society, with support from EcoFriendly Sask.

Sylvia Fedoruk School and Meewasin Valley Authority are establishing a Swale Education Room at Sylvia Fedoruk School to increase awareness among students and community of the environmental importance of the Northeast Swale.

The Northeast Swale Watchers carried out a pilot project to engage Evergreen residents in learning more about becoming good neighbours to the Swale.

Troutreach Saskatchewan, in collaboration with the Saskatoon River Park Association, plans to build a functioning fish passage below a white-water park at the Saskatoon weir if the city modifies the weir to create hydropower. Modification of the weir would allow fish to travel further upstream and increase their habitat.

Troutreach plans to create a number of educational resources and activities to inform children, youth, and adults about the current state of the weir and their plan to restore the natural migration of the fish.

The students at Regina’s Huda School turned their front school yard into a naturalized landscape with native plants that will support local wildlife.

The Grade 5/6 class at Englefeld School built birdhouses, set up bird feeders, and benches for viewing birds in their schoolyard, providing a safe place for birds to nest and feed.

Partners to End Poverty planted apple trees in Tisdale and Melfort providing the communities with increased access to fresh, healthy, free food; increasing the beauty and diversity of the landscape; and eventually providing additional homes and shelter for local wildlife.

Craik Communities in Bloom planted a pollinator garden designed to attract insects, especially bees and butterflies, at the head of Craik’s main street.

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan receives over 3000 calls every year from individuals who have found an injured bird or animal. Over 1000 of those calls come from southern Saskatchewan.

They built a new educational display to take to events in southern Saskatchewan in order to attract new volunteers.

The University of Saskatchewan Graduate Students’ Association hosts an annual Sustainability Slam to share what graduate students are doing to live a sustainable life and what they wish the campus community and community at large could do to improve upon their initiatives.

Saskatoon Cycles promotes all-year-round outdoor activities and alternate transportation with Ice Cycle, a winter bike ride, dinner, and speaker.

“It was the most exquisite evening for our ride. The sun was starting to go down making the soft light in the valley breathtaking. . . . Speaker Felipe Gomez is a fun loving guy from Chile with so much wisdom. His storytelling of winter cycling in northern Saskatchewan and the Arctic accompanied by his bass guitar is riveting. He seemed to have a message that resonated with all ages and level of comfort riding in the winter.”

Christopher Lake Public School purchased compost bins for their garden and outdoor classroom.

“We strive to push our students to become global thinkers. It is important to us that our students understand the importance of recycling, composting, and reusing. A garden allows the students to not only see the benefits first hand but to deepen their understanding of what is needed for sustainable living.”

Ituna School set up compost bins to promote healthy changes for the environment. The Green Thumb Club will use the compost for their plantings.

Turning Leaf Support Services, Moose Jaw, planted an environmentally friendly garden. Composting will enrich the environment while a rain barrel will help preserve water to be used during dry spurts.

Odessa is a small community of 250 people. They were already recycling paper, but active volunteers in the Odessa Recreation Association identified a need for additional recycling bins so they could recycle cans and plastic as well. The bins will be set up at the rink, community centre, and community events.

Mount Royal Collegiate’s composting project is expanding. They saved 900 kg in their first year, 1500 in their second, and have collected over 1820 kg from September to mid-November this year.

Blaine Lake Composite School plans to minimize food waste and environmental impact in their breakfast program through careful meal planning, by sourcing local ingredients whenever possible, and by only using reusable dishes and utensils. They will recycle all applicable materials.

Churchill Community High School organized the first-ever Northern Saskatchewan Student Eco-Conference. Students from across northern Saskatchewan collaborated with professionals in the field of environmental science and worked with peers to develop Environmental Action Plans to take home to their communities.

Ecology Camps for Kids reconnects children to the great outdoors.

“We strive to provide children with quality information, highlighting important regional habitats, species and issues, as well as encouraging an interest in science, nature, and conservation.”

Boys and Girls Club of Yorkton incorporated environmental education into their summer program, which includes week-long day camps for 5-12 year olds and drop-in evening programs for middle-years youth and teens.

“Children and youth being educated on important topics will carry on with them through life as they will have the knowledge and tools needed to make a difference.”

Climate Justice Saskatoon plans to prepare videos to communicate the social and political barriers to transitioning Saskatchewan to renewable energy. This is part of a larger community-led research project to better understand the challenges facing coal-dependent communities.

Saskatchewan Environmental Society will provide idle-free signage to Saskatchewan schools conducting vehicle idling reduction action projects.

“Signage is an important part of an idle-free campaign as it signals the school’s commitment to supporting students and acts as a reminder to support a cleaner environment around the school.”

Nature Regina replaced a defaced sign at Hidden Valley, an ecologically fragile half-section of land in the Qu’Appelle River Valley. The Sanctuary's purpose is to preserve and protect wild fauna and flora and the surface itself in a natural form.

Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan hosts the Native Prairie Speaker series to raise awareness about the importance of native prairie. Each monthly episode features an expert speaker. Topics include innovative species at risk research, citizen science programs, nocturnal preserves, pollinators and native flower gardening, or land stewardship.

Little Green Thumbs will provide scholarships to teachers who would otherwise be unable to attend the 2018 School Garden Summit.

Craik Sustainable Living Project

Hudson Bay Park/Mayfair/Kelsey-Woodlawn Community Association

Ponteix School

Saskatoon Search and Rescue

South Nutana Park Community Association

EcoFriendly Action Grants are small grants (usually $500) supporting Saskatchewan projects that will protect, repair, or preserve the local environment. This can be direct (habitat restoration, energy conservation) or indirect (environmental education, promotion of local natural habitats). Projects should benefit the natural environment and not just people.

Apply now at ecofriendlysask.ca

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or on our website.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar