ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23

With momentum from Ontario’s Environmental Education Policy Framework that was released in 2009, along with a community thirst to embed environmental learning and action into school practice, the EcoSchools program flourished in Ontario. Fast forward to the year 2020, which saw EcoSchools grow again by joining the international EcoSchools community and revealing our plan to scale nationally.

Over the years, the story of EcoSchools is one of collaboration and commitment—of staff, committees, board and district liaisons, teachers, students, community members, and partners. Each member of our network has harnessed the EcoSchools program to make profound changes to the landscape of environmental learning and action in Canada. From just over 100 certifying schools in 2005, we have now reached over 6,000 schools with the EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA), our award-winning online platform. The EcoSchools program offers an extensive suite of free, educational resources on topics ranging from biodiversity to energy conservation, from zero-emission vehicles to outdoor learning. The ECA is an extraordinary tool that enables schools, boards/districts, and partners to track their environmental impact over time and is helping us tell a national story of collaboration, inspiration, and impact.

Looking back at the past 3 years, since launching nationally, we often reflect on our many successes, challenges, and future opportunities to make environmental change. Our staff team consists of unbelievably talented people who bring deep knowledge, skill sets, experiences, and commitment to the work they do every day. We are also honoured to be part of a growing network of delivery partners, funders, schools, and boards/districts across the country.

 The environmental challenges we face as a global community cannot be addressed without a strong commitment to collaboration. We are so excited to continue this work as we write the next chapter of our story with the launch of our 2024-27 strategic plan, to make every school an EcoSchool!

Over the course of this partnership, 186,936 students from 647 schools participated in actions related to fuel efficiency, eco-driving, clean fuels, and fuel diversification as reported through our online application. 481 educators surveyed at participating schools also indicated an increase in awareness of how to take positive action related to fuel efficiency, eco-driving, clean fuels, and fuel diversification.