Zeb Foss of WCDSB receives the inaugural CREST Award alongside the EcoSchools Canada team, award sponsors, and Katia Osokine from the Climate Challenge Network (far right).

The award was presented in partnership with EcoSchools Canada at the BOMA Awards Gala in Toronto on September 17. It recognizes the Ontario school that achieved the largest reduction in carbon emissions between the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school years.

“We are extremely proud to receive this recognition. The success at Christ the King is a direct result of the incredible efforts of our Facilities and Operations teams. By working closely together to identify opportunities for infrastructure upgrades and operational efficiencies, our staff demonstrated that targeted investments in building technology and cross-departmental collaboration can yield massive, measurable reductions in our carbon footprint.”
– Zeb Foss, Manager of Energy Conservation and Sustainability, Waterloo Catholic District School Board

The inaugural award highlights the important role K-12 schools and school boards can play in reducing emissions and advancing sustainability. Through its Board Program, EcoSchools Canada works with school boards across Canada to support climate action and build more sustainable, resilient school communities.

“EcoSchools Canada is thrilled to congratulate Zeb Foss and his team at WCDSB on their CREST Award win this year. As we look at the landscape of schools across Canada implementing carbon mitigation and climate adaptation projects, as well as delivering educational opportunities for both students and staff, we are proud to highlight and celebrate the leaders who are behind the outstanding work being done in the sector.”
– Ryan Dyment, Co-Executive Director, EcoSchools Canada

Congratulations to Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Christ the King Catholic Elementary School on this achievement, and to finalists Killarney Beach Public School and Lions Oval Public School from Simcoe County District School Board for their leadership in emissions reductions. We also recognize all 126 schools that submitted applications for this year’s award.