The 2020 RISE Webinar Series was created in response to the pandemic cancellation of the 2020 RISE Teachers’ Conference that was originally scheduled for May 19-21, 2020 in Winnipeg, MB. As a result of the cancellation, we decided to ask some of our speakers to do an online webinar instead! This approach will allow teachers from across the province, as well as the general public, to attend online and learn about the variety of sustainable education projects, initiatives and activities that are happening around Manitoba.

Missed the webinars or want to see them again? Check out the recordings and resources below.

Webinar #1: Manitoba Envirothon with Jacqueline Monteith, Science Instructional Coach with Frontier School Division

The Manitoba Envirothon is a high school competition that focuses on land-based science education and experience. Students compete in small teams and learn all about Aquatic Ecology, Wildlife Ecology, Forest & Plant Ecology, and Soils & Geology. This amazing program inspires students from across the province to learn more about the natural world around us!

Jacqueline taught in Northern Manitoba for 10 years before becoming a coach, and now travels throughout the entire province providing science-based support for teachers and students. Jacqueline has been involved with the Manitoba Envirothon since 2007.

Webinar #2: Indigenous Food Sovereignty, Security and Sustainability with Byron Beardy, Kimeechiminan (Our Food) Program Manager, Four Arrows Regional Health Authority

Byron discussed his understanding of the connections of land-based language in the context of food from an Indigenous lens. Byron shares his learned knowledge of cultural protocols, customs, practices with a focus on Indigenous food sovereignty, security and sustainability.

Byron is originally from Garden Hill First Nation and was raised in Wasagamack First Nation in the Island Lake region of Manitoba. Byron founded and envisioned the Indigenous nations’ biennial Indigenous Food Sovereignty Summit and has been instrumental with the inclusion of language and identity within the indigenous food sovereignty movement in Manitoba. Byron sits on various food security/“foody” committees locally, regionally, provincially, nationally and, most recently, internationally. No recording is available on the presenter’s request. Please follow up with Byron directly for more information (see https://fourarrowsrha.org/food-security).

Webinar #3: Worms and Waste with Kristen Malec, Compost Program Coordinator, Green Action Centre

Green Action Centre’s resident composting expert, Kristen Malec, shows how to use worms to transform your food scraps into compost! Vermicomposting is an easy and fun way to keep your organic waste (food scraps) out of our landfills, and it can be done right inside your home or in the classroom! Kristen covers everything you need to know to get started with vermicomposting, including a live bin building demonstration!

Kristen’s passions include reducing her waste and consumption, sourcing food from small scale farmers who practice regenerative and sustainable agriculture, Kristen received a bachelor of science in environmental sciences, majoring in forest ecology at the University of Winnipeg.

Additional resources:

• Vermicomposting Guide (Green Action Centre, pdf)
• Where to buy red wriggler worms – Nature’s Perfect Plant Food
• How to get started on vermicomposting (Green Action Centre)

Webinar #4: Composting Within a School Setting with Nicholas Skrabek, LAC Teacher, Greenway School

Nicholas discusses the success and challenges in establishing a school-wide composting program. How their school of 450+ students went about establishing a pro-composting environment within two years. Nicholas has nine years of experience as a LAC ( Learning Assistance Center) classroom​​ teacher for Winnipeg School Division #1.  He is an active member of the school/communities Education for Sustainable Development team, focusing on developing and reclaiming our local green space.

Additional resources:

• Classroom Compost Poster Lesson Plan (Nicholas Skrabek, Greenway School, pdf)
• How to build a multi-bin composting system (Green Action Centre)
• School Composting Guide (Green Action Centre, pdf)

Webinar #5: Seventh Generation Waste Warriors with Shianne McKay, Senior Project Manager, Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER)

Join us as we take a journey with the Seventh Generation Waste Warriors, a group of youth and young adults from Canupawakpa Dakota Nation, Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and Lake Manitoba First Nation, as they learn and share about waste diversion and recycling goals in each of their respective communities and work together to complete 4 waste diversion action projects, documented through photos and a video.

Shianne is originally from Pine Creek First Nation. CIER is a National First Nation directed environmental non profit charitable organization that works to build capacity in Indigenous communities to support communities with protecting their lands and waters and building sustainable communities. Shianne provided the role of Project Manager for the Seventh Generation Waste Warriors project.

Additional resources:

• Seventh Generation Waste Warriors mind map diagram (Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, png)
• Mind mapping tool – MINDMUP

Webinar #6: Northern Schools Recycling Support with Christa Rust, Program Manager, and Savini Jayasinghe, Schools Coordinator, CBCRA/Recycle Everywhere

The Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association (CBCRA) is a Manitoba-wide, not-for-profit organization that supports communities in their effort to recycle empty beverage containers. Our Northern Schools backhaul project was launched in 2017. Join our team of recycling experts, Christa Rust and Savini Jayasinghe, who will share with you tips and opportunities to launch your own successful project at your school.

Christa has over a decade of experience in management, stakeholder engagement and sustainability. Christa graduated with a Masters of Natural Resources Management from the University of Manitoba with an undergraduate in Recreation Studies. She has worked in the public and private field in both consulting and operational capacities. Savini graduated with a BSc in Environmental Science​ ​from the University of Manitoba. Savini’s passion​ ​for sustainable development combined with her​ ​consulting background makes her a strong asset​ ​to the Recycle Everywhere team where she​ ​coordinates waste audits, outreach and data​ ​gathering.