Albert College’s commitment to environmental sustainability improvements has landed them an outstanding honour from the City of Belleville.
The Belleville-based boarding school received the Environmental Stewardship Award in the education category from Green Task Force officials at a ceremony held at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre on Tuesday.
The award celebrates the school’s outstanding leadership and commitment to protecting, preserving and enhancing our environment, helping to create a greener, healthier and more sustainable Belleville for current and future generations.
Albert College’s nomination focused on a wide range of sustainability initiatives, many of them student-led.
This includes being one of just 50 schools across Canada with platinum EcoSchools status, students finding and regularly visiting a “sit spot” in nature on campus, a geocaching competition, class visits to nearby farms, an electronic waste drive, integrating the UN sustainable development goals into learning goals, Forest Fridays for Junior School students and an ongoing partnership with Indigenous organizations in nearby Tyendinaga.
“Student interest in sustainability efforts are supported by teachers and school leadership,” stated Gia Spiropoulos, science teacher and the Climate Action Team faculty leader. “We take a truly collaborative look at the small steps we can take, individually, in groups and as a school, to raise awareness and protect the environment for a sustainable future.”
Founded in 1857, Albert College is Canada’s oldest independent co-ed day and boarding school. The school provides an enriched and engaging curriculum for students in Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 from Canada and 15 nations.
