New Westminster, B.C. – The City of New Westminster is proud to announce local recipients of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund. Up to a total of $50,000 USD is available for distribution via microgrants to support New Westminster’s youth in completing a variety of climate initiatives that are aligned with the City’s Seven Bold Steps for Climate Action; to date, seven projects will receive funding this fall.

Applications were reviewed by a selection committee comprised of Mayor Patrick Johnstone, two community youth representatives, and City staff in order to verify eligibility and ensure projects met all criteria and were feasible within the limits of available funding and resources. The proposed projects of the successful applications align with the City’s climate priorities, are sustainable, and will have a positive impact for New Westminster.

“I’m excited to be able to support our city’s youth in pursuing their passion for enacting positive environmental change in our community and helping bring their ideas to life,” said Mayor Johnstone. “The City of New Westminster is grateful to Bloomberg Philanthropies for making it possible for these projects to be realized.”

Projects will be completed by the end of 2024. Approved projects include:

• NWSS Garden: The New Westminster Secondary School Environment Club, in cooperation with a new Gardening Club launching this fall, will build a garden for the high school. The garden will include plants that can be used by the cafeteria and food studies programs. Students will be responsible for planning, planting, caring for, and harvesting the garden.
• Queens Park Community Garden for Youth: The existing youth-exclusive garden will be rebuilt to higher standards and managed by Garden 4 Kids, a youth subset of the New West Community Gardening Society. Garden 4 Kids will use the garden and their acquired experience and knowledge to educate their peers on sustainable food production and environmental stewardship.
• Westminster House Garden: Youth members of the Westminster House Society of Women and Youth Girls will grow and care for a fruit and vegetable garden as a way of learning about eating farm-to-table and growing food.
• E.C.H.O. (Environmental and Cultural Health Outreach) Workshop: Youth members of the Umbrella Multicultural Health Cooperative will develop and facilitate a workshop for immigrants and newcomers on how to mitigate the adverse health impacts of climate change through sustainable and energy-efficient living.
• Change Starts with Education: The Monkey Rebels, a group of environmentally-minded youth aged 12-16 years, want to improve climate change education for New Westminster’s elementary and middle schools. They will develop lessons and materials, as well as assembly presentations for the elementary schools, and design a climate change themed escape room for middle-school-aged students.
• HOPE Mural: The Monkey Rebels will plan and paint a large-scale (1500 sq. ft.) mural with imagery that represents the City of New Westminster’s climate action efforts, such as trees and bikes.
• Glenbrook Ravine English Ivy Control: Students of School District 40’s Sigma Program will tackle the overgrowth of English Ivy, an invasive species, in Glenbrook Ravine. The dense ivy is choking out ground vegetation and reducing sunlight availability, which weakens trees.

Grant recipients were formally recognized at a project launch celebration at City Hall on September 11. 

“The Youth Climate Action Fund is one of several City initiatives to engage youth in climate action,” said Mayor Johnstone. “Climate action is about the future, and it is important that we empower youth to design the future they want to see.”

To learn more about the Youth Climate Action Fund, visit: newwestcity.ca/youth-climate-action-fund

Also underway this month is recruitment for a new task force; the Mayor’s Youth Climate Leadership Team is a group of energetic and motivated teens and young adults who want to make a difference for New Westminster’s climate, now and into the future. With the support of the Mayor and City staff, these young people will work together to develop ideas and tactics that will help the environment and our community. Applications are open until October 6, 2024. To learn more, visit: newwestcity.ca/mayors-youth-climate-leadership-team

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Media Contacts:

Melissa Nilan
Communications Coordinator
City of New Westminster
604-515-3808 |