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Six elementary schools participated in a contest sponsored by the English Montreal School Board and Énergère to help promote and raise awareness of energy efficiency and environmental protection. This contest coincided with the recent announcement of an ambitious $24.6 million energy efficiency project taking place in 17 EMSB schools and centres, in continuation of the awareness campaign started in April in partnership with Earth Day (+). Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Gerald McShane, Michelangelo, East Hill, St. Gabriel and Dante schools have shown real enthusiasm for the contest with 1,055 students participating!

Each school taking part in the contest received a drawing of a tree on an eight by eight foot poster board. Between April 22 and May 8, 2015, each student had to design a leaf or petal from a piece of paper, and write on it their own idea or action for environmental protection, and paste it on the tree. Together, these messages created a unique-looking landscape, « The green tree of ideas. »

Tree judges visited the six participating schools and were highly impressed by the beauty of each student’s designs and the obvious concern they showed for the health of our planet in their messages. They chose winning messages that were judged based on their originality, beauty, and respect of the theme.

Here are some exemples:
In the future I will build a robot that will recycle, Christopher Ramroop; Quand mon linge ne fait plus, je le donne à mon frère, Andy Zimmerman; J’éteins les lumières avant de partir à l’école, Teo Hemingway-Lalonde; Je viens à l’école avec ma bicyclette, Alejandro Sandoval; Utilise l’énergie solaire, Massimo Indelicato; I will save water from the rain and use it to water the plants, Marika Alessia Neri.

Following the visits, judges also chose a winner between the six trees of the participating schools, and this winner will be displayed at the EMSB head office. Congratulations to Dante Elementary School for creating the overall winning tree! Judges were dazzled by the artistic finesse, attention to detail, and thought that went into growing Dante’s tree. Under the creative guidance of Art Teacher Franca Mambro, this tree has an immediate visual impact, that continues as one takes the time to examine all that grows within this work of art. Highlighted by its sky blue background, the tree represents the four seasons, from snowy leafless branches to crunchy orange and red fall leaves, to vibrant greens. Using textures and different mediums, the realism of each leaf is impressive. Creative additions include a birdhouse, bird’s nest, maple syrup bucket, birds, snails, etc. Congratulations to Dante students and the Art Club, who put much thought, time, and love of the environment into their tree.

Read more about the contest here. | Photos online here.

From left to right (top): Dante (winner), East Hill, Michelangelo.
From left to right (bottom): Gerald McShane, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, St. Gabriel.