Island student Sarah McLeod's imaginative depiction of pets pitching in to help curb climate change is featured in calendars across the country this year.
Sarah is the Prince Edward Island winner in the poster contest for the 2003 Energy and the Environment Calendar. Produced by Natural Resources Canada to promote efficient energy use and a healthy environment, the calendar features one drawing from each province and territory. Approximately 135,000 calendars are distributed in households, schools and businesses across Canada.
The theme for the 2003 calendar is "Taking Action on Climate Change Through Wise Energy Use." Entitled "Pets Care About the Planet," Sarah's drawing depicts a house full of animals doing their part to curb climate change from the dog giving the cat a boost to reach the light switch, to a snake slithering away with someone's car keys. Meanwhile, the scene Sarah shows through the window is the hot sun, rising seas and windmills generating energy.
"Sarah's drawing gets the message across in a creative and entertaining way," said Minister of Environment Chester Gillan. "She reminds us that the energy we use in our daily lives contributes to climate change and that we can all help by taking such simple actions as turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use and walking instead of driving when possible."
Sarah was a Grade 5 student at Belfast Consolidated School when she entered the poster contest. Minister Gillan visited teacher Trudy White's class at Belfast Consolidated earlier this year to present Sarah the poster contest prizes and speak to students about climate change. For her winning entry, Sarah received a laminated and mounted copy of her artwork, a backpack and an NRCat hat. The school also received a laminated copy of Sarah's winning drawing for display.
More than 100 Island elementary students entered the Prince Edward Island poster contest for the 2003 Energy and the Environment Calendar. They all received participant prizes for their outstanding efforts.
"The students had many wonderful ideas for conserving energy and protecting our environment and they showed a high level of awareness of climate change issues," said Minister Gillan. "Some drawings spoke to the benefits of practices such as recycling and car pooling, while others focussed on alternative energy sources such as wind power and solar energy."
To learn more about energy efficiency, students can visit the CalendarClub Web site at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/CalendarClub. Copies of the 2003 Energy and the Environment Calendar are available from Island Information Service (1-800-236-5196) and at Access PEI centres throughout the province. Information on the poster contest for the 2004 calendar will be distributed to Island elementary schools in the coming weeks.