C-Vert and youth environmental power: over 500 environmental actions in one
hour to celebrate Earth Day

MONTREAL, April 22 /CNW Telbec/ - Taking concrete action for the environment, that is the challenge that C-Vert youth groups from four Montreal boroughs (Villeray - Saint-Michel - Parc-Extension (VSMPE), Côte-des-Neiges - Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN-NDG), Mercier - Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (M-HM) and Saint-Laurent (SL) presented to 400 teenagers, teachers, partners and elected officials at la TOHU.

According to Foundation co-president, Stephen Bronfman, "We should never underestimate the power of young people to change things and to show us the way in finding solutions to our planet's environmental problems. C-Vert is a program that allows us to discover how important and necessary this contribution really is!" For co-president Claudine Bronfman, "C-Vert allows youth to have access to a unique experience. We're convinced that this type of program is not only beneficial for the community, but also allows investment in solutions led by youth that combine quality of life, environmental protection and sustainable economic development." The co-presidents were proud to welcome elected dignitaries to the event, including the federal MP Justin Trudeau, the borough mayors Anie Samson, Michael Applebaum, Réal Ménard and Alan DeSousa, as well as other elected officials including Frank Venneri, Mary Deros, Frantz Benjamin and CSDM school commissioner Paul Evra. The Quebec Minister for Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Line Beauchamp, made a major announcement concerning the future consolidation of the C-Vert project for the next five years.

During C-Vert's 3rd Environment Forum, teenagers were able to demonstrate their environmental leadership. "We hope that today will contribute to changing youth stereotypes that portray us as not being active for the environment or for our community" said C-Vert spokesperson Eugenie Shportak. Over 500 concrete actions were accomplished by young people in such environmental issues as urban agriculture, biodiversity, waste reduction and ecodesign, active transportation, water pollution and eco-citizenship. "We're going to continue to be active and mobilize other young people and create a snowball effect" added Ms Shportak. "Today with our 500 actions we've made a difference. And we're going to continue to do so in order that it becomes a positive force for ecological change throughout the planet and our future!"

For further information: Michel Séguin, C-Vert project Coordinator, Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Family Foundation, [phone], Cellular: [phone], [email protected]