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Grade 8 students from
Montgomery Elementary School in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, have been biking,
rollerblading and walking to school in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions as part of the HSBC Clean Air Achievers Program
The class is one of more than
65 schools across Canada that participated in the HSBC Clean Air Achievers
Program in 2008.
The program, operated by Clean
Air Champions, sends world-class Canadian athletes into classrooms – Grades 7 to
9 – to educate students on how their transportation choices affect air pollution
and climate change.
Students can measure the
impacts of their trips through an online calculator known as the Trip Tracker.
The top student achievers are given t-shirts and hats as prizes for their
accomplishment.
“The visiting athletes are
exceptional at helping students get enthusiastic and motivated to learn more
about the issue of climate change and how they can make a difference,” said Kent
Grey, a teacher at Montgomery Elementary School. “A lot of my students make the
decision to keep active in their transportation, even after the program
finishes.”
One of the Clean Air Champions
that has visited Montgomery Elementary School is Meaghan Buisson, a multiple
national record and world record-setting inline speed skater, who has been
working with the program since 2004.
“I get so much satisfaction in
helpings kids understand the benefits of active transportation on both the
environment and their health through the Clean Air Achievers Program,” said
Meaghan. “Being a part of the Clean Air Champions organization is one of the
best things that has come out of my athletic career as it allows me the
opportunity to combine my two passions – sport and the environment.”
In 2008, HSBC Bank Canada continued its support of the Clean Air Champions with
a donation of $150,000 over two years towards the HSBC Clean Air Achievers
Program. Clean Air Champions is a national charity that works with respected
athletes to educate and inspire Canadians to adopt practices and lifestyles that
enhance personal and environmental health.
“The HSBC Clean Air Achievers
Program has grown beyond our expectations,” said Deirdre Laframboise, Executive
Director of Clean Air Champions. “Since we started in 2004, the program has
expanded from more than 100 student participants to 4,000 student participants
in 2008. Our goal is to reach 9,000 students by 2010.”
“We are also pleased to have
introduced this year, public access to HSBC Clean Air Achievers Program,” said
Deirdre. “Students’ friends and families can also track their greenhouse gas
emissions by accessing the program website and creating their very own profile.”
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