List of Organizations and Individuals Who Have Endorsed :

Anna/Corinne, Okanagan Basin Water Board
Carmen Denby                                                                                
Chris Ray, City of Kelowna
David Crawford                                              
District of Lake Country
Dr. Tom Warshawski
Eli Pivnick                                          
Garth Thomson                                                                         
Global Empowerment Coalition of the Central Okanagan (Chapter of BCCIC)         
Gord Lovegrove
Green Okanagan                                                 
GreenStep Solutions                                       
Jacqueline Gullion
Janice Larson                                                                
John Janmaat
Joyce Brinkerhoff                                                                         
Lynn Walford                                                       
Marianne Cote                                                                        
Mary Stockdale 
Okanagan CoLab
Okanagan Sustainability Leadership Council
Sarah and Derek Moody         
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
Wes Kmet               

There are hundreds of organizations that prepare excellent teaching materials in the area of sustainability, and there are numerous opportunities to have expert presenters come into classrooms to inform students.  Despite the availability of information on the topic, there is not enough direct instruction in our schools to adequately prepare youth for the future. First People’s Principles of Learning recognize that learning involves relationships and time, it is not accomplished by a single presentation or informative activity. What is needed is enthusiastic, experienced educators with content-specific expertise working alongside classroom teachers that have an established relationship with their students, who, together, provide authentic opportunities for students to nurture sustainable worldviews (using a model similar to the ILT). 

The critical nature of the issues encompassed in the SDGs cannot be adequately addressed by simply expanding the portfolio of current specialist teachers in the district. A passionate, focused expert is required to meaningfully engage students on these important issues!

Okanagan Climate Hub is urging SD 23 to establish a central office that can provide the needed expertise and instruction in sustainability education.

We believe that students should be exposed to sustainability ideas at a younger age, by someone who can address these issues at an age-appropriate level, informed by the latest scientific information.  With climate misinformation at an all-time high, ensuring the public is informed and engaged is a daunting task.

While there is plenty of information out there about teaching environmental issues, and such topics are no doubt taken up by enthusiasm in the classroom in discrete subjects and areas, there is as yet no central office capable of assisting teachers in sorting through the numerous available resources.  Teachers may be overwhelmed, or view sustainability education as a marginal part of their daily routine.

Teachers need support to centre sustainability education in their classrooms.

While passionate volunteers in the community can make a difference, schools are the first line of contact and the most impactful source of sustainability information for young people.

Therefore, the Okanagan Climate Hub strongly endorses a call for the formation of a Learning for Sustainability Office in School District 23.

To get involved or provide your letter of support, contact okanaganclimatehub@gmail.com.  Ready to write an endorsement?  Check these writing templates and then craft your own!

Check this petition at Change.org in support of a Sustainability Coach in SD23.