Tara Schmidt of Earth Day Grey-Bruce facilitates a student-led workshop at the inaugural Youth Climate Action Conference at Owen Sound's Harmony Centre Thursday, Mar. 2.

Young people with plans brightened the inaugural Youth Climate Action Conference at the Harmony Centre in Owen Sound Thursday.

Close to 50 students from six local schools took in presentations before breaking into workshops to develop community climate action projects.

The students will be mentored and supported as they bring their plans for engaging our future to fruition.

"Our local youth deserve the opportunity, and are our best hope, to become climate action leaders and heroes," said Hilary Coburn. "Our youth also possess a magical power to have local politicians, businesses and leaders listen to their questions and creative problem-solving ideas."

Ms. Coburn organized the conference as part of Climate Action Team Owen Sound (CATOS); she is also a teacher at Georgian Bay Community School.

Community organizer Leigh Grigg, chair of The Sustainability Project, listens during a workshop.

Activist and artist Liz Zetlin helps focus discussion.

The morning's presenters included: 

• Jon Farmer – City Councillor and Men’s Program Supervisor
  Three Ingredients for Positive Change
  
  
• Emily Mansur – Saugeen Ojibway Nation Coastal Waters Monitoring Manager
  Importance of Nearshore Habitats
  
  
• Dr. John Anderson – Climate Scientist and Climate Activist
  Knowledge + Hope = Action
  
  
• Liz Zetlin – Filmmaker, Environmental Activist, and Poet
  The Power Is Yours: Art, Voice and Climate Action
  
  
• Randy Scherzer – Grey County Deputy CAO
  Going Green in Grey
  
  
• Joachim Ostertag – Community Coordinator and Climate Activist
  Climate Action – A Journey Of Change
  
  
• Natasha and Christopher Akiwenzie – Bagida’waad Alliance
  Reconnecting to the Land and Water

Students from six local schools took part:

• Alexandra Community School
• East Ridge Community School
• Georgian Bay Community School
• Hillcrest Elementary School
• Keppel-Sarawak Elementary School
• Kikendaasogamig Elementary School

Support for presentations and workshops at the Youth Climate Action Conference 2023.

– by Hub staff
David Galway