OAPCE | Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education

For the third year in a row, students of the Durham Catholic District School Board took the Earth Hour challenge by turning the power off on Friday, March 26, from 1 to 2 p.m. The challenge is a small step in the big plan to reduce our impact on the environment. Many of the Board’s schools have other climate-change activities planned. All Saints Catholic Secondary School students will be testing common appliances using a kilowatt metre and discussing the environmental affects of plastic water bottles. St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic School’s grades 1 to 3 students will participate in a ‘camp-out’ telling stories by flashlight and grades 7 to 8, writing by flashlight, will express their wishes for the Earth.

The Durham Catholic District School Board students are active in the conservation movement to bring about change for the world in which they live. In fact, 85 per cent of the Board’s schools will be applying for certification in the Ontario EcoSchools Program, which improves school building operations to reduce environmental impacts. Participating in Earth Hour 2010 was another way the students felt they could help to make a difference.

With the full support of the Board, in the last three years, new programs have been introduced that better engage school students regarding environmental issues. New options have been added which allow students to share their ideas to contribute to this globally significant issue.

The future of our planet relies on our young people. They are engaged and motivated in the ‘Green’ movement and we not only need to support them but embrace and foster their ideas.
- Paul Pulla, Director of Education

The students involved in Earth Hour and other environmentally conscious　programs are showing how, if we all try a little, we can make a big change in the earth we share.
- Tim Robins, Assistant Superintendent – Facilities Services, Environmental
and EcoSchools Committee

For further information on the Durham Region’s activities Contact: Darlene Rich, Communications Officer,
(905) 576-6150 ext. 2318 or Paul Pulla, Director of Education, ext. 2317

Prayer Service for Victims of Haitian Earthquake – Monday February 1,
2010 at 7:30 p.m.

Archbishop Thomas Collins invites our family of faith to join with him
in a special prayer service for victims of the devastating earthquake in
Haiti. The service will take place at St. Paul’s Basilica (83 Power St.)
in downtown Toronto on Monday, February 1, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

Representatives from Christian faith communities throughout the GTA will
come together in prayer as we remember all those impacted by the January 12 earthquake.

A free-will offering will be taken to support the ongoing relief efforts.

For more information, visit archtoronto.org and see the poster.

Check out Today’s event with our friends at Free the Children:

Though the event ends at the ACC around 2:30pm, the day will be far from over! You can join us just a few blocks away for a very special post-We Day celebratory event. CTV’s MuchOnDemand will be hosting an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at We Day with Craig and Marc Kielburger, Justin Bieber, Hedley and other We Day performers. They’ll share stories from the event, talk about the social issues they’re passionate about and discuss how young people like you can change the world. Plus, if you’re in the audience you’ll have the opportunity to ask the performers questions. We’re getting up close and personal with some of today’s young change-makers—it’ll be an unforgettable experience that you don’t want to miss!

Continue reading ‘We Day’