The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Loblaw Companies Ltd. has announced 28 new grant recipients from elementary and secondary schools across the country. The $100,000 in grants go to help support students and their engagement in green initiatives.

The grants are made possible through partial proceeds from Loblaw’s charge-for-plastic shopping bag program. The grants are designed to encourage and support students’ interest in environmental stewardship, and provide a hands-on learning experience in sustainability and greening communities.

“We’re very excited about the projects in this round of Green CommUnity School Grants – they show enormous interest in the environment and creativity,” says Christina Topp, vice-president of marketing and communications for WWF Canada. “The grants provide a great opportunity for students across Canada to become passionate environmental stewards, which we hope will lead to an even better future for our living planet.”

The current round of grants will provide funding for the following projects:

• Creating an outdoor classroom to encourage student awareness of the importance of local, organic produce at Robert Bateman High School in Burlington, P.E.I.
• Designing, building and installing nesting boxes for Purple Martins, a local bird population in decline near Bell High School in Nepean, Ont.
• Building an electric car at the Valleys Senior Public School in Mississauga, Ont.
• Exploring solar power and sustainable energy at East Three Elementary School in Inuvik, N.W.T.
• Rebuilding a school greenhouse at Netsilik School in Taoloyak, Nunavut
• Rehabilitating the marsh near Ecole Des Jolis Pres in Laterriere, Que.
• Establishing and maintaining a honeybee habitat at Fraser Heights Secondary School in Surrey, B.C.
• Introducing Red Wiggler vermicompost bins at West Wood High School in Fort McMurray, Alta.

“Loblaw is proud to support the Green CommUnity School Grants program for the fourth consecutive year,” says Bob Chant, senior vice-president of corporate affairs and communications for Loblaw. “These grants are important to schools because they help to educate students about our environment and inspire them to make a positive difference for our planet.”