A grade twelve Biology class at Carman Collegiate spent some time this semester studying the local effects of climate change and how those effects can be reduced or how we can adapt to become more resilient. Teacher Rosanne Massinon explains the project was part of a nation-wide inquiry that saw twenty schools selected to participate.

"As we were doing our research, we were doing these virtual seminars with schools across the country and they were sharing what they learned about climate change locally for them."

The group hard at work in Ottawa

From here, ten students were selected to meet in Ottawa and develop an overall action plan from the twenty projects that were submitted. One of those students was from Ms. Massinon's class, Hannah Petrie, who feels climate change is a big issue currently and will continue to be in the future. She says the group worked to summarize all of this work into a few main ideas - green learning, transportation and waste.

"It was very exciting to hear everyone's point of view and everyone's concerns within their community...it was very interesting to hear from all of the students."

The complete action plan will be presented later this month to Environment Minister Catherine McKenna during a virtual town hall between all twenty participating classrooms.

"I hope that they (the federal government) takes it into consideration and really think about what our action projects have done and what they can do to our small communities," added Petrie.