2021 STEAM Green Award Winner

University of Manitoba

The Science Rendezvous Winnipeg team embraced the challenge to STEAM Green in 2021, going above and beyond to promote the Million Tree Project through exciting initiatives and activities. A total of 4857 trees were planted by participants of the Manitoba School Tree Planting Challenge, launched on June 10th, 2021, as part of the Million Tree Project. Science Rendezvous volunteers, university staff and students received hundreds of additional trees, not included in this official count. The coordinating team had to face the challenges associated with COVID-19 restrictions but showed their resourcefulness and resilience by adapting their programming and arranging tree pick-ups for students. In the Fall of 2021, another tree giveaway event took place as part of Science Literacy Week and National Tree Day, resulting in the distribution of an additional 3012 trees! 

Over the course of these events, this coordinating team has expanded their outreach from 8 to 17 communities and engaged almost 60 schools. This project’s reach extended beyond the city limits, with half of the participating sites being in rural areas. The coordinating team was also able to supply saplings to an arts centre, a local museum, and a First Nations community. As a result of these activities, the Million Tree Project has gained participants in 18 school divisions, representing 47% of the divisions in the province. It should be noted that this coordinating team established important partnerships with local agencies which helped maximize the impact of these events. Manitoba Forestry’s Agriculture and Peatlands branch supplied 5000 saplings in addition to delivering trees to several rural schools and planting sites while Trees Winnipeg and Tree Canada helped promote the Million Tree Project through tree-planting events. Other notable connections and partners who supported these initiatives include CCUNESCO Schools, Science First, Parks Canada, Fort Whyte Alive, Shelmerdines Garden Centre and McNally Robinson Booksellers and Author Ariel Gordon. 

Beyond these events, this coordinating team organized virtual talks discussing important topics like climate, ecosystems, and climate change. These talks featured speakers from various disciplines and backgrounds and were moderated by Dr. Brian Mark, Dean, Faculty of Science. As part of Science Rendezvous, this coordinating team joined the Virtual Science Chase event, encouraging participants to tackle STEAM challenges with their friends and families. The outstanding work of the coordinating team and volunteers, in addition to the thousands of students, teachers and citizens involved in these activities at the community level, have made a significant impact to the Million Tree Project.

Thank you for being true leaders and a part of the Science Rendezvous community. We are looking forward to seeing what you will come up with in 2022!