When Leamington District Secondary School’s EcoTeam was looking for an issue to get behind last September, the explosion of toxic blue-green algae in Lake Erie brought one to their doorstep.
Seeing neighbours on Pelee Island unable to use the lake for drinking water for several days changed their focus from a course of study to one of action.
After several months of educating the public on the issue, their efforts will culminate with the Algae Bloom Summit Wednesday at the Leamington Marina Pavilion (9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.).
“This is important to our area,” said Grade 12 student Brianna Jackson, one of 15 students on the school’s EcoTeam.
The summit will feature more than 200 speakers/participants ranging from scientists to government and industry officials to residents.
Among the groups represented are scientists from ERCA, the International Joint Commission, the Great Lakes Institute and Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment.
There will also be representatives from the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, Caldwell First Nations, the Ontario Commercial Fishing Association, Grains and Oilseeds Farmers, tourism and real estate along with educators and students.
The timing of the summit coincides with the release of a U.S. Geological Survey this month that said the abundance of blue-green algae in Lake Erie makes it the most vulnerable to invasion by Asian carp. The voracious feeders would severely damage the Great Lakes $7-billion sport fishing industry.
“We wanted to include as many perspectives as we could,” Jackson said. “I think people will better understand the issue if they get the whole perspective.”
Jackson said the summit fits the group’s agenda of education, but also offers an opportunity to learn how even individuals can be part of the solution.
“We have a passion to educate other people (on the dangers of algae blooms),” Jackson said. “It feels good knowing you made a difference in helping others and starting a chain to improve water quality and the environment.”
Making that connection from classroom to the world around them is the most important thing from an educator’s view said Lisa Jeffery, a science teacher overseeing the EcoTeam.
The experience has also opened students’ eyes to different career paths based on their environmental interests.
“The most positive outcome is the students have become empowered,” Jeffery said.
“As teenagers, they can see they can reach out to a few other teenagers and bring in scientists, politicians and industry representatives and work together to find a solution to an international problem.
“They’ve become comfortable speaking in public. It’s promoted leadership and they’re a very dedicated group with a lot of commitment to their community.”
Jeffrey said the summit was never part of the group’s original plans, but evolved naturally out of the students’ passion.
The students dedicated hours of their own time teaching at local schools, handing out pamphlets at local rinks and doing speaking engagements and presentations.
“They’ve educated people who have shared that knowledge with others,” Jeffrey said. “We’ve been on tour.”
That process won’t end with the summit or the school year and the message will spread beyond the northern shores of Lake Erie.
“We’ve made good contacts who are going to stay in touch with us,” Jeffrey said.
“The Grade 5s from David Suzuki School are coming to the summit and will be part of our working groups. They’re going to be the hub for the Windsor area and teach other groups.”
