Region 6 awards recycling students

The class, also represented by teachers Kathy Jollimore and Iva Wagstaff, earned first place honours in the Grade Primary to Grade 1 category.

The young students also knew the importance of helping the environment. Hailey said it’s important to recycle “to not get the air dirty” while Ben said helping the environment is “good for the whole world.”

Many of the winners couldn’t make the ceremony at Golden Pond Restaurant due to black ice conditions. Moby S. Loop, however, the always-entertaining recycling robot, made the trip.

Region 6 includes 13 municipalities in West Hants, Lunenburg, Queens and Shelburne counties.

Regional Coordinator Valda Walsh said the night is a celebration of “talent and creativity” and a night to “recognize the importance of recycling.” “Here in Region 6, we’re known as leaders in recycling. We recycle as much as 60 per cent of our waste. And that has a dramatic impact on the economics of our area as well as our environment.”

She added school education programs are one of Region 6’s top priorities.

Resource Recovery Fund Board CEO, Bill Ring talked about Nova Scotia’s leading role in the country and world through recycling, re-using, composting and other initiatives.

As a result, he said, “They are literally coming from around the world to see how we do things here.” He said governments at all levels and, of special importance; the people have earned the province this reputation.

The board helps fund the contest and awards along with corporate sponsors.

He also mentioned their newest initiative, the industry-funded e-waste program and predicted an announcement would be made this spring about a “made-in-Nova Scotia” tire re-use/recycle initiative. Currently, tires are shipped out of the province for processing.

After describing what the board does, he said he hopes the annual contest – the eighth – will continue to inspire young people to help save the environment, which still requires much work. “We need your help.”

Schools with winners received $500 while runner-up winners earned their schools $250. Individuals received a large assortment of environmentally friendly prizes and winning classes will enjoy a pizza party and, for younger students, a visit from Moby.

Milton won the Moby S. Loop Activity Page contest, which featured a colour-by-number picture of Moby.

Megan Dauphinee, a Grade 2 student at Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy in Liverpool, was a runner-up in the Grades 2-3 Bookmark Contest for her drawing, “Push your way to a Better Day.”

South Queens Junior High School Grade 9 student, Megan Doucette was a runner-up in the Grades 7-9 Magazine Collage Contest. Her entry was in French. The title translated to “It’s yours to rediscover – please think green.”