News release

Nova Scotia Youth Champion for Cleaner and Healthier Communities

Environment (April 2008 - Feb. 2021)

Nova Scotia communities are greener and healthier thanks to the dedication of more than 60 high school, university and college students.

Students were placed with organizations across the province to support local efforts in environmental education, air quality, pollution prevention, conservation and protection, healthy sexuality, mental health, and injury prevention.

"These young people have provided valuable support to programs across the province while contributing to the health of our environment and our citizens," said Sterling Belliveau, Minister of Environment. "Investing in our youth is an important part of growing the economy and making life better for all Nova Scotians."

For the past 21 years, the Department of Environment has employed students through the Nova Scotia Youth Conservation Corps, a program that provides them with practical training and employment opportunities.

Youth spent their summer doing such things as restoring rivers, conducting waste audits, testing water and air quality, and researching programs on urban biodiversity and green buildings.

Melissa Healey spent her summer working on a water quality testing project in partnership with Saint Mary's University. "Through the youth corps program I was able to gain valuable experience and do some great work for the environment. I really enjoyed the summer and made a lot of new contacts."

This year, the Department of Health Promotion and Protection joined the program, making the link between environmental and human health. Fourteen students worked on projects such as bringing information on brain injury and helmets to young people at skate parks, planning a youth component to a national suicide prevention conference, and bringing health promotion information to new immigrant teens.

Members of Nova Scotia's Youth Conservation Corps will showcase their contributions to the environment and health promotion at Project Expo today, Aug. 25. The expo will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Rosaria Student Centre at Mount Saint Vincent University, 166 Bedford Highway, Halifax.

For more information on the program go to the department website at www.gov.ns.ca/nse/youth.