Ontario Nature’s Third Annual Youth Writing Contest

For the third year in a row, Ontario Nature asked kids in grades 7 and 8 to write about some aspect of the natural environment. This time we asked children to respond to the question, “How is climate change affecting you and your community?” As one might expect, the essays we received varied widely and the selection committee – Gary Clement, author and cartoonist for the National Post, Peter Gorrie, environmental reporter, Wes Muir, director of corporate communications for Waste Management Inc., and Ontario Nature board member Stephanie Foster – chose the winners with great difficulty.

We were not only impressed by the quality of the essays submitted but also encouraged by their number – nearly 200, almost twice as many as last year. Many people in the environmental community share a concern that most urban kids have little or no access to nature. So knowing that every year more and more children write thoughtfully, and sometimes passionately, about the natural world is a welcome counterbalance.

The writers of the winning essays received their awards at Ontario Nature’s annual general meeting in June. We gratefully acknowledge the contest sponsor, Waste Management Inc.

FIVE WINNERS

1st: 101 Ideas
by Emma from Toronto

2nd: How is climate change affecting you and your community?
by Lauren from Burlington

3rd: The Diary of a Canadian, eh?
by Taylor from Sault Ste. Marie

4th: Not Today
by Melyssa from Toronto

5th: The Marsh
Andrew from Toronto

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101 Ideas

by Emma from Toronto

Ten people are standing in a line. Four are thinking about other engagements, four are wondering why they’re there and two are too stressed and tired to even care. Thirty people come out of a talk about global warming, but less than half are still thinking about the talk. Twenty people could be reading this right now. Maybe half will actually be thinking about the environment. The rest are probably wondering where I’m getting these statistics or why those people were standing in a line. My point is that everyone hears about climate change, but most people are too busy to really care. When I was little, my family went on a cross-Canada excursion, or at least that’s what my dad called it. I called it two weeks sitting next to my brother with nothing to do but fight. Do you think at the age of seven, if I had looked out the window, I would have seen the fields and thought, hey, maybe instead of playing Game Boy I should go outside and pick up some trash?

It is clear that saving the environment is not at the top of everyone’s to-do list. So, how do we get it on that list? If we made up slogans to save the environment or nifty little tunes, do you think people would clean up their act? Slogans are cute and fun to sing, but they don’t always make me want to buy the product. What if we made a movie? Not a movie with a guy saying a bunch of facts, but a kid movie full of animated creatures fixing the earth.

Do you think that kids would tell their parents to stop using the car, or do you think they would ask them to drive to the store and buy them figurines of the creatures? We could make a quick fix and get everyone to stick to it, force people to never again use their cars or never use any plastic. Do you think people would agree, or do you think they would vote for another government that would stop the ban on cars and plastic? What if we appealed to their sensitive or guilty sides by showing TV ads of dying polar bears and penguins? Do you think people are going to stare at them feeling bad, or do you think they will flip to a cheerier channel?

My point is there are 101 ideas of how to get people to care about the environment, but there’s only going to be one solution. People will stop when they have to stop. They’ll stop littering when there’s nothing to litter with. They’ll stop driving cars when they have other ways to get around. They’ll save the earth when there is no other way. So now that we’ve established that, we are not actually going to wait till it’s too late. We’ve got to make it out-of-the-way for people to kill the environment. We have to make drinks available for sale only if you have your own cup to put them in. Same with groceries – you get them when you have your own canvas bag. What about electric cars? Bring their price down and people will buy them over expensive gas cars. If we make it inconvenient to kill the earth, do you think people will do it? Sorry to break it to you, but most people are lazy.

So 10 years from now, we are doing this, making things better by making things only work one way. Another 10 people stand in a line. Four are still thinking about other engagements, four are still wondering why they’re there and two are too stressed and tired to even care. These people still have the same things on their mind, but now four take the bus and six drive electric cars. Six don’t have a single plastic bag in their home and three haven’t had a paper cup in years. The people may still have the same things on their mind, but even if they don’t know it, they are healthier and maybe slightly happier. They changed the world because it was inconvenient not to.

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How is climate change affecting you and your community

by Lauren from Burlington

Global warming is a serious problem that has negatively affected many aspects of life in my community of Burlington, in southwestern Ontario. Several environmental changes have been observed over the years, due to increasing temperatures and higher pollution levels from larger centres such as Toronto and Hamilton. Warmer summer and winter seasons have shortened fall and spring, and this has forced many people to change their lifestyles to adapt to more drought-like conditions in our region. Bird migration patterns and the growing cycles of plants and trees in our forests and gardens have also been altered.

Reduced rainfall and snow cover have been the most serious problems that have had the greatest impact on our neighbourhood. Land is extremely dry, and there is less water to use on hot days, because groundwater levels are low. People are aware that the water supply from Lake Ontario is not going to last forever, and they have tried to limit the number of days they water gardens and lawns. They have made an effort to stop using all unnecessary water completely in the months of July and August, to promote conservation. Hot weather mixed with poor air quality is also very unhealthy for many children with asthma. Burlington has many beautiful green areas, but the pollution from surrounding cities settles directly over us. Many seniors with respiratory illnesses cannot even venture outside during the many hot and humid days we now experience in this part of Ontario. Children’s outdoor winter programs in Halton have also been affected by climate change. There are fewer days in our winter season to enjoy local outdoor skating, snowshoeing or crosscountry skiing activities. In addition, the fall season has become extremely short over the past few years. It seems that people jump from summer to winter very late in the year and do not even start wearing their heavy jackets and coats until the middle of December.

More geese have been seen roaming around our community throughout the year. The Canada goose is a magnificent bird, but there are flocks that no longer migrate. There is enough food for them on our many golf courses to survive the winter, because the snow cover has been reduced. Halton’s maple trees are not showing their beautiful red leaves in October either, because the night temperatures are too warm. Many people have noticed that tree species in our forests are dry and that they are becoming more susceptible to disease. Pests are not being killed off by cold weather as they were in the past. Our tulip bulbs have been blooming much earlier and many trees have leaf buds well before the beginning of spring.

Attending Halton’s nature camps over the years has always been a highlight of my summer vacation. These programs are important because they introduce young children to the beauty of nature and they then learn to care about the environment. During our many hikes, I have also observed that warmer temperatures seem to be drying up important wetland areas (some reservoirs) and ponds that birds and frogs need as habitats.

Families in our community care and are trying hard to change their ways so that they can reduce their carbon footprints. They are recycling more and using less plastic. There is also strong support for local farmers, and our composting program began in the spring of 2008. I have noticed an increase in the number of pedestrians and cyclists who are leaving their cars at home to run simple errands that are only blocks away. There has also been an increase in the number and variety of green products available at our local stores.

It is important for everyone to realize that climate change is having a negative effect on the people, birds and vegetation of Ontario and beyond. Community education programs about global warming are necessary to teach people how to adapt their behaviour so that they can begin to improve the health of our cities for future generations.

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The Diary of a Canadian, eh?

by Taylor from Sault Ste. Marie

July 16, 2023:
This is my first time back in 27 years. A lot has changed in Canada: the people, the economy, even my grumpy old neighbour, Jack, but especially the climate. It’s 24 C and we actually have to wear sunscreen! That’s never happened before! Well, in Australia we did, but never in Canada! I remember when I was seven years old we could play outside for hours and hours on end until we got sunburned, then our mothers would peel off the skin and that was it. The next day we would go out and do it all again!

October 31, 2023:
It’s Halloween today. I took my nephew Gordon and my two kids out trick-or-treating, and that reminded me of when I used to go hunting for goodies! I would get all dressed up, but first I’d have to put on layers and layers of extra clothes just to stay warm. Nowadays all you need is a costume.

December 23, 2023:
Today I tripped over something in my garage while getting my wrench to fix the broken chairs in my dining room. At first I didn’t know what it was, so I dusted it off. It sort of looked like this giant mutant robot, but then I realized it was just my dad’s old snow blower from 12 years ago. We hadn’t needed it in FOREVER and it doesn’t look like we’ll need it for a while! It also looks like it’s going to be a green Christmas again this year. It’s quite sad because it reminded me of the good ol’ days when my f amily and I would take a long trip out to Farmer Bob’s for a sleigh ride in the snow. Now it’s more like a horse ride in the grass. There is no point in even getting a hot chocolate afterwards because you’re not even cold!

May 15, 2024:
I finally made it out to camp this weekend. It’s been all winter since I got to the cabin by the lake, but when I got there I noticed there was no lake. The water level had dropped tremendously. It’s at a record low level! Last year the water was two feet deep, but now it’s gone down to a foot and a half. My daughters were very disappointed, because they were looking forward to swimming. Now, it’s like they are walking in a puddle just after it rained! My husband and I were also disappointed by the drop in the water level, because we had loaded up the two kayaks and our canoe. We had a whole day on the water planned. Well, we still had lots of fun. We always seem to!

August 30, 2024:
I got another call today. Another one of my friends, Patty, has skin cancer. That’s the third one; Patty, Ellen and Terry. It’s getting worse because of the uv rays and how the earth and the atmosphere are getting hotter. Patty has gone through so much, from the passing of her mother just recently to this. I wish I could do something, but you can’t change the weather or how fast Patty will get better. It’s heartbreaking to see somebody with as much spunk and enthusiasm as Patty feel as poorly as she does. I guess all we can do is put on coats and coats of sunscreen and wear a hat when we go out to prevent getting this terrible disease!

Four years later …

February 10, 2028:
We have lived here for about five years now. I don’t think we’ll be staying for much longer, though. The water is all dried up and the grass is dead. Maybe it’s time to move back. Or will it only be worse in Australia? I’m not certain but I’ll sleep on it.

It only got worse. I could notice it getting warmer and warmer each and every day.

Note:
That’s what it’s going to be like in 20 or 25 years if we don’t all contribute to saving our earth. It could be something as easy as recycling your bottles – everything makes a difference.