Vaughan Hosts Ecological Action Conference for Youth at City Hall
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More than 200 high school students from across York Region attended the 4th annual Ecological Action Conference at Vaughan City Hall on October 12. The City of Vaughan was the host city for event, which encouraged youth to take action to protect the environment.
“Today’s youth will move us toward a greener future and ensure the well-being of our communities and planet,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. “This conference held in Vaughan’s environmentally leading edge City Hall will inspire all of us to be engaged in discussing the important social, cultural and economic issues of our time. By attending this event our youth have taken an important step in advancing the cause of making our planet a better place to live."
The Ecological Action Conference is organized by the Youth Environmental Network of York Region, founded in 2007 by high school student Vino Jeyapalan to raise awareness of environmental issues among youth. Today, it involves a network of more than 300 volunteers.
Students from 13 York Region high schools, including three from Vaughan, attended the conference at Vaughan City Hall. It included opening remarks by Mayor Bevilacqua, a keynote address by arctic explorer Geoff Green, workshop presentations, and networking opportunities. The theme of Environmental Entrepreneurship introduced students to benefits of starting an eco-friendly business. The Vaughan Business Enterprise Centre (VBEC) was also on hand to provide information to attendees about entrepreneurship and growing a business.
“We all have a social responsibility to protect our environment, and the young people that are here today have demonstrated that, collectively, we can help build a greener Vaughan for future generations,” said City Manager Clayton Harris. “The commitment they have shown to improving the environment and their community speaks volumes to the type of leadership and dedication of our youth in our City and the Region.”