MONTRÉAL
Land Acknowledgment
We would like to acknowledge that our organization is located on unceded Indigenous lands, where we are uninvited settlers. The island of so-called Montréal was originally named Tiohtià:ke, by the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation are recognized as the original custodians of the lands and waters on which we plan to gather. We offer recognition and support of all Indigenous people and nations who have and continue to call these lands and waters their homes. Land back!
Sustainable Youth Canada in Montréal operates on the high school, cegep and university levels. As one of the newest regions of SYC, it consists of dedicated students who work together to:
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Promote, through their projects, a socio-cultural development of Montreal towards further integration of sustainable practices into urban society
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Connect passionate youth with sustainability opportunities in Montréal.
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Lead local initiatives to positively affect energy and environmental sustainability through engaging in student-led community events
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Hold fundraisers to engage with the public while supporting charities for sustainability.
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Partner with local organizations to bridge the gap between partner organizations seeking assistance and youth volunteers seeking opportunities to get involved with sustainability.
We are always seeking new members to volunteer with us, so if you are interested in getting involved, please register here. We look forward to having you join us!
What is happening in Montreal?
SYC, Montréal is in a period of growth. We are excited to work with dedicated youth around Montréal to plan environmental initiatives and conferences motivating youth to take action in making Montreal a greener city. Stay tuned for more updates on SYC Montréal.
Past and Upcoming projects of 2023
Project Phoenix: Cleaning Up Angell Woods 一 Ongoing
SYC, in collaboration with Trash Talk, is undertaking a project to assess the environmental status of a public green space, Angell Woods, in Beaconsfield, QC. This 210-acre park is composed of wetlands, old forests and new growth but it has historically been used as an informal dumping ground for tiling material, car parts, railway ties, cement, household waste, and even chemical products. Our project, in the short term, is to clean Angell Woods while conducting research on the environment.
Canadian Wildlife Federation Youth Mentoring 一 Summer 2021
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is partnering with SYC in a bioblitz event for youths 15-18 years old to shed light on the ecological value of the Falaise St-Jacques and introduce them to sustainable community-led projects.
Montreal Recycling Review and Awareness Initiative 一 Fall 2021
In order to address the gap in public knowledge on how recycling works in the City of Montreal, as well as put pressure on policymakers to adopt more sustainable practices, SYC is undertaking a review of the current recycling program in Montreal. This will include an investigation on what is recycled, how much is recycled, and where the recycling products truly end up. The end goal is to produce a report and public awareness campaign which outlines the status of recycling in the city and to create policy recommendations where necessary.
Montreal West City Council Biodiversity Initiative 一 Spring 2021
SYC served as a consultant for Montreal West Green City Council to create preliminary plans for a project to increase natural biodiversity in the township. We helped through the brainstorming process and suggested different implementation strategies. We contributed to research the species of plants that would most benefit the ecosystem, as well as the legality and plausibility of planting on the city and personal property.
Environmental education in Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Summer camp 一 Summer 2020 AND 2021
For the second year in a row, SYC animated activities in the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Summer camp to teach young campers about waste management and recycling. Over the course of two days, we cleaned the local neighborhoods by picking up trash, recycled old t-shirts into tote bags, and created grass beings by planting grass and wildflower seeds in biodegradable cups that the campers decorated.
Waste Management Consulting 一 Spring 2021
When citizens reached out to us with concerns that their work offices downtown did not have composting, let alone recycling, we provided them with information, connected them with local Éco-Quartiers, and helped them build a plan of action. They chose not to go forward with their plan right away and we respected that.
School Compost Initiative with Éco-quartier 一 Fall 2020 to Winter 2021
SYC worked with a local Eco-quartier to implement composting in École primaire des Coquelicots, a Montreal primary school. We provided educational resources and worked with our liaisons to see that the staff team and all 118 students had the information necessary to successfully implement the initiative in their classrooms. This included creating an original video that explained the basics of composting in an age-appropriate and fun way
Meet the Team
Regional Directors
Sam Loutet,
Regional Co-Director
Sam Loutet is a published scientific researcher and Canadian climate activist. After spending most of her life on lakes throughout the country competing and coaching in the sport of sprint canoe, she became passionate about protecting the environment. She proudly served as the Initiatives Chair at Sustainable Youth Canada Montréal for three years, and is now the Regional Director, where she is excited to keep engaging and empowering youth in the climate movement. Her experiences as a queer person of colour have highlighted the need for intersectionality and inclusion in the sustainability movement, and encourage her to fight for the right of everyone to enjoy a cleaner, safer future. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Honours in Earth Systems Science from McGill University, and hopes to continue onto graduate studies in the field of oceanography. In her free time, Sam enjoys spending time with her two cats, Céline Dion and Soup.
Supervisory Team
Ceylan Borgers, Finance Coordinator
Ceylan is a master’s student in International Relations at the London School of Economics and obtained her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Cinema Studies from the University of Toronto. Ceylan’s master’s thesis is focused on the relationship between environmental disasters and migration patterns, and the shortcomings of current environmental and immigration policies to address the rise in climate educed migration. Ceylan hopes to utilize the knowledge she has acquired during her academic career to tackle issues surrounding climate change in her community and elsewhere.
Action Team
Allie Wang,
Outreach Coordinator
Allie Wang is studying nutrition at McGill university, she is also a sprint kayak athlete who spends most of her days training outdoors. Her love for nature and for beautiful landscapes carries over into a drive for environmental protection and sustainability. Allie’s passion for the environment and for social justice first arose during her 5 years in high school where she participated in a program that encourages students to fight social inequities and engage themselves in environmental issues. In fact, Allie concluded her high school with a 3-week trip in Cambodia where she offered help in a local orphanage and filmed a short documentary on the development of fair trade organizations in Phnom Penh. From then on, she realized that she had the power to offer solutions, big or small, and bring changes to the various social and environmental issues she cares about.
Communication Team
Rain Cakir,
Communications Coordinator
Rain graduated from McGill University’s Macdonald Campus with a B.Sc. in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, holding a major in Environment (Water Environments and Ecosystems) and a minor in Geography. Growing up near the Mediterranean coast and witnessing environmental damage first-hand, she is especially passionate about protecting aquatic and coastal ecosystems, marine conservation and urban sustainability. After participating in research projects about local environmental issues, she believes that people care deeply about their nature and communities, and possess the power to make the necessary changes with adequate resources and education. With SYC, Rain hopes to raise awareness in climate problems, and promote collective action towards sustainable methods, social, and environmental justice.
If you have any questions about this region, please don't hesitate to contact the regional directors at montreal@sustainableyouthcanada.com