Petition to Bernard Drainville, Minister of Education, on the importance of implementing community gardens in Quebec high schools.

Dear Mr. Drainville,

As we are all aware, the climate crisis is increasingly urgent and without action will continue to cause life-threatening natural disasters, economic loss, famine, and mass displacement affecting all life on our planet. A study by The National Environmental Education Foundation (2024) shows that nature education fosters environmental stewardship in students prompting them to adapt their lives to care for their environment, ultimately decreasing the effects of climate change.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Quebec, call upon you to implement the education of climate change and develop infrastructure supporting the establishment of community gardens in Quebec high schools. It is crucial to empower young people to act and raise awareness of the urgency of this global challenge as they are the leaders of tomorrow. These community gardens will allow the integration of climate change topics in the curriculum in subjects like science, ethics, and geography by providing opportunities for hands-on learning. It is imperative to deliver to the educational system numerous avenues to speak to students about climate change and promote collaborative solutions. This is all possible through the shared responsibility of a sustainable green space.

Currently, there are multiple issues limiting access to available community gardens including year-long wait lists for plots and restriction to specific neighborhoods. Having local school gardens and teaching students about their necessities will allow them to cultivate closer relationships with nature in this digital age, educating them on environmental literacy and the importance of nurturing and maintaining a healthy environment. Furthermore, it will open the door to integrating environmental education into school curricula, creating a future generation that is increasingly knowledgeable on their environmental impact.