From Deb Pella Keen: On May 27, I was honoured to be part of the Ontario Envirothon championship as a judge on the final day. Almost 500 students from 70 schools participated in competitions in the lead up to the provincial championship held at the University of Waterloo.
Congratulations to the top ranking teams:
- First Place: University of Toronto Schools
- Second Place: Waterloo Collegiate Institute
- Third Place: Milliken Mills High School
Every year, the provincial competition celebrates the team that shows exceptional positivity toward their peers and competitors alike with a “Spirit Award”. This year, we are absolutely delighted to share that the award has been renamed the Maple Leaves Forever Spirit Award.
This honor recognizes Ken Jewett, founder of MLF, and celebrates his deep commitment to empowering youth as environmental leaders through curiosity and community building.
Due to the overwhelming spirit demonstrated at the 2026 championship, three teams tied for the Maple Leaves Forever Spirit Award:
- Innisdale Secondary School from Simcoe/Dufferin region
- Port Hope High School from Kawartha Lakes region
- West Elgin Secondary School from the Southwestern region
Congratulations to the teams, and especially stoked that a potted native Red Maple tree accompanied one of the teams for their journey!
Find out more about Ontario Envirothon at: forestscanada.ca/en/program/ontario-envirothon
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