Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has designed a range of programs for new Canadians, including education for post-secondary students, bridge training for environmental professionals, and opportunities for newcomers discover and explore their local natural environment.
Multicultural Connections
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) Multicultural Connections Program (MCP) helps introduce new Canadians to their local natural environment.
Language and economic barriers can limit the participation of newcomers in nature-based events and outings. To help overcome these barriers, the MCP program engages newcomers through in-class environmental educational programs at English language learning centres, as well as through field trips and participation at cultural/faith events.
Our programs enable newcomers to Canada to experience local green spaces, and to receive information that helps them participate in climate change initiatives, including water, waste and energy conservation efforts at home.
Adult language centre presentations are often delivered with local and regional municipal partners, to provide context and ensure consistency with water and waste messaging within in each municipality.
PRESENTATIONS AT LANGUAGE CENTRES
TRCA half-day presentations at adult learning centres are free of charge. The costs are covered through the generous support of our regional funding partners.
Presentations are held at your language centre. We can run the presentations in the classroom, in a boardroom or in a large room able to accommodate all the students and a PowerPoint presentation. If you have an outdoor space at your site, we would welcome the opportunity to take your group outside.
You can book two as many as two presentations per day at your language centre.
To book a presentation, please contact:
Peel Region:
Shintu Cherian, Coordinator
416.661.6600 x 5394
scherian@trca.on.ca
Toronto and York Region:
Lisa Ward, Coordinator
416.661.6600 ext 5854
lward@trca.on.ca
To learn more about TRCA presentations, please check out our FAQs.
Programs Available:
| Great Lakes and Water Conservation Explore the importance of the Great Lakes and learn about water as a critical resource. Discover practical ways to conserve water every day at home. Great Lakes / Water Conservation Presentation Vocabulary |
| Solid Waste Management Through the use of props, group activities and an interactive presentation, you will learn the importance of the “3Rs” and how waste is managed in your municipality. Solid Waste Management Presentation Vocabulary |
| Climate Change Learn the vocabulary related to climate change and explore different solutions to effectively deal with this global crisis. Climate Change Presentation Vocabulary |
| Energy Conservation Through the use of props and group activities learn about the importance of conserving energy and practical ways to do so. Energy Conservation Presentation Vocabulary |
| The Variety of Life: Biodiversity and Pollinator Plants Explore the importance of biodiversity, pollinators and pollinator plants. Instructors will receive training to accommodate future independent program delivery. The Variety of Life Presentation Vocabulary |
| An Introduction to First Nations Learn about First Nations Peoples across Canada prior to European contact. This interactive presentation focuses on the Iroquoian peoples living around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin. Introduction to First Nations in Canada Presentation Vocabulary |
| The Contact Period Travel through the history of the New World with the use of a Power Point presentation and interactive activities. Learn about European colonization and its impact on the Indigenous people of Canada. The Contact Period: The European Arrival in the New World Presentation Vocabulary |
Planning a Field Trip?
Explore the wide range of outdoor locations that TRCA offers.
Transportation:
We know that transportation costs can be a barrier for language centre groups participating in field trips. Limited funding is available to language centres to assist with busing costs for trips to our local green spaces.
Funding is limited and the bus subsidy will be provided on a first come-first serve basis
To apply for transportation subsidy, please complete and submit the application form here.
Train the Trainer:
Training sessions are available to language teachers who are interested in delivering environmental –theme presentations to students at their centre. Training will include lesson plans, vocabulary sheets, power point presentations and simple games and activities.
Training sessions will run at a nominal cost and will be promoted by email to the language centres. Depending upon the interest, training sessions will be offered twice a year (March and September). To add your names to the list for the next session please contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What do the presentations cost
Our presentations are free of charge.
2. Where are the presentations held?
Presentations are held at your language centre.
3. How do I book a presentation?
You can book your presentation by phone or email. Contact us.
4. How many presentations can I book?
You can book two presentations per day at your language centre.
5. How long are the presentations?
The presentations are typically 2 hours to 2.5 hours in length.
6. How many students can participate at once?
To book a presentation, we require a minimum of 15-20 students per session.
7. Can I book presentations on different topics?
You can book presentations on different topics. You can pick one topic in the morning session and a different topic in the afternoon.
8. How do I know which dates are available to book presentations?
Please contact the program coordinators for available dates.
9. What language levels can participate in the program?
Our presentations are designed for adult students with an intermediate to advance language level. Presentations are not suitable for literacy and lower language level classes. Ask our coordinators about the presentation content before you book.
10. What should we do as a class to prepare for your presentation?
Language teachers who have confirmed a booking will receive a vocabulary sheet two weeks prior to the presentation. Please familiarize the students with the new words and terminology. Reviewing the vocabulary as a class is an essential part of the preparation.
11. What are some of the classroom resource needed?
We will need to use a laptop, projector and a white or black board. If any of these resources are not available, please inform the coordinator when booking a presentation.
12. What will our students learn during the presentations?
Students will be learning about local environmental issues, the importance of conservation and actions they can take at home and in their own community. For the learning objectives of a specific topic, please refer to the presentation descriptions.
13. Are there any follow up activities after the presentations?
Yes. Following each presentation the teacher and the students are asked to complete a presentation evaluation. Worksheets, web links and resources will be provided to the teachers as follow-up activities.
Growing Pollinator Plants
TRCA’s Multicultural Connections Program has developed an educational program titled Growing Pollinator Plants, which will engage 2,500 newcomers to Canada through classroom presentations, planting events and hands-on activities.
This project, supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program, will contribute to the Government of Canada’s National Conservation Plan by restoring 2.8 hectares of urban green space with 21,000 native pollinator plants in the Region of Peel, Toronto and York Region.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
There is a general lack of awareness about the significant role of pollinators, especially the native bees of Canada. Due to their influence in our daily lives, it is important to learn more about native pollinators, and how to increase urban biodiversity by growing a variety of native pollinator plants across the Greater Toronto Area.
Instructors will receive training to accommodate future independent program delivery.
Growing Pollinator Plants Presentation Vocabulary
CONTACT US
Toronto and Region of Peel:
Lisa Ward, Coordinator
416.661.6600 ext 5854
lward@trca.on.ca
York Region:
Leigha Howard, Supervisor
416.661.6600 ext 5343
lhoward@trca.on.ca
The views expressed herein are solely those of Toronto and Region Conservation Foundation (formerly The Living City Foundation) / Les opinions exprimées dans ce document sont celles de Toronto and Region Conservation Foundation (formerly The Living City Foundation).
Newcomer Youth Green Economy Project
Funded by the Government of Ontario, the Newcomer Youth Green Economy Project (NYGEP) supports newcomer post-secondary students in the GTA to access field trips, experiential learning opportunities and job skills training.
Students will have access to learning opportunities in multiple environmental career pathways, including ecological restoration, water management, green energy/green building and environmental education.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
- Must be 18-29 years of age and currently enrolled in an undergraduate college or university program in the GTA.
- Must have immigrated to Canada within the last 10 years (international students are not eligible).
- Major focus of study must be in the environmental sector (e.g. Environmental science, engineering, education or studies).
WHAT DO STUDENTS RECEIVE?
- JOB SEARCH AND CORPORATE CULTURE TRAINING:
Six in-class full-day workshops on Saturdays throughout the semester where you will learn about corporate culture and job search skills in the environmental sector. You will prepare your resumes and perfect interview skills.
- ONLINE TRAINING:
30 hours of existing Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) online training on job search and communication. Topics: labour market, resume targeting, networking, making a good first impression, teamwork, giving and receiving feedback.
- TECHNICAL TRAINING:
Online technical modules covering: low impact development (LID), environmental legislation.
- FIELD TRIP:
To Kortright Centre for Conservation.
- EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PLACEMENT:
During the reading week, students will be placed with a host employer in one of the four streams for an experiential learning opportunity. The host employer will provide a mentor who will guide a group of five students (per stream) through completion of a real-world project.
- STIPEND
Students will receive a $500 stipend for their participation in the project to offset travel and other related costs to participation. This will be provided at the end of the semester, pending successful attendance and participation.
APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM
Applications for our Winter 2019 Session are now closed. Thanks to all for your enthusiasm! Please check back with us in Spring 2019 for information on upcoming programming.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Sign up to be added to the program mailing list:
QUESTIONS?
Contact Daphne Paszterko: daphne.paszterko@trca.on.ca
Response within 2 business days.
FUNDED IN PART BY:
PAIE Bridge Training Program
Professional Access into Employment (PAIE) is an innovative bridge training program designed to help internationally-trained environmental professionals launch their careers in Engineering, Geoscience, Environmental Science and Planning here in Canada.
The one-year PAIE program equips participants with an understanding of the local labour market, and supports them as they seek to secure employment and gain the Canadian experience required for professional licensing and certification.
PAIE offers participants:
- Unlimited employment and job search coaching.
- Over 150 hours of professions-specific and soft skills training.
- Access to a mentor in their field.
- Post-hire and retention support from staff.
