Provincial/Territorial Working Groups

The Provincial/Territorial Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Working Groups support and foster a culture of ESD in each jurisdiction. They will achieve this vision by engaging senior leaders from provincial Ministries, federal government, the formal, informal and non-formal education sectors, business and community organizations in determining the goals, priorities and objectives for ESD activities and working together to support their regional advancement. To date, eight Provincial/Territorial ESD Working Groups have been established. It is proposed to have Working Groups established in every jurisdiction in Canada.

Objectives:

• Build Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into the formal/non-formal and informal education culture, including the body of generally accepted curriculum and learning activities, teacher training, facilities management, procurement, etc.
• Establish strategic collaborations between governments, education sector leaders, business, and community NGO’s in order to increase cohesion and leverage in creating a culture for ESD.
• Relay a sense of urgency and the latest science on critical sustainability issues such HIV/Aids, climate change, poverty reduction and energy.
• Coordinate, facilitate connections and bring together stake-holders from the formal, non-formal and in-formal education sector for policy input, debate, exchange, planning to enhance delivery of ESD activities in support of the UN’s Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

Expected Results:

• A culture of Education for Sustainable Development is fostered in Canada;
• Support for educators and youth as they pursue practical and action-oriented activities in support of Education for Sustainable Development;
• Advanced policy and curricula related to Education for Sustainable Development.

Background:

The first working group was established in 2005 by Manitoba as a pilot for the project. In Feburary 2006, seven additional provinces/territories were selected to establish ESD Working Groups. These include British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Nunavut. In 2008, two additional working groups were established in Prince Edward Island and Newfounland Labrador.

The intent of this initiative is to establish ESD Working Groups in all provinces and territories in Canada. Representatives of each of these working groups will sit on ESD Canada.

ESD Working Group contact information

Other Jurisdictional Contact Information