Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2), in collaboration with Wawanesa Insurance, has announced the renewal of the Wawanesa Climate Champions: Youth Innovation Grants for a second consecutive year. This initiative supports young innovators aged 18 to 30 in developing climate solutions that contribute to Canada’s sustainable future.
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A Successful First Year of Youth-Led Innovation
The program’s inaugural year saw significant achievements, with participants presenting their research at national conferences and working with leading experts to address pressing climate challenges.
“The project saw great success in its first year with innovative new youth-led research,” said Dr. Cebert Adamson, Vice President Academic at Mohawk College and C2R2 Co-Chair. “Students had the opportunity to present their research, work with experts across sectors, and develop innovative solutions.”
Jackie De Pape Hornick, Director of Communications & Community Impact at Wawanesa, added:
“These grants empower Canada’s youth to turn their inspiring ideas into action, enabling them to lead impactful change within their communities.”
Highlights from the First Cohort
In its first year, the program awarded $150,000 in grants to five youth innovators, enabling them to tackle diverse climate challenges. Key projects included:
- Maxim Bergeron (CNETE, Shawinigan, QC): Producing microbial enzymes capable of degrading environmental pollutants like plastics and hydrocarbons.
- Muhammad Abdullah (Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon, SK): Mapping flood zones around Foam Lake to support disaster management and urban planning.
- Navdeep Singh (Seneca Polytechnic, Toronto, ON): Collaborating with farming communities to reduce carbon emissions in agriculture using variable rate technology.
- Pal Patel (Mohawk College, Hamilton, ON): Building a platform to help Indigenous communities track and analyze energy usage for better asset management and planning.
- Sophie Walker (Red River College Polytechnic, Winnipeg, MB): Enhancing climate resilience in nursing education through workshops and resource guides for students and faculty.
The program’s impact has been profound, with participants describing the experience as transformational. Muhammad Abdullah shared:
“Receiving the funding enabled me to tackle real-world problems like flood zone mapping using cutting-edge tools. It encouraged me to connect with communities and help them address their challenges.”
Year Two: Continuing the Momentum
The second year of the Wawanesa Climate Champions: Youth Innovation Grants will offer five grants of $30,000 each to young innovators. These grants will support the development, deployment, and advancement of climate-focused projects.
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Application Process
- Eligibility: Youth aged 18-30 currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a C2R2 partner institution.
- Application Period: January 16 to March 13, 2025.
- Announcement Date: Selected projects will be announced on April 22, 2025 (Earth Day).
About C2R2
Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2) is a coalition of 15 colleges, cégeps, institutes, and polytechnics committed to sustainability. With its secretariat at Mohawk College in Hamilton, C2R2 equips students with the skills needed for Canada’s clean economy transition
About Wawanesa Insurance
Founded in 1896, The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company is one of Canada’s largest mutual insurers, with over $3.5 billion in annual revenue. Based in Winnipeg, Wawanesa actively supports community organizations, donating over $3.5 million annually, including more than $2 million for climate resilience initiatives.
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