J.D. Irving, Limited has been a proud sponsor of Envirothon NB, the largest bilingual high school environmental education competition in the province, since it began in 2000.  At this year’s competition, hosted at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton on May 4-5, 2014, the Lady Spartans team from St. Stephen High School were the victors among thirteen teams from eight schools.  

The winning team included Freya Clark, Megan Hughes, Candace Mosher, Aldea Poirier, and Laura Rigby.

Envirothon NB gives students the opportunity to understand and study local environment and ecosystems.  In a challenge that involved field test scores and presentations before a panel of four judges, the competition tested students on their knowledge both in class and in the field.  Participating teams were presented with a current environmental issue for which to develop a plan of action:  increase and maintain sustainable agriculture/locally grown agriculture.  Teams were brought to the Potato Research Station in Lincoln, NB, where they were tested on their knowledge of wildlife, aquatics, forestry, and soils. They then collected information to develop their plan and delivered twenty-minute oral presentations in front of the panel of judges. 

Kelly Honeyman, Naturalist for J.D. Irving, Limited and one of the judges, said, “In some of the presentations, students were very creative and role played consultants, farmers, foresters - and even restaurant owners - when presenting their ideas.  The competition is a wonderful experience for the students exploring solutions to environmental issues and gaining experience in fields such as forestry and wildlife management. The passion and knowledge of these young people is impressive.” 

“The Envirothon NB program is a great hands-on learning experience for high schools that serve to educate youth on the importance of protecting the future of our natural resources,” Becky Geneau, Envirothon NB Coordinator said.  “Aside from Envirothon NB being a learning opportunity, it is also a great networking opportunity for students to meet other students from across the province and it introduces them to potential careers in natural resources' management.” 

Sabrina de Jong, the Lady Spartans’ Team Advisor, expressed her gratitude about Envirothon NB, explaining, “The hands-on environmental research and forestry management skills that these students learn, and more importantly practice, will set them apart from their peers in a fast-growing, environmentally enlightened global job market.  The participants of Envirothon are the leaders, researchers, and environmental stewards of not only the future, but of the present time."

The Lady Spartans were presented with individual medals, a plaque, and a five-day trip to the UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve along with the winning Envirothon teams from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. 

The main goal of the Envirothon NB Competition is to educate and bring awareness to participants about the environment we call home, thus reducing the impact of each participant’s own environmental footprint.