As part of World Green Building Week, the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) and the Canada Coalition for Green Schools recognize Canadian schools that promote sustainability and offer programs that encourage awareness of environmental issues.

This year it’s a tie! Both Lacombe Composite High School in Lacombe, Alta., and Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ont., have been named this year’s Greenest School in Canada. The winning schools split the $2,000 cash award to put toward a new or ongoing sustainability project.

“Both schools had impressive submissions that set them apart this year, incorporating both physical green building and curriculum changes,” said Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the CaGBC.

At Lacombe High School sustainability is weaved throughout the school’s programming in a variety of ways including a 32 solar panel array and portable solar for classrooms and their 42-foot energy efficient greenhouse that the school uses as a learning lab for students in how to grow sustainable, healthy food.

Lacombe Composite High School in Lacombe, Alta.

At Trinity College School, sustainability is at the forefront of everything they do. Including a five-year sustainability plan focused on reducing environmental footprint and significant efforts to manage its annual energy consumption through regular electricity audits, a major lighting retrofit and a 220kW solar PV installation with another 180kW planned. Trinity College has also diverted 70 per cent of its annual waste.

Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ont.

The runners-up of the 2018 Greenest School in Canada competition were Westwood Community High School in Fort McMurray, Alta., in second place and an honourable mention to Churchill Community High School in La Ronge, Sask.

For a closer look at the schools and their many initiatives including, visit the CaGBC’s website.