The Green Apple School Program is a Metro Inc. initiative created to encourage students to get involved in conservation and healthy living. Metro Inc. has invested $1 million into the program that this fall, through the bag fee, began providing hundreds of $1,000 grants to primary and secondary schools in Quebec and Ontario with big ideas for green projects in their schools and communities.

The Green Apple Program is making a difference in this community. Students at Ecole St. Léon were recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Fletcher Metro for their green project to make their cafeteria more environmentally friendly through a zero waste program.

Using the theme “An idea today keeps the waste away” the Green Apple Program encourages students to develop and submit an executable project to improve the environment and their community, such as tree planting or a recycling program that will be facilitated by the students by June 1, 2010.

Projects can be initiatives that take place within the school environment either inside or on school grounds or in the community. Students at James Lyng High School in St. Henri have also received a scholarship from Metro Fletcher to help residents in their community learn how to recycle their waste.

Concordia student volunteer Ashley Roy worked with the students to develop a project and apply for the scholarship. In March 2010, Roy and her Green Team of 20 plus students will work hands-on with 30 to 40 families in the community to help them better understanding the hows of recycling.

To apply for a scholarship students in elementary and high schools in Quebec must submit a proposal at www.greenapplegrants.ca by March 1, 2010. The proposal must be approved by a class teacher/ project leader and the school principal. For more information go to the bilingual site www.greenapplegrants.ca.