Staff and students in Rainbow Schools are participating in a series of challenges for Waste Reduction Week from October 20 to 26, 2025 - Wear Blue Monday, Textile Tuesday, e-waste Wednesday, Waste Audit Thursday, and Litterless Lunch Friday.
It's all part of the Rainbow District School Board Environmental Committee's ongoing efforts to build citizens who care about the world in which they live.
"Creating connections between environmental choices and their effects on the planet is part of teaching and learning in Rainbow Schools throughout the school year," said Director of Education Bruce Bourget. "Waste Reduction Week presents an opportunity to focus on sustainability and encourage the broader community to join us in our efforts."
A national environmental campaign, Waste Reduction Week encourages responsible consumption, the use of environmentally friendly products/services, and actions that conserve natural resources and divert waste from disposal.
The initiative also focuses on supporting a circular economy, celebrating environmental efforts and achievements, and fostering innovative ideas and solutions for change.
Traditional Indigenous Medicine Wheel teachings, or M'Shkiki E-waawyeh Kinomaadwinan, parallel a circular economy. By placing ourselves in the centre of the circle - as consumers, responsible members of our family, and active citizens in society - we foster the ability to make conscious choices with positive impacts on the environment.
A variety of traditional Indigenous practices promote environmental stewardship, including harvest only what we need, use all parts of animals/plants during a harvest, avoid waste whenever possible, appreciate hand-me-downs, be creative in reusing items, and evade disposable cutlery by carrying a feast bundle with plates naagnan, bowls dboosk-naagnan, cups minikweganan, forks b'dakjii'ganan, spoons emkwaanan, and knives mookmaanan.
In the 2024-2025 school year, Rainbow Schools achieved 100 per cent certification in EcoSchools Canada.
