Manitoba
www.mesdwg.ca
The MESDWG, established in December 2005, was the first Working Group established through a pilot project with Environment Canada and Learning for a Sustainable Future. Since then, seven other jurisdictions in Canada have followed the Manitoba model. Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth provide Secretariat support to the MESDWG.
The Membership of the MESDWG is diverse and includes stakeholders from Aboriginal organizations, Youth organizations, provincial ministries, government departments, formal and informal education sectors, non-government organizations as well as industry and community groups.
Vision
The VISION for the MESDWG is that all educational stakeholders in Manitoba have a role in determining the goals, priorities, and objectives for ESD activities in Manitoba, and work together to move ESD forward.
Initiatives
International ESD Conference
The MESDWG is in the process of planning the International ESD Conference scheduled for November 26-28, 2008 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Working with the Science Teachers’ Association of Manitoba and the Social Studies Teachers’ Association, the organization is creating an informative program for teachers and others interested in sustainable development. The proposed theme is Connecting Education and Sustainable Development: Our Sustainable Future.
Sustainability and Education Academy
The MESDWG is supporting the delivery of the Sustainability and Education Program (a program designed to train senior level officials in schools boards and Faculties of Education how to incorporate Sustainable Development into their respective systems with respect to policy development and governance, operations and procurement and curriculum, teaching and learning) on November 23-26 2008 prior to the International ESD Conference.
ESD Curriculum Development
The MESDWG is partnering with Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth who are taking the lead on developing ESD focused units of study (lesson plans) that align with provincial curricula. A lot of positive response has been received surrounding this initiative.
ESD Research
Members of the MESDWG have partnered to initiate an ESD Study in Manitoba. Researchers at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth, and the Universities of Northern British Columbia and University of Manitoba are undertaking a survey to measure residents’ understanding, attitudes and behaviours concerning sustainable development (SD) and education for sustainable development (ESD). Questionnaires are being sent to a random sample of 3000 households across the province of Manitoba. All information from the questionnaires will be transferred to electronic data files and stored permanently in the archives of the Institute for Social Research and Evaluation at the University of Northern British Columbia. Data files may be made available to other researchers. A summary of research results will be published for general use by other researchers and any other individuals by April 2008.
Other highlights include participating in the following initiatives:
- ESD educator resource kit input
- Educating the Educators series workshop support
- ESD IISD Policy Bank expansion
- Development of a provincial ESD Action Plan development
For more information, please contact:
Bob Adamson
MESDWG Secretariat/Steering Committee
Telephone: (204) 297-7795 Email: badamson@pembinatrails.ca
More information can also be found on the MESDWG website.