Natural Resources Canada
2002/05
January 18, 2002

NEW ENERGY-WISE WEB SITE FOR CHILDREN

REGINA - A large green cat played substitute teacher today to give Regina schoolchildren a few tips on energy efficiency and climate change. Ralph Goodale, Government House Leader and Member of Parliament for Wascana, joined Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) furry green feline mascot - the NRCat - at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum to launch the entertaining and educational Calendar Club Web site.

Minister Goodale, on behalf of the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, demonstrated the Calendar Club's educational games and resources to more than 100 schoolchildren and teachers. After the demonstration, the children and teachers visited the NRCan Science Fun Fair to explore technologies related to Canada's natural resources.

"Children can make an important contribution to building an environmentally responsible society," said Minister Goodale. "Energy efficiency is one of the keys to meeting Canada's climate change goals. By taking action at home and at school, and by encouraging their parents to take action, children can be leaders and ambassadors in all of our communities."

At the Calendar Club Web site - at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/CalendarClub - kids can take an interactive tour of the Calendar Clubhouse, where they can listen to samples of NRCat's favourite music, visit the Games Room, watch episodes of "The Adventures of NRCat" and check out links to other natural resources sites. At the same time, they can learn how to be energy efficient in their everyday lives.

The Web site builds on the Energy and the Environment calendar, produced by NRCan's Office of Energy Efficiency. The calendar, featuring artwork from schoolchildren from each province and territory, is aimed at children from ages 6 to 13. Approximately 125,000 copies of the 2002 edition are being distributed free of charge to children across the country. Copies can be ordered on-line at the Web site.

The Government of Canada has invested $1.1 billion in climate change initiatives. Youth-oriented public education is a key element of this action. The Calendar Club Web site, the Energy and the Environment calendar and the NRCat mascot help provide information on this important environmental issue, and offer opportunities for concrete action.

Government of Canada funding for this initiative is built into the existing financial framework. It is funded through the $150-million Climate Change Action Fund established in the 1998-99 federal budget and extended for a further three years in the 2000 federal budget.

For more information, media may contact:

Heather Bala
Press Secretary
Natural Resources Canada
(613) 996-2007