Meet the 2022 Sustainability ECOSmart Team! University students Alex Bruvold and Amy Elgert are ready to get out in the community this summer to share tips and information on sustainability initiatives. The pair are both long-time Kamloops residents who are studying geography and environmental studies at TRU.

The ECOSmart Team’s mandate is to help the community learn how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Alex and Amy will be visiting schools to lead students through activities that explore the many benefits of sustainable transportation (e.g. walking, biking, and transit), including an interactive game where they plan a transit trip to a favourite city destination.

“Our goal in the school presentations is to link the concept of transportation to environmental sustainability—for example, the benefits of replacing a car trip with walking, cycling, or using transit. It’s fun and engaging, and we teach the kids practical skills like how to read a bus schedule, how to attach a bike to a bus, and about bus safety and etiquette,” they explained.

In Canada, vehicle commuters make an average of 2,000 car trips of 3 km or less each year. By making the switch from driving alone to another mode of transportation at least part of the time, commuters can help reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and save money.

The ECOSmart Team will also be engaging youth summer camps and promoting the City’s Community Climate Action Plan at community events. Please say hello to our 2022 ECOSmart Team when you see them around the community.