No.9 Contemporary Art & the Environment + Harrowsmith Magazine presents
Youth Sustainability
Changemaker Awards
The true power and potential for sustainable action lie in the hands of bold, young Canadians who serve as agents of change – individuals who identify places, spaces, and systems in need of improvement. They design solutions and then engage diverse networks to turn those ideas into action. Let’s meaningfully support and celebrate these collaborators who catalyze action
For Profit
Naila Moloo
Environmental Innovator
Naila Moloo, a Grade 11 student, is dedicated to tackling climate change and promoting sustainability. She is developing a bioplastic from duckweed instead of corn or sugar cane, an approach that effectively mitigates deforestation. Naila's research was featured in a TEDx Talk, and she is collaborating with a company to implement her solution on a large scale. Naila has also been working on a flexible solar cell. Through lab build-outs at the Toronto Metropolitan University, this flexible solar cell will leverage solar's intersection with nanotechnology. In addition to her scientific pursuits, Naila co-hosts The Curiosity Podcast, broadcasting to over 46 countries, where she equips young people with valuable skills for the future. She has authored two magical realism novels and was recognized as the youngest recipient of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women. Naila's multi-faceted efforts showcase her determination and potential for making a significant impact.
nailamoloo.com
Jessica Liu
Ceo, KelpNet
Jessica's passion for environmental activism grew from witnessing marine pollution during her childhood near the Pacific Ocean. To combat the issue, she invented the KelpNet—a bioplastic fishing net made from microalgae that reduces the reliance on petroleum-based plastics and protects marine species from ghost fishing. Her innovation won the grand prize at the Blue Ocean Entrepreneur Pitch Competition and earned her recognition at the Canadian Nature Inspiration Awards. The success of KelpNet has gained widespread acclaim, featured in publications like the Toronto Star and recognized by Ripley's Aquarium and Canadian Geographic. It has also attracted interest from international manufacturers and researchers worldwide. Jessica is not only an environmental innovator but also the founder of a community entrepreneurship club that empowers students to develop sustainable ideas. In the future, Jessica aims to continue her innovative endeavors and collaborate with young individuals to safeguard marine biodiversity, uniting them in their collective efforts toward a brighter and more sustainable future.
blueoceancompetition.org/kelpnet
Sage Lacerte
Founder & CEO of the Sage Initiative
Sage Lacerte, a Carrier woman from the Lake Babine First Nation in central B.C., envisioned a powerful concept known as "rematriation," which involves returning to a way of life deeply connected to Mother Earth. In 2019, at the age of 23, Lacerte, a birth doula, established the Sage Initiative, Canada's sole Indigenous womxn's impact-investment collective. This unique initiative brings together 10 Indigenous womxn annually for six months of trauma-informed training in investment literacy and Indigenous commerce. Through investing up to $50,000 each year in Indigenous-owned businesses driven by a mission, the collective aims to challenge the prevailing paradigm that primarily revolves around white men in leadership positions. Lacerte states that their objective is to bring forth the vital leadership roles womxn hold in our economy, ultimately working towards bridging a gap within the existing ecosystem. By reimagining the role of money through a matriarchal lens, the collective seeks to transform its function from one that divides to one that facilitates relationships among individuals. Lacerte emphasizes that this shift in perspective is crucial in mending societal divides and enabling a framework where money fosters connections rather than creating divisions. The Sage Initiative's vision encompasses reshaping the economic landscape to honor Indigenous wisdom and restore a harmonious relationship between people and the Earth.
sageinitiative.ca // @sageinitiative_
Non-Profit
Autumn Peltier
Chief Water Commissioner for the Aniishnabek Nation
Autumn Peltier, a member of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation, became a formidable water-rights activist after encountering a sign about toxic water at a ceremony. At age twelve, she fearlessly confronted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, securing his promise to "protect the water." Autumn's advocacy led her to speak at the United Nations, be honored by the Assembly of First Nations, and participate in World Water Week. Autumn continues to advocate for clean water access, particularly for Indigenous communities, as Chief Water Commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation. Her unwavering commitment inspires change and amplifies the importance of preserving and ensuring water accessibility for all.
change.org/p/government-of-canada-indigenous-deserve-clean-drinking-water
@autumn.peltier
Sanch Gupta & Milton Calderon Donefer
Co-Founders, Mealcare
Milton Calderon Donefer and Sanch Gupta, former McGill University students, witnessed food waste at their school cafeteria and encountered unhoused individuals in need of food. To address these issues, they founded MealCare. With chapters in eight cities, MealCare has saved shelters over $300,000 and provided over 90,760 meals resulting in a diversion of +82,510 pounds from going to waste. Donefer and Gupta aim to use their privilege to help underserved members of the community and believe that food should be accessible to everyone, considering the abundance we have as a nation.
mealcare.org // @mealcare_org
Rosalie LaBillois
Co-Chair or Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council
Rosalie LaBillois, at 26 years old, holds remarkable roles as the Co-Chair of the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council and as a dedicated Youth Engagement Officer at the Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation. Raised in the Mi'kmaq community of Eel River Bar First Nation in New Brunswick, LaBillois brings with her a deep-rooted connection to the ocean, woven into her family's lineage of fishermen—a livelihood crucial to many Mi'kmaq individuals. With an unwavering commitment to sustainability, LaBillois stands out as a resounding voice for change. She has orchestrated impactful national youth gatherings centered around pressing issues such as climate action and safeguarding water resources. Last year, her role as a youth delegate took her to the Vatican City, where she embarked on a poignant mission to secure a formal apology from Pope Francis and the Roman Catholic Church. In this impactful journey, she addressed the Pope directly, sharing a message of intergenerational resiliency and the beauty of the richness of her culture and language. LaBillois assumes a profound responsibility, one that demands both truth telling on behalf of her relatives who never got that opportunity for their healing and spearheading her generation toward a brighter future. In a world marked by challenges, LaBillois emerges as a beacon of hope, bridging the past and the future through her advocacy, leadership, and unyielding spirit.
https://ulnoowegfoundation.ca/a-way-of-life
Creative
Sylvie Stojanovski
Founder, Artists 4 Sustainability
Sylvie Stojanovski is a passionate multidisciplinary artist, creative facilitator, and community organizer with a focus on eco-conscious art-making. She founded Artists 4 Sustainability, a youth-led working group that empowers emerging artists to work with natural materials and use art as a means to address urgent environmental and social justice issues. As a co-founder of the Scarbrite Collective, she advocates for art as a catalyst for community-building and meaningful conversations in Scarborough. Sylvie is known for her ability to generate and bring ambitious ideas to life.
artists4sustainability.com // @artists4sustainability
Sophia Yang
Founder & Executive Director of Threading Change
Sophia Yang is a multi-talented individual who wears several hats in her pursuits. Besides her passion for being a techno DJ, the 25-year-old dedicates her time as a community organizer, fashion justice activist, equity consultant, and entrepreneur. Yang, who migrated from China to Canada at the age of eight, established Threading Change, a youth-led non-profit organization that strives to foster ethical and circular practices within the fashion industry. Guided by what she calls the six Fs - a feminist, fossil-fuel-free fashion future - the organization seeks to drive positive change. Yang's inspiration for launching Threading Change stemmed from her experience attending the United Nations climate negotiations as a youth delegate in 2019 (COP25). She observed that the voices present on the fashion world stage were primarily from companies responsible for significant emissions, with little representation from the Global South, youth, or garment workers. Motivated by this disparity, Yang has since dedicated herself to training the next generation of fashion leaders and amplifying the voices of garment workers worldwide.
threadingchange.org // @threadingchange
Kasha Sequoia Slavner
Filmmaker and Founder of The Global Sunrise Project
Kasha Sequoia Slavner is a talented documentary director and photographer who is making a significant impact through her work. She is the founder of The Global Sunrise Project, a youth-led social enterprise that aims to create positive change through media. The organization's primary objective is to showcase the stories of community leaders worldwide who are tackling critical global issues. Through The Global Sunrise Project, Kasha and her team produce films, organize photo exhibits, run social media campaigns, and conduct workshops, all with the goal of empowering young people to take action in their local and global communities. Kasha gained recognition with her debut documentary, titled "The Sunrise Storyteller," which has been screened at 60 film festivals and received an impressive 30 awards. Her exceptional achievements have earned her prestigious honors, including the Diana Award and the role of UN youth delegate. Kasha is also known as one of the Voices of SDG16+, which focuses on promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions. Currently, Kasha is working on her next feature documentary, “1.5 Degrees of Peace.”
theglobalsunriseproject.org/1-5degreesofpeace // @1.5degrees_of_peace