ABCRC Encorp.indd - Artist Response Team

Community Outreach - Corporate Engagement
ABCRC and Encorp Pacific (Canada)
In 2002, the late Stephen Foster, founder and visionary behind
ART, was asked, “How would you get kids in schools to recycle
more beverage containers?” Foster replied, “I’d link the action
of recycling to something that kids care about: nature and animals,
particularly endangered species. Most recycling promotion focuses on
the Johnny Popcan model: a grinning cartoon container waving and
saying, ‘Recycle me!’ But how many kids take a popcan to bed at
night? They cuddle stuffed bears and tigers to help them fall asleep.”
And thus the Cycle of Life/Recycle project was born.
The starting point was a CD of songs about endangered species,
featuring Holly performing with choirs from BC, Alberta and Quebec,
singing in English and French. The first one we tackled was Landfill
Blues—a rollicking rockin’ garbage dump hit!
ART’s team of curriculum developers, scientists, writers, illustrators and graphic
designers created an Educators’ Handbook that
focuses on endangered species in 10 ecozones
throughout Canada; the resource can be used in any educational jurisdiction to
fulfill prescribed learning outcomes in many subjects. The objective is an action
within the power of a child. When they choose what to do with their drink box,
they know that by recycling it, they are helping to protect the habitats
of endangered species.
A steady stream of Voices Of Nature School Music Programs and
Concerts continues to be produced in BC and Alberta, year over year, in
partnership with many diverse organizations and agencies.
Recent examples include:
• Voices of Nature at Ecopalooza,
Calgary Public Library (2011)
• Skeena Up Your Watershed! Tour (2011)
• Sustainability Awareness Week in Edmonton (2011)
Encorp Pacific (Canada) and ART
Note to reader: I wrote this for the original Cycle of Life handbook published in 2003. The sentiments seem just as appropriate today (2006) even
though, since then, Stephen Foster had a tragic accident and left Holly,
family and the rest of us to continue his life’s work. The new collaborators
at Artist Response Team have done just that. Encorp is proud to continue
with them.
I met Stephen Foster at Globe 2002 in Vancouver – an international conference on the best ways to look after the
environment and how to make the idea of sustainability a practical one for the industry.
As often happens at these sorts of gatherings, we struck up a conversation on why we were there and what
interest we each had in sustainability. Stephen talked about the importance of working with children and how
he and a partner were combining songs and education. He gave me one of their CD’s and I remembered seeing
Holly Arntzen perform in Victoria in the summer of 2001 as part of the United Nations Environment Programs
inspection of Victoria as the host for the 2002 Children’s Conference. She and the children that performed made
such an impression on me that Encorp became a sponsor of the event.
I talked a little about our school program in British Columbia and how we were proud of the results we were
seeing. We exchanged business cards and promised to stay in touch.
We met a few weeks later and Stephen and Holly talked to Sandy Sigmund, our communications guru, and
I about a concept they had to go into more schools with new songs, a handbook on endangered species and
a message on recycling beverage containers. I’m a bit of a dreamer but even I couldn’t see how this could
work out.
Encorp is an industry company and our industry partners are always sensitive to mixing social causes and
recycling. We worry that well – meaning people like Stephen and Holly will be critical of what the beverage
companies do. But Stephen and Holly would not give up so I asked Sandy if she would work with them to
see if, together, we could create something that would meet their high standards for children’s programs and
still satisfy our business requirements.
This was not a natural partnership. Mixing creativity, children, community and
commerce is a tough job. Somehow it worked. Much of the credit goes to
Stephen, Holly and Sandy. The odd time I gave a little push to keep it going
and I’m glad that I did.
For all of you that use this handbook; enjoy the exploration in the knowledge
that even small steps like recycling can make a difference. For those who
open themselves up to living the challenge of sustainability; you will make a
difference.
Neil Hastie
President & CEO
Encorp Pacific (Canada)
Alberta Beverage Container Recycling
Corporation and ART
ABCRC is happy to share with you an exciting venture that has been more than a year in the making. This
handbook is intended to provide a unique and exciting way for educators to instruct students about recycling and
endangered species using music and songs. We hope that you find as much pleasure in this program as we have
in its development. Following is some background on how the Alberta handbook came to be.
In September 2003, ABCRC hosted the Canadian Recycling Affiliates Conference in Kananaskis, Alberta.
Individuals gathered from all over North America for a chance to network and discover what was new and
exciting within the Recycling Industry.
A performance was given by a school choir from Canmore, led by Holly Arntzen. It was exciting to watch
the children perform and sing about environmental messages. This unique way of teaching generated rave
reviews from the audience.
The performance also sparked a deeper discussion within ABCRC to become involved with the project.
It encompassed two things near and dear to ABCRC – recycling and children. Looking at the first handbook
created in British Columbia by Encorp Pacific and ART, ABCRC decided to expand the concept with a national
perspective.
A meeting was held with some local teachers in Calgary to get feedback on how they would use the
handbook and what improvements could be made. The major point discussed was that Alberta teachers educate
their students with national information, not just resources specific to Alberta. The question, “What is my
responsibility, as a citizen of the world, to preserve the Earth?” has driven the handbook style. ABCRC and
ART decided to revise the handbook with a broader focus, containing information that could be used throughout
schools in Canada. The CD of songs has been translated into French becoming an additional resource for the
French and Bilingual schools.
We hope you enjoy using this handbook in your schools; find delight in the process and know that every child
or person can make a difference by recycling to preserve our environment. It is a simple but important step as
Homo Sapiens learn to crawl and walk towards sustainability.
Guy West
President
Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation (ABCRC)