Vaughan's Earth Rangers get multi-million funding boost from Ottawa

YorkRegion.com
February 19, 2014

A $3-million, multi-year grant from Ottawa will help Earth Rangers expand its educational programming across Canada and share Canada's work on conservation.

The funding boost was announced in the Harper government's Economic Action Plan 2014.

"We are truly delighted with the investment ... and in our shared goal of involving families and children in Canada's conservation initiatives," Earth Rangers executive director Peter Kendall said. "This funding will allow Earth Rangers to provide educational programming for families across Canada, including rural and francophone communities."

As part of its 2014 pre-budget submission, Earth Rangers requested additional funding to expand its existing programs in urban centers (including Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver) as well as launch programming in rural and remote communities. The financial support offered in Economic Action Plan 2014 will also allow Earth Rangers to provide programming in French-speaking communities in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

Earth Rangers has in the past received funding through FedDev to expand in southern Ontario. Since that time, numerous industry partners and stakeholders have helped fund sustained programming in the region.

"Private-sector partners have seen the value of our programming in the communities where we operate and have invested in what we do," said Mr. Kendall. "In addition to sharing our message with families, we are also looking forward to the opportunity to work with more industry partners who share our conservation priorities and goals."

Earth Rangers has set an ambitious goal to reach half a million members by Canada's 150th birthday in 2017.

Earth Rangers is a children's conservation organization dedicated to educating children and families about biodiversity loss and empowering them to Bring Back the Wild™.

Building on children's natural connection to wildlife, Earth Rangers' focus is to communicate a positive, science-based message on the importance of protecting biodiversity and adopting more sustainable behaviours.

Through programs including a children's website, earthrangers.com, a family membership program and a school outreach program featuring live animal ambassadors, Earth Rangers is able to reach, inspire and enable millions of children each year to take action to help ensure the lasting survival of species in Canada.