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Welcome to The Circular Exchange with Circular Materials, a podcast hosted by Allen Langdon (CEO, Circular Materials) where leaders come together to shape the future of the circular economy. In each episode, we are bringing you conversations with the people driving progress and innovation in recycling and extended producer responsibility across Canada. Together, we’re exploring what it takes to build a system that supports people and the planet. Learn more about Circular Materials at circularmaterials.ca.
In this episode
Today’s students are tomorrow’s environmental leaders, and teachers and educators have a powerful role in shaping their understanding of sustainability. This special episode highlights Circular Materials’ partnerships with Earth Rangers, EcoSchools Canada, and The Gaia Project to bring exciting recycling education programs designed for classrooms across Canada. This episode is a must-listen for teachers looking to inspire real-world environmental action among their students as we discuss why early recycling education makes a lasting impact and practical strategies that make sustainability lessons stick.
Today’s guests
Sierra Frank: Sierra Frank is the Co-Executive Director with EcoSchools Canada, where she supports strategic and operational planning, partnership and program development, and oversight of Canada’s largest national environmental certification program for K-12 schools. With over 20 years of professional experience in the education, environmental, and non-profit sectors, Sierra has extensive practice in team and organizational leadership, program development, and teaching people of all ages, from preschoolers to adults. In both her professional and personal pursuits, Sierra has a deep and long-standing commitment to creating healthy, happy, and sustainable communities.
Learn more about EcoSchools Canada at ecoschools.ca
Tovah Barocas: Tovah Barocas is the President of Earth Rangers, a Canadian charity dedicated to empowering children to protect animals and the environment. Since joining the organization in 2009, she has helped shape Earth Rangers into one of the largest youth-focused conservation programs in the world, with over 400,000 members across North America. Originally from Miami, Tovah moved to Toronto to attend university and has since built her career in Canada’s non-profit sector. She serves on the boards of Ontario Parks and Project Learning Tree Canada and was named one of Canada’s Clean50 Emerging Leaders in recognition of her work in environmental education. Tovah is also one of the founders of the Nature Education Collective, a group of organizations championing quality nature education for children and youth to ensure they become environmentally literate and build generations of sustainability-minded, action-oriented, and resilient people. Tovah is passionate about youth engagement, public education, and the role of optimism in addressing environmental challenges.
Learn more about Earth Rangers at earthrangers.com
Geoff MacDonald: Geoff is the Executive Director with The Gaia Project, an educational outreach organization focused on sustainability. For over a decade, he has shared science activities and experiments with students and teachers. As a science educator and curriculum specialist, Geoff wants to improve science learning in New Brunswick. He enjoys when students think outside the box and form connections based on their own investigations and experiences. Geoff joined The Gaia Project in 2018 to develop resources for climate change education. Today, his duties include developing local and national partnerships to enhance environmental education and to manage a staff of 12 passionate individuals who work for The Gaia Project in New Brunswick.
Learn more about the Gaia Project at thegaiaproject.ca
