About
PEYA is a regional network of over 1400 action-oriented students in Peel concerned about environmental issues and determined to make positive change! PEYA is a youth-initiated organization, guided by a student Executive Committee and supported by Ecosource.
Based on our strong student expertise and adult support at Ecosource, PEYA assists students from Grades 6-12 and their teachers who are looking to create sustained environmental change in their schools and supports students in building their capacity to create positive environmental change in their schools and local communities.
PEYA’s worked is propelled by a youth steering committee from grades 9 through 12 and unites students across Peel working to improve the environment in their schools and neighbourhoods through monthly events as well as through online platforms. PEYA also organizes large-scale events for students across the Region of Peel, including our popular annual EcoBuzz Conference and Amazing Green Race.
We provide a forum for students to learn from one another and form relationships with local environmental organizations.
In the community, PEYA is a catalyst for youth participation in environmental policy-making and is committed to exploring best practices for youth-adult partnerships. PEYA is part of the City of Mississauga’s Environmental Action Committee, the David Suzuki Foundation’s Future Ground Network and the Principal’s Sustainability Advisory Committee at the University of Toronto, Mississauga campus.
For the academic year, PEYA is generously funded by the Peterborough KM Hunter Foundation. For more information about these funders, please click on their names to be directed to their websites.
Ve Tao
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Youth Event Coordinator
Peel Environmental Youth AllianceVe has previously worked in the mental health field supporting 2SLGBTQ+ youth and facilitating anti-oppression workshops.
Ve always found themselves gravitating towards urban agriculture, food justice, and gardening. They’ve worked at various farms to support marginalized communities in accessing locally grown food and delivering educational workshops about growing and cooking with culturally relevant fruits and vegetables. This past growing season, Ve lead the Three Towers Community Garden in Brampton, as well as the youth cultivators with the Digital Storytelling Project. They are excited to work with the Peel Environmental Youth Alliance in organizing educational workshops and supporting their development in environmental leadership.
Executive Council 2022-2023
PEYA School Champions
The PEYA Champions Program is made up of a group of environmentally-minded students from schools across the Region of Peel from grade 6 -12 who want to promote environmental change and raise awareness about their community’s environmental issues.
PEYA Champions will collaborate with the PEYA executive team and Ecosource staff to raise awareness of PEYA’s programming in their school and among youth in their community.