Who We Are
The Peel Environmental Youth Alliance (PEYA) is a network of action-oriented students in the Peel Region concerned about environmental issues and determined to make positive change!
What We Do
PEYA provides the following:
- Networking - PEYA unites students across Peel working to improve the environment in their schools and neighbourhoods. We provide a forum for students to learn from one another and to form relationships with local environmental organizations.
- Support - Based on our strong student expertise, PEYA provides support to other students and teachers looking to create environmental projects or clubs in their schools.
- Education - PEYA organizes fun and effective educational events, engaging students across the Region, including our popular annual EcoBuzz conference.
Our History
PEYA was founded in 2004 by Jasmeet Sidhu, a Heart Lake Secondary School student. When she was in grade 10, an ambitious Jasmeet contacted Stephanie Crocker, who was then coordinating the Peel Environmental Network (PEN). Jasmeet voiced a dream of hers, to have a youth environmental network similar to PEN, which would act as an umbrella for student run environmental clubs and interested students. Thus the Peel Environmental Youth Alliance was founded.
The group's first AGM was held in 2005, and Jasmeet was elected co-president along with Rohit Mehta, a John Fraser student. Together, the duo led the group through its first year, when an announcement ensured the group's sustainability. PEYA was granted a three-year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Stephanie was hired as the new project coordinator. This project is housed and supported by EcoSource, and is alive and kicking today!
Our Recent Accomplishments
By the June 2007 AGM, PEYA had a network of over 400 members and distributed its first ever eco-certification certificates, certifying students in environmental education based on workshop attendance.
During the summer of 2007, PEYA was granted funding from the Laidlaw foundation to develop an online community and redesign its website.
PEYA has been promoting environmental education through its annual EcoBuzz conference, and celebrated its fifth conference for students at Stephen Lewis Secondary School, this past October (2007).
