From the Editor: Shining a Light on Great Books

We are living in extraordinary times from both personal health and environmental perspectives, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed and dispirited. Protectors of the Planet: Environmental Trailblazers from 7 to 97 (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2020) is an antidote to the despair that you or your students might be feeling. This collection of essays focusses on Canadians who have stepped up and taken action to bring about positive change.
Based on research and interviews with his subjects, author Jamie Bastedo introduces us to twelve inspiring people, some young and some old, who haven’t let despair stop them from doing what they felt was necessary to champion causes they felt passionate about. This diverse group of people has campaigned on such topics as climate change, rainforest conservation, the declining bee population, Inuit culture, the need for green cities, and the plight of giraffes, sea turtles, whales, and wolves.

Bastedo includes quotes from the interviewees, facilitating a personal connection between the audience and the subjects as we hear their stories in their own words.

Aimed at ages 12+, this book could be used in many ways in the classroom. Read it aloud, one chapter at a time, and watch for your students’ interest to be sparked. Use it to encourage research into plants or animals, or to inspire local action within your own community. History, geography, biology, politics are all within the pages of this book, and students will be inspired by activists who love Canada and planet Earth.

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Diana Mumford
Diana is the Editor at Canadian Teacher Magazine.

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This article is from Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Fall 2020 issue.