On Tuesday, April 26, Adam Robb’s sustainability class boarded a Via train for the first time to head off on a whirlwind tour to Vancouver to attend the Living Futures UnConference on sustainability. 

It was the second time Jasper Jr./Sr. High School has sent a group, but this time an entire class got to go and perform an original song and present their ideas on unsustainable community design as it relates to education. 

“It was a great trip,” said Robb.

The students were there for three days. The presentation they made is available on YouTube. The students performed a song and created a glow stick flash mob that delighted the crowd. They also created an animated video on their topic of urban sprawl and education.

There was one very special guest that stayed after her own performance to watch the Jasper students – folk songstress Sarah Harmer. She was not only impressed by the musical performance the students put on, but was intrigued by the ideas they presented.

“I can say – very modestly – they were the hit of the entire conference,” Robb said proudly of his students.

The presentation has opened the students up to a world of opportunity. Because of their involvement, Robb has been inundated with emails from attendees wanting to share ideas. A sponsorship program has been started to help more students get to the conference next year. A number of the businesses that attended have offered to pay for the Jasper  students’ tickets next year, when the conference heads to Portland, Ore. The program is aiming to get more kids – not just the Jasper students – involved in the conference. 

The students have been invited to speak in Calgary and Edmonton, and have made contacts in cities across the U.S., as well as locally in Edmonton and Vancouver. Geoff Dick who created the animated video presented at the conference, has been contacted to create advertising for a green building company on the west coast. 

“Most of the kids made some really great connections,” Robb said. 

Student Theresa Westhaver was excited to find a forum to discuss her ideas and be not only heard, but encouraged. She enjoyed other speakers at the conference. A favourite was keynote speaker Majora Carter. 

“She was really inspirational,” Westhaver said. 

The Grade 12 student said the performance and presentation were a bit scary in front of 700 to 800 people. 

“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” she said. 

The class received some great feedback – including being told their performance was more entertaining than Harmer’s. After the musical number, the class received a standing ovation. 

Student Christopher Gill said it was a great way to cap off four months of hard work preparing for the conference. 

Westhaver said their ideas sometimes fall on deaf ears in Jasper, and they sometimes struggle to get included in crucial events. Having so much support from innovative business people in Vancouver gave the class a shot in the arm that will encourage them as they move forward. 

“It was a little bit of a confidence booster,” she said. “I think we all felt pretty empowered.”

Robb said the conference helped them think optimistically about what they are coming up with, adding that sometimes he found himself getting caught up in thoughts that their ideas might go nowhere. 

The conference attendees wanted to listen to the ideas the Jasper group came up with, and it allowed the sustainability students to realize they are coming up with ideas that could be implemented in the future. 

Westhaver said the conference was inspiring because it made her realize there are people paving the way in a new industry. 

“All the people there were extremely passionate about what they are doing,” she said. “There’s no industry for it, but they’re still doing it. They’re making their own way. That was really inspiring.”

With the school year almost over, Robb is having a hard time seeing an end to the sustainability course once June arrives. 

“It’s hard to wind down when I got 27 emails today, wanting to discuss (the conference),” he laughed. 

With recent council decisions to move the new school debate to a public vote, Robb is encouraging his students to get out and talk about their needs for a new building. 

“I want them to be at the forefront of that,” he said.

The biggest thing Westhaver learned, is that sometimes getting out of town is the best way to be heard. 

“There are people out there who want to listen,” she said. “They might not be here in Jasper just yet.”

The Jasper Jr./Sr. High School class’ presentation can be seen on YouTube by searching Jasperscy