Celebrating the 2025 CYCAA first-place prize given to the Burns Bog Youth Stewardship Project

Pivot Green, in partnership with the Small Change Fund, is so happy to present our first-place Canadian Youth Climate Action Award to the Burns Bog Youth Stewardship Project.

The project is a groundbreaking youth-led initiative that brought together diverse organizations, Indigenous youth, and new Canadians for a shared climate restoration effort. By focusing on restoring fire-damaged peatlands, this initiative directly contributes to carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and long-term climate resilience.

Burns Bog Youth Stewardship Project

By rehabilitating two hectares of fire-damaged bog, the work prevents carbon loss by removing invasive tree seedlings and re-establishing native peatland plants. The restoration supports one of the most effective natural carbon sinks in the region. More than 25 youth (aged 16-30) were employed and trained in restoration techniques, with a strong emphasis on BIPOC, Indigenous, and new Canadian participation. Unlike many environmental initiatives that rely on volunteers, this program paid all youth a living wage, ensuring equitable access to climate work experience. Elders and Knowledge Keepers from Tsawwassen and Musqueam First Nations guided the restoration process, connecting youth to traditional ecological knowledge while fostering relationships between Indigenous and newcomer communities. This project was the first of its kind to unite CTS Youth Society, Youth Climate Corps, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation, Tsawwassen First Nation, Musqueam, and other partners in a collaborative approach to climate action. Watch here for more information about the project.