2024 Project: An Educational Comic Book
Written by: The 2024 Youth Water Council
Illustrated by: Amanda Schulz
The Youth Water Council put their heads together to choose a project that spoke to them. The ‘River Time Vortex Extravaganza!’ story is the product of months of learning, discovery, deliberation, and project planning. The council hopes this comic will help readers feel a greater connection to the watershed and all it does for us.
Comic Summary:
Two siblings camping near the North Saskatchewan River are taken on a journey back in time to discover the importance of watershed health and respecting our rivers. Join them as they make new friends and gain a new perspective on the waters that give them life in this River Time Vortex Extravaganza!
See the official comic poster and postcard. These can be shared to promote this project! Each include a QR code that links to the digital version of the comic.
About the Authors: The 2024 Youth Water Council
The 2024 Youth Water Council (YWC) features a group of 9 passionate and driven high school students collaborating towards improved environmental health in the North Saskatchewan River watershed.
Check out the Youth Water Council Story video, produced by Story Brokers Media House.
The video shares the 2024 Youth Water Council’s journey. See how council members expanded their watershed knowledge during virtual learning sessions and how they planned their Innovative Project at the 4H Club Weekend Camp!
"The river is strong and resilient.
Nature is powerful and it will give you much more if you give it something in return."
- Quote from River Time Vortex Extravaganza
Look out for copies of River Time Vortex Extravaganza popping up in schools and libraries throughout the watershed!
Local Stewardship Initiatives
Feeling inspired by the River Time Vortex Extravagnza characters? The 2024 YWC wanted to highlight some local initiatives you could get involved with!
Alberta Lake Management Society (ALMS)
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
Thank you to our generous supporters for supporting this program.
Richard Easton Estate, Enbridge Fueling Futures, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, and Sherritt International.
In memory of Richard Easton
Richard (Dick) Easton (1949-2022) was raised and educated in Calgary, where he attained a degree in Social Work at the University of Calgary. He met his future wife Susan at the U of C, and following graduation they launched their respective careers in Social Work and raised a family in Fort Saskatchewan.
Throughout his life Dick was a passionate advocate for social and environmental justice. Living in a community recognized as one of the nations leading industrial centres for petro-chemical manufacturing, Dick kept a watchful eye out for impacts from industrial emissions. He was not reluctant to speak out on his environmental concerns and observations, often as a lone voice within the community.
Dick had a lasting passion in conservation, natural history and nature photography and was a regular navigator of Alberta Rivers in his Aluminum canoe, which he titled the “Orange Bear”. His favoured and most frequent outings were on the North Saskatchewan River, setting in at Devon and spending a glorious long day paddling through to Fort Saskatchewan, often solo but at time with friends. Dick took a special interest in understanding the geology, geography and natural features of the NSR watershed and through his photography would make public presentations on some of his many canoe outings.
Dick passed away in August 2022, making generous provisions in his Will for a variety of charitable causes. His family has elected to support development of the Youth Water Council through the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance as a tribute to his memory.