Beginning with the youth, Molly Foster is transforming the environmental culture of Cape Breton

Patricia Lane co-edited these in-their-own-words pieces with input from the interviewee for brevity.

Molly Foster is transforming Nova Scotia’s culture. At just 22 years old, this artist, writer, and environmentalist is a 2023 Starfish Canada 25 under 25 Youth Climate Activist Award winner and co-founder of Ripple.

Ripple leverages local knowledge and experience to educate students from elementary to university levels about environmental stewardship.

Can you describe your project?

Nova Scotia is plagued with litter. The ocean washes it ashore, and the wind spreads it across our beautiful beaches, lush forests, picturesque farmland, and into our watersheds.

There’s limited awareness about its origins and disposal. Alongside my co-founder, Ally Chant, I authored a book titled Every Little Bit, which follows a young girl discovering the effects of shoreline and ocean pollution on Nova Scotia’s ecosystems and the impact of litter cleanups.

The book conveys that every action, regardless of size, makes a difference.

We collaborate with organizations that introduce our book into schools and read it to students. We also deliver keynote speeches and participate in panels. We provide litter grabbers and other tools to facilitate beach clean-ups and offer recycling education.

Additionally, we conduct workshops where people can upcycle marine rope, transforming it from waste into something useful.

Resources for educators in Nova Scotia are scarce, and existing materials often focus on issues outside the province, reducing their relevance.

Every Little Bit is our initial effort to make environmental issues relevant locally.

After distributing nearly 500 copies of our book and completing my bachelor’s degree, I plan to spend the next year assisting Nova Scotia communities in documenting their environmental challenges and cleanup successes.

How did you get involved in this work?

I grew up in Sydney, Nova Scotia, surrounded by forests. The natural beauty of Nova Scotia made spending time outdoors a given. I met Ally Chant while working at Atlantic Coastal Action Cape Breton (ACAP), where we educated children about water protection.

Last summer, ACAP’s cleanup team removed over 7,000 kilograms of litter from Cape Breton Island. Since 2011, ACAP’s Cape Breton teams have cleared a total of 50,000 kilograms of trash, with the amount collected each summer nearly always increasing.

What challenges do you face in your work?

As with many environmental and climate solutions, there are no perfect answers, as Leonard Cohen famously said: “There are no perfect offerings.” This project doesn’t promise a flawless outcome. The wind will continue to disperse garbage throughout the province.

Students often inquire about the impacts of wind farms, and I have to explain that while reducing coal use is crucial, there are negative effects, such as disrupting bird and animal habitats.