December 11, 2025

Grey Highlands Secondary School secures $15,000 grant from The Commonwell's L.E.A.F. Initiative

Grey Highlands Secondary School has announced a $15,000 grant from The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group’s Learning Engagement & Accelerator Fund (L.E.A.F.) to launch H₂-Oh! What’s in the Water?, engaging secondary students in Biodiversity Monitoring with Environmental DNA (eDNA). This project gives students hands-on experience with biodiversity research using environmental DNA (eDNA), a cutting-edge technology that identifies species from tiny traces of genetic material in environmental samples such water, soil and air.

“This program connects classroom learning with real-world biodiversity science,” said Nicole Anthony, the project’s lead educator. “Students will get exposed to advanced molecular tools to generate data that can reveal the species living in the local ecosystem. Thanks to The Commonwell’s L.E.A.F. Grant, we can provide students with a hands-on learning experience that builds both scientific literacy and a sense of stewardship for their local environment.”

Administered by The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group, the L.E.A.F. initiative invested $400,000 in community grants this year, continuing its steady growth and impact across Ontario. Tim Shauf, President of The Commonwell, emphasizes the program's impact, stating, “This year, the L.E.A.F. initiative saw an unprecedented $6.96 million in funding requests, underscoring how essential it is to the well-being of the communities we serve. At The Commonwell, we are committed to Building Member Value by caring beyond us and beyond now, and these projects represent real action behind that commitment, supporting communities where they are today and shaping stronger futures for the generations that follow.” L.E.A.F.'s mission is simple: cultivate community resilience and capacity through program development and facility/resource upgrades in places where residents learn, play, engage, and gather.

For more details about Grey Highlands Secondary School’s H₂-Oh! What’s in the Water? project visit leaf.thecommonwell.ca.

 

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