On September 18, Conestoga employees and students met virtually to learn about sustainability initiatives taking place within the college. The Sustainability Showcase featured speakers from across the college and was the first of what organizers plan to make an annual event.
SDG Bingo is just one of the gamification methods available to help learn the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
"We were thrilled to have had speakers from across the college join us to share the incredible work they are leading -- it speaks to the fact that sustainability is both a common goal and a shared responsibility at Conestoga,” said Laura Matheson, director, Sustainability.
The event was open to all Conestoga employees and students, and sponsored by the college’s Community of Practice (CoP) for Sustainability, a growing group that encourages a grassroots approach to promoting sustainable practices at the college.
"Conestoga’s CoP for Sustainability began as a conversation at a professional development event where two faculty noted a shared interest in sustainability. They were soon joined by representatives from numerous schools and departments throughout the college,” said Ken Diplock, professor of Informatics and Life Sciences, and member of the CoP for Sustainability planning committee.
“The CoP for Sustainability at Conestoga fosters collaboration, innovation and shared learning among students, faculty and staff. It empowers individuals to contribute to sustainable initiatives, enhances environmental awareness, and drives collective action towards a more sustainable campus and community,” added Diplock.
Presentation topics ranged from sustainable procurement practices, to digital learning and virtual reality simulations, to gamification programs for learning the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The nine presentations covered 15 of the 17 SDGs.
Zandra Bear-Lowen, a professor of Indigenous Studies at Conestoga, spoke of the college’s commitment to Wiinjindaamin, a project that features a food forest and dedicated medicine and flower garden maintained by Conestoga students and the Wisahkotewinowa Urban Indigenous Garden Collective.
“Wiinjindaamin is a notable example of Indigenous land-based innovation that emphasizes collaboration with urban Indigenous communities. By integrating traditional practices and knowledge into co-management strategies, it has helped to restore local ecosystems,” said Bear-Lowen.
“These efforts not only enhance local biodiversity through habitat restoration and the reintroduction of native species but also empower students to forge meaningful connections with the land,” added Bear-Lowen.
Sydney Hennessy, an environmental sustainability coordinator with Facilities & Capital Development, gave a presentation on the college’s strategic energy management efforts, which play a key role in the college’s commitment to a 40 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and attainment of net-zero emissions by 2050.
“Conestoga’s strategic energy management work focuses on continuously improving our energy performance through conservation and demand management efforts. Forming a dedicated energy team with cross-departmental collaboration will allow us to coordinate our energy reduction efforts across the college and build momentum to implement energy management initiatives,” Hennessy said.
Presentations also focused on efforts that unite educational communities globally, such as Conestoga’s leadership of the Open Access Teaching Case Journal (OATCJ) and membership in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). With a Conestoga email address, employees and students can access the breadth of resources available through AASHE.
The CoP for Sustainability is part of the college’s broader efforts to highlight sustainability as a key strategic priority, which include the development of a Sustainability Action Plan. Led by Matheson, the plan aims to position Conestoga as a leader by outlining strategies and actions to infuse sustainability principles into academic programs, research endeavours, operational procedures and governance. The finalized plan is expected later this year.
For more information or to get involved, email Sustainability.