Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) week at Conestoga will feature workshops, panels and other interactive programming March 3 to 7 to showcase commitment to a sustainable future, mobilize knowledge and encourage collaboration.
Join the Conestoga community for SDG Week. Running March 3 through 7, the event features workshops, panels and other interactive programming focused on sustainability.
The week is part of SDG Month Canada, a national initiative that invites colleges and universities to increase awareness of and engagement with the United Nations 17 SDGs and their urgent call for action to solve social and economic inequalities while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
“SDG week features a range of events that touch on numerous aspects of sustainability. We’re eager for the community to learn about the many sustainable initiatives underway at the college, and the many ways they can contribute to building a more sustainable world,” said Laura Matheson, director, Sustainability.
Activities are open to the public and include two virtual keynote addresses.
On Monday, March 3 at noon, Dr. Bob Willard, a renowned expert in the fields of sustainable procurement, reporting frameworks and the business value of corporate sustainability strategies, will present a general call to action at Together for Sustainability. Willard has also volunteered his expertise to assist in the creation of Conestoga’s Sustainable Procurement Policy.
Pooja Sharma, a Rights of Nature advocate and environmental lawyer, will present the closing keynote "Onboarding Nature: Make the business of Nature, Nature’s business" on Friday, March 7 at noon where she’ll speak about the value of nature and positioning nature as an interest holder in an organization.
On Tuesday, March 4 at 3 p.m., Paul Rak, a renowned advocate for sustainability, will virtually present "The Business Logic for Sustainability: a Local Manufacturer’s Perspective" where he’ll share his experience developing 116 sustainability projects at Veriform Inc. in Cambridge, Ontario. Under his leadership, Veriform became Canada’s first carbon-neutral metal fabrication business and the fourth Canadian firm to achieve ISO 50001 certification, the global standard for energy management systems.
In-person events include the Repair Café on Wednesday, March 5, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cambridge - Fountain Street campus, where members of the general public can bring their electronic appliances, kitchenware and clothing items for repair free of charge, instead of making new purchases.
For a full event listing, including days, times and registration details, visit the SDG Week Event Guide.
Conestoga is committed to investing in sustainability and creating a culture where our community is empowered to make positive change. The college is developing a sustainability action plan that aims to position the college as a leader in campus sustainability. The comprehensive plan will outline strategies to infuse sustainability principles into academic programs, research endeavours, operational procedures and governance.
To learn more about campus sustainability news and event listings, email sustainability@conestogac.on.ca with the subject line "Register" to receive monthly updates.