Submitted by the Sustainability Team
Since October 2021 SLC has celebrated Sustainability Month to highlight the important links between the natural environment, social, and economic health. In doing so, we are able to shed light on challenges facing the world today and what we can do on a local level to promote sustainability at work and at home. This year Sustainability Month was organized into four themes:
October 1-4: Sustainable Dining/Food Accessibility
October 7-11: Sustainable Transportation
October 14-18: The Circular Economy Week
October 28-Nov 1: Reconnecting with Nature
Kicking off the month the focus was food security and sustainable consumption and together with the Enactus St. Lawrence College team, the Sustainability office hosted the annual Halloween Harvest project. Over 400 pounds of food and over $200 in donations were collected for the local food bank. Partners in Mission Food Banks also hosted a Food Insecurity Workshop for students - special thanks to our presenters and to the 34 student volunteers who ran collection booths and went into the community to collect donations.
On October 5, St. Lawrence College was represented at the inaugural City of Kingston Climate Expo. Energy Systems Engineering and Wind Turbine Technician programs were present alongside the office of Sustainability to represent the college.
Sustainable Transportation week featured the annual tri-campus Campus Commuter Challenge where 34 SLC staff and students participated by logging their sustainable commutes to SLC. Participants travelled over 1,700 KMs sustainably (carpool, biking, walking, transit, or working from home) while saving over 360 kgs of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs).
Sustainability month ended with Reconnecting with Nature week where the SLC community had the opportunity to get outside and learn about the natural environment on campus. In Cornwall, staff and students helped plant native species along the campus’ shoreline to support biodiversity and build habitat space in partnership with Watersheds Canada and the River Institute. On Cornwall and Kingston, the sustainability team hosted the biannual BioBlitz events on each campus where species (animals, birds, insects, plants, trees) living on campus are tracked. Stay tuned for an upcoming newsletter story featuring more information on our work to support biodiversity at SLC.
In this fourth annual Sustainability Month over 160 staff, students, and faculty participated in nine events. 73 new members joined the Footprint club on URSLC to increase our total membership tri-campus to 340. Thank you to all participants and supporters for your help and enthusiasm in building a more sustainable SLC.
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October Sustainability Month Recap
