NC’s sustainability coordinator Taryn Wilkinson has been the OCUSP’s co-chair since 2015.
Niagara College hosted the Ontario College and University Sustainability Professionals group on May 26 and 27 to share best practices and experiences on how to expand initiatives on campus.
OCUSP is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting sustainability personnel across Ontario. There are currently 24 colleges and 22 universities who participate in the group that network and share ideas while monitoring the environmental and sustainability performance of their institution and advocate for collective action related to sustainability in the province.
Taryn Wilkinson, NC’s sustainability coordinator, has been OCUSP’s elected co-chair since 2015 and offered to host the AGM at the NOTL Campus.
“This is a great opportunity to showcase our beautiful campus this time of year and work with other sustainability professionals to achieve the same overall goals,” said Wilkinson. “It’s refreshing to see the growth of the group overtime which shows that sustainability is a priority for post-secondary institutions.”
Every institution approaches sustainability differently, but the issues, challenges and opportunities are very similar across Ontario. Some of the topics discussed included energy conservation, how to engage all campus stakeholders on the road to sustainability, how to improve waste diversion, sustainable transportation, governance and more!
Niagara College is emerging as a leader in environmental sustainability in Niagara. The College continues to make progress in pursuit of its sustainability targets, and has achieved Carbonzero status for the Wine Visitor + Education Centre and the Rankin Technology Centre while incorporating several renewable energy technologies into its operations. In 2013, the College earned a bronze rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education through its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System.
To learn more about sustainability at Niagara College, visit its sustainability website.
Notes from the OCUSP group strategic planning sessions display thoughts about how to prioritize sustainability at post-secondary schools.
