Western Sustainability Leaders Program members Brian Yang, Brittany Lau, Allison Pert, Grace Farrow and Rebecca Streef (Brandon Watson, Western Communications)
The Western community's push to sow seeds of sustainability is growing, and in more than a metaphorical way.
Ten faculty, staff and students were feted as campus sustainability champions, based on glowing nominations from their peers.
After the ceremony, the Green Award and WISE competition winners and other attendees took home 200 packets of wildflower seeds - including asters and oxeye daisies and other species native to the region - to improve native pollinator habitats beyond campus.
"We thought the seed packets would be a great way to mark our community commitment to sustainability," said Jessica Cordes, Western's sustainability engagement coordinator, noting Western has been designated a bee-friendly campus. "It's the perfect time of year right now, while it's still cool, to sow native seeds that will germinate in the spring."
The seeds were gathered by the Thames Talbot Land Trust, a local group whose mission is to protect, restore and nurture natural environments.
At the core of the university's Towards Western at 150 strategic plan is working towards a more sustainable future, through campus policies and investments, buildings with low carbon footprints, and teaching and research with global impact.
"What Western has put into its sustainability programs has been amazing," said Western Technology (WTS) staffer Donna Sasges, one of this year's Green award winners. "It makes us feel we have support when we take initiatives."
This is the 15th annual celebration of Green Award winners, who represent the best of grassroots environmental change-makers at Western. In addition to Sasges, the other winners are: biology professor Nina Zitani; and a student team of Brian Yang, Allison Pert, Brittany Lau, Grace Farrow and Rebecca Streef.
The WISE (Western Ideas for Sustainability and the Environment) competition is a student challenge for innovative and practical ideas that have a positive impact on campus: sisters Samantha and Grace Tse won first place in the competition, and Ayumi Lam was awarded the second prize.
