Vanier College is pleased to announce that it is featured in the latest volume of Campus Living Labs: A Best Practices Guide for Canadian Colleges and Institutes, released in early November. This report showcases the impressive efforts by colleges across Canada, collectively reducing and sequestering over 1,054 metric tonnes of greenhouse gases and inspiring climate action on campuses nationwide.
According to the report, Vanier College's project on sustainable transportation set a high standard, demonstrating how colleges and institutes can lead on climate action while enriching their communities. Campus Living Labs also recognized Vanier teacher Richard Dugas, who was instrumental in bringing this project to life and worked closely with the ImpAct-Climate team at CICan. His dedication and expertise have made a significant impact.
Vanier's project aimed to test the promotion of bicycles to staff and students so as to improve the means of reaching these groups in the long term and to share Vanier's findings with its partners and other institutions. Promotional tools tested included an internal weekly newsletter, posters, social media postings, student ambassadors, classroom presentations, kiosks and events. Vanier also created promotional items such as T-shirts, stickers, logo, banner, posters, and video.
Vanier held regular workshops for students to learn how to ride and to learn how to ride on city streets as well as winter biking and mechanic workshops. In terms of events, Vanier held four bike days, and a bike video contest. Vanier also initiated a biking buddy system with a neighbouring college, promoted the BIXI Montreal bike sharing system, and encouraged the college's facilities department to use electric bikes on campus. In addition, Vanier hosted a meeting with Montreal area cegeps where ideas were shared and activities were discussed.
"The project aimed to promote sustainable transport at Vanier,'' said Vanier's Richard Dugas who spearheaded the project. "Some of our promotion ideas went beyond what we had hoped and we were able to add two activities to our calendar. The Facilities team has also applied for a grant for the construction of a secured and roofed bike shelter."
