For the sixth year in a row, Wilfrid Laurier University is the recipient of a Canada's Greenest Employers Award. The national recognition reflects Laurier's dedication to its sustainability-focused programs and initiatives, progress in reducing its carbon footprint, and the degree to which sustainability has become a part of Laurier's workplace culture, spanning operations, academics and community partnerships.
"Securing a position among Canada's Greenest Employers for six successive years spotlights the dedication of our students, staff and faculty in nurturing a culture of sustainability at Laurier," said Eric Meliton, manager of the Sustainability Office at Laurier. "At Laurier, we seek innovative social, environmental, economic and academic practices to enhance campus life and positively impact our host communities. Receiving a Canada's Greenest Employer Award is a testament to our collective commitment to sustainability."
The annual Canada's Greenest Employers competition is part of the Canada's Top 100 Employers initiative, led by Mediacorp Canada Inc. Laurier has been named one of Waterloo Area's Top Employers for six consecutive years, one of Southwestern Ontario's Top Employers, and one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People by the same organization.
"Sustainability is an integral part of our institutional identity and something we take immense pride in," said Pamela Cant, Laurier's chief human resources and equity officer. "Being honoured as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for a sixth straight year reflects the commitment of our faculty, staff and students as they make positive impact in our local and global communities."
Highlights of Laurier's sustainability initiatives include:
- Operating Freestore locations at the Brantford and Waterloo campuses for students, staff and faculty to shop for household and school items. The Freestore aims to change the way Laurier community members think about reusing items and positively influence circularity and zero-waste behaviours. In 2023-24, Laurier's Freestore locations distributed approximately 8,000 pounds of household goods, diverting waste from landfills in the process.
- Finishing third in the Green University of the Year category at the 2023 Global Entrepreneurship and Engagement Excellence Awards in Higher Education. The top-three finish recognizes Laurier's efforts to embed sustainable practices in its campus communities and beyond.
- Decreasing transportation-related emissions through initiatives including 14 electric-vehicle charging stations, secure bike storage at Waterloo and Brantford campuses, and the launch of the Neuron e-bike and e-scooter program in partnership with Region of Waterloo.
- The Sustainable Hawk Fund, which leverages Laurier's entrepreneurial and community spirit to integrate sustainability practices into all aspects of student life. Each year, $30,000 in funding is committed to students, staff and faculty to implement sustainability projects at the university. The Sustainable Hawk Fund was named a Canada's Clean50 Top Project in 2022. In 2023-24, four new projects received funding.
- Laurier's Centre for Cold Regions and Water Science achieved platinum-level certification status from My Green Lab, an internationally recognized gold standard for laboratory sustainability. Staff leads will begin replicating this program at other Laurier labs on each campus.
- Launch of Laurier's 2023-2028 Sustainability Action Plan, which includes key themes such as human and ecosystem health and well-being, climate action and social sustainability. The focus of the plan is to continue to support the culture of sustainability at Laurier through academics, research, physical operations, outreach and community partnerships to reach our greenhouse emissions reduction mandate of 40 per cent by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
- Laurier's Waterloo campus is designated an official "Bee Campus" by Bee City Canada. Laurier is just the ninth post-secondary campus in Canada and the first in Waterloo Region to be recognized for its dedicated commitment to protecting pollinators. Two bee apiaries were installed at the Brantford campus in 2022-23, housing more than 320,000 bees.
- The Waterloo campus Northdale Community Garden, which supports sustainable partnerships with community non-profits and increased access to local food on campus. The garden supported more than 20 local families and more than 100 community volunteers, including 10 student, staff and faculty volunteers in 2023-24.
Read more about Laurier's sustainability goals in the university's Sustainability Action Plan.
