Category: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

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September 27, 2021

Update! Explore new highlights in our SDG open educational resource

We’ve just completed the latest update of: The SDG Toolkit for Canadian Colleges and Institutes! The guide highlights innovations in finance, academics, student life, infrastructure, and applied research that show how colleges and institutes are leading Canada’s commitments to sustainability and achieving the SDGs. Regular updates mean the guide is always current and a valuable resource for institutions looking to progress in their SDG journey!

This latest update highlights examples from Durham College, Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Iles, Nova Scotia Community College, Cégep du Vieux Montreal, Seneca College, John Abbott College, Cambrian College and Lethbridge College! Explore the guide and share it with your networks.

  • The guide also reinforces our commitment to the SDG Accord: the education sector’s international and collective response to the Global Goals. We signed on last year, and so have ten CICan members (Selkirk College, NSCC, Sheridan College, Confederation College, Lethbridge College, Olds College, Dawson College, Cégep du Vieux Montreal, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles). Join the growing list of signatories!
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September 13, 2021

Global challenges need collective action

Next week is Global Goals Week! It’s a time to think about how each one of us can mobilize our communities, demand urgent response to our common global challenges, and make lasting change. But the SDGs aren’t just about clean energy and climate action, they also include things like justice, equality, the economy, industry, and community. Consider the SDGs a 17-step guide to creating a better world for everybody!

Colleges and institutes know the power of action, awareness, and accountability, and are leaders in sustainability across the country! If you have already seen our bi-weekly SDG Spotlight, here’s what we mean:

  • Coast Mountain College has a one-stop webpage for anti-racism resources and connections to community groups that support newcomers to Canada, particularly international students. The resources are part of the college’s commitment to providing a learning and working environment free from all harassment and discrimination!
  • Humber College’s Vanier Project is the first-of-its-kind in Ontario providing pre-apprenticeship training on site at a women’s correctional facility. After a pilot, the project received funding to continue delivering the program for the next five years, helping to meet the goals for quality education, gender equality, reduced inequalities while ensuring that no-one is left behind!
  • Last year, Cégep Édouard-Montpetit adopted an official sustainable development policy aligned with both the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its mission as an educational institution. The policy aims to incorporate sustainability in teaching, promote environmentally conscious behaviour on campus, and make resources available for more students to participate in environmentally responsible projects!
  • Collège communautaire de Nouveau-Brunswick has been working with partners to cultivate local vegetables for people in need while also helping to rehabilitate incarcerated people in Saint-Hilaire. The partners from CCNB-INNOV and the Madawaska Regional Correction Centre, grow and donate the organic vegetables, which are then distributed by the local food bank. The project helps improve the quality of life for incarcerated people while helping to tackle issues of food shortage in the region!
  • With its Clean Water Initiative, Canadore College is hoping to be a catalyst for change in addressing systemic issues facing Indigenous populations and the challenges in delivering clean drinking water to their communities! The college is aiming to develop a comprehensive platform of products, services, and educational programs tailored to the needs and values of Indigenous people, and inspiring Indigenous students to take on fulfilling careers in water management!
  • SAIT’s Green Building Technologies team is partnering to build one of the greenest homes on Earth? The new home, named “The Confluence,” produces more energy than it uses, captures water on site, and incorporates biophilic design, a design that connects humans and nature through the architecture and landscape!

#ICYMI: We also got a shout-out in Canada’s “Moving Forward Together” 2030 Agenda National Strategy for highlighting how colleges and institutes are playing a critical role in preparing a workforce ready to meet the challenges of sustainability! Check it out.

But we want to do more:

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August 31, 2021

Why do federal elections matter to post-secondary?

Parliament has been dissolved and Canadians will head to the polls on September 20. But what does it all mean? The federal government having familiarity with college and institute priorities is always important. The way we work with government isn’t just about speaking up for our members; it’s also about making sure that the government understands how colleges and institutes support their own priorities. And in the context of an election, voters have a real opportunity to be heard.

Every year, we issue recommendations that make the case, so that when it comes to budgeting, decisionmakers in Ottawa can get the most bang for their buck. Here’s how we see it.

On workforce and recovery, the world of work has changed, and our labour market needs faster and more flexible ways to learn new skills:

  • A national micro-credential framework for key sectors will support industry and serve the interests of Canada’s economic, social, and environmental leadership; and,
  • Money to develop a national collaboration platform for colleges and institutes to share online resources will boost our technical and trades training capacity in a cohesive and equitable way.
  • Expanded streams to permanent residency for international students will also open Canada up to an untapped talent pool.

On inclusive innovation, college and institute applied research means innovative solutions to tangible problems developed and delivered for Canadian businesses and non-profit organizations; the more the better:

  • Innovation is also a federal priority, and investment that enables more Canadians from diverse backgrounds to contribute to our innovation ecosystem will create even more solutions.

On reconciliation, colleges and institutes want to deliver on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action:

  • Federal dollars for Indigenous-language revitalization programs, OERs on Indigenous histories and the legacy of residential schools, and skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, and human rights can help us get there.

On net-zero, inclusive, and digitally-accessible infrastructure, our needs as a country are vastly different from five, ten, or 15 years ago:

  • Dollars to make college and institute campuses more sustainable and accessible; to improve learning spaces for Indigenous students; and to upgrade digital infrastructure, simulation technologies, and cybersecurity systems will contribute to Canada’s infrastructure ambitions.

On green recovery, Canada’s ambitious net-zero goals could use a significant boost from a new network of 50 College Sustainability Centres leveraging existing college and institute assets like campus infrastructure, research centres, and community partnerships.

  • Around the world, we can also support developing countries in their net-zero transitions through skills training and applied research programs like Education for Employment!

There’s certainly a lot on the agenda for this election, as we enter a fourth wave of the pandemic and as wildfires continue to rage in many parts of the country, but our newest elected officials will be well advised to recognize what colleges and institutes can do for the country and their constituents over the next four years.

Election watch: Learn more about how Canada’s colleges and institutes contribute to building resilient communities, facilitating recovery and supporting innovation.

A word from Elections Canada:

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July 26, 2021

Towards a net-zero carbon future with C2R2

In the face of a climate emergency and pandemic recovery, leadership in sustainability is more important than ever. CICan and Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2), a coalition of 15 CICan members leading skills development for the green economy, share the commitment to environmental sustainability and resilient recovery!

  • Together we can better position all colleges and institutes as key players in resilient economic recovery that will benefit all Canadians.

Don’t forget: Our paper, “Leading the Way to a Net-Zero Carbon Future” presents the role of colleges and institutes in four pillars: green skills for a net-zero future, applied research and living labs, Indigenous and nature-based solutions, and leveraging campuses.

With their extensive footprint, expertise in equipping learners with job-ready skills, and an applied research innovation pipeline to small and medium-sized businesses, colleges and institutes are ideally positioned to support Canada’s transition to a net-zero future!

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Beyond good intentions to action

Did you know that McKinsey & Company’s widely-cited 2015 Diversity Matters report found that companies with greater gender or racial and ethnic diversity among employees were more likely to have financial returns above their national industry medians? McKinsey’s 2018 follow up, Delivering through Diversity, confirmed the correlation. The point is that committing to structures that empower diverse groups isn’t only an ethical and moral imperative, it’s also a good business decision. Win-win, right?

Pathways to many professions begin with post-secondary education, and so must the commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). In fact, many colleges and institutes stand out as leaders in the sector on policies, programs, and initiatives that foster an institution-wide culture of EDI:

Leaders in the field, these four institutions have also been instrumental in laying the foundation of our new national initiative sharing best practices and promoting a coordinated approach to a culture of inclusion specific to colleges and institutes: ImpAct-EDI!

  • As the national association with a mission to strengthen the system, we aim to bring together colleges and institutes from across the country in collaboration, sharing, learning, and amplifying in everything we do.
  • We also know many other colleges and institutes are already leaders in their communities. Stay tuned for more on this initiative to learn from each other and strengthen EDI at the national level, and for an opportunity to be a part of our new EDI Community of Practice and National Advisory Committee!
  • In case you missed it: Watch Perspectives LIVE “Amplifying BIPOC voices : representation, visibility, and opportunity,” for a look at the role of post-secondary institutions in addressing systemic racism in Canada and the steps that institutions can take to move from celebrating diversity to driving meaningful change.

We’re also proud to have marked a major milestone in diversity and concrete steps towards gender equity and greater inclusion at the highest level within our association. We’ve surpassed our goals as part of 50-30 Challenge!

  • The challenge encourages Canadian organizations to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplaces, while highlighting the benefits of giving all Canadians a seat at the table.

We’re serious about EDI, not only as an ethical and moral responsibility, but also as necessary for sustainable recovery. We have an opportunity now as individuals and as a sector to address structural and systemic barriers to inclusion in ways that move beyond good intentions to action.

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April 26, 2021

Must read: the path to a net-zero carbon future

As we celebrate Earth Day, our brand-new paper on sustainability highlights the critical role of colleges and institutes in helping Canada achieve net-zero emissions by 2050! Even as last week’s federal budget proposed $17.6 billion for green initiatives, it’s clear Canada must adopt a whole-of-country approach and will require strong leadership from post-secondary institutions. Everyone has a role to play!

Leading the Way to a Net-Zero Carbon Future presents the role of colleges and institutes on four pillars: green skills for a net-zero future, applied research and living labs, Indigenous and nature-based solutions, and leveraging campuses.

In the face of a climate emergency and pandemic recovery, leadership in sustainability is more important than ever. With their extensive footprint, expertise in equipping learners with job-ready skills, and an applied research innovation pipeline to small and medium-sized businesses, colleges and institutes are ideally positioned to support Canada’s transition to a net-zero future!

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December 14, 2020

Take part in the new 50-30 Challenge!

Did you know that the Government of Canada’s new 50-30 Challenge encourages Canadian organizations to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace, while highlighting the benefits of giving all Canadians a seat at the table? We signed up last week!

Signing on to the challenge means that we have committed to achieving 50% gender parity on our board and senior management team; as well as at least 30% representation of other under-represented groups, including Indigenous people, racialized persons, people living with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ2 community.

We encourage you to reflect on diversity in your institution and take part in this challenge to reimagine a better and more inclusive future for all!

The new challenge, launched last week by Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry Navdeep Bains, will create a community among its participants to share fresh insights, generate new ideas, and find creative solutions to address to address the unique needs of organizations across Canada.

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October 5, 2020

Making and celebrating her story

Since 1992, Canadians have officially marked Women’s History Month in October, celebrating the achievements and contributions of women and girls across the country and throughout our history as business leaders, politicians, researchers, artists, and activists. The month is highlighted by two events in particular: International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, a United Nations international observance dedicated to empowering girls to become female leaders and change-makers; and Persons Day on October 18, marking the day in 1929 that five trail-blazing women fought for and won the right to be appointed to public office and participate equally in all aspects of life in Canada.

While these three events call for celebration, it’s also a time to reflect on what still needs to be addressed to empower more women to achieve their full potential. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted what some are calling a she-cession and similarly the latest data from Statistics Canada shows that female employees still earn $0.87 for every dollar earned by men. We also know that women and girls are more likely to experience gender-based violence, and many Indigenous women and girls are missing and murdered.

Empowering women is essential to continued economic and social growth, especially in the context of a pandemic. In the recent Speech from the Throne, the Liberal government promised to create an Action Plan for Women in the Economy. Colleges and institutes will be vital to the development of this plan, and many already lead initiatives to further the economic well-being of women:

  • George Brown College’s Women Transitioning to Trades and Employment program is an innovative, integrated, and supportive program for women and gender non-binary, trans, and two-spirit people who are looking for stable employment and interested in trades and construction related fields. The program is designed to increase the number of people from under-represented groups entering and being successful in the trades!
  • NorQuest College’s 1000 Women: A Million Possibilities campaign has raised over $3.3 million to support removing financial obstacles for female students and enabling them to pursue education and achieve their goals.
  • At Nova Scotia Community College, the Ocean Awaits Award for Women and Indigenous People, recognizes the significant financial, social and cultural barriers faced by women and Indigenous people when pursuing post-secondary education and aims to offset tuition costs and encourage greater participation in marine training and careers.
  • Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue has been working in partnership over the past three years to adapt its First Nations Police Technologies program (Techniques policières des Premières Nations) to recommendations from the National Inquiry of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
  • Okanagan College’s Gateway to the Building Trades for Women is an all-female, 12-week exploratory program introducing women to trades such as carpentry, automotive, plumbing, and electrical through active participation and exploration.
  • At Aurora College’s Yellowknife North Slave Research Centre, researchers are collaborating on the Welcoming the ‘Sacred Spirit’ projectconnecting Indigenous and western ways of knowing to optimize maternal health delivery. Other areas of focus include femicide, domestic abuse, and women’s health in rural and remote communities.
  • Many colleges and institutes are also involved in our Education for Employment programs abroad, one of the important ways we are working to advance women’s equality. All of these programs aim to help vulnerable populations achieve parity, particularly women, and contribute globally to Sustainable Development Goals 5, 4, and 8: gender equality, quality education, and decent work and economic growth.

A sustainable recovery plan for Canada needs to do more to empower the women, transgender, and gender non-binary individuals in our lives. Through support systems, targeted training opportunities, and female-oriented research projects like these, we can do more to unleash the achievements held back through implicit bias and systemic gender inequality.

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September 21, 2020

Making a lasting impact with global goals

Global Goals Week is about action, awareness, and accountability. Today, we are at a turning point: this year marks five years since the 193 member states of the United Nations promised to leave no one behind with 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and leaves us ten more years to achieve this vision by 2030. It’s time to think about how each one of us can make lasting change.

Colleges and institutes have been leaders in sustainability for many years and are constantly coming up with new initiatives to reduce their own footprint, have a lasting impact in their communities, and make progress towards achieving the goals. Our biweekly SDG Spotlight highlights some of the action:

  • Canadore College’s new sustainable food development site houses four grow pods conducting applied research on growing food in various environments, evolving technologies, yield maximization and hybrid growth methods. The site will support food security in the north, specifically rural and remote communities, and will have the capacity to produce approximately 30,000 pounds of food annually!  
  • Carlton Trail College recently released a report on regionalized, labour market information as part of a needs assessment project to better understand projected skills shortages and workforce issues within east-central Saskatchewan. Anticipating demand for skilled labour and preparing for disruption is important to ensuring that everyone can find decent work and contribute to economic growth!
  • Cégep Garneau’s plan to remove all single-use plastic water bottles from campus includes installing new drinking fountains and water stations promoting potable water as the #1 choice for hydration, eliminating 25 000 plastic bottles annually! The move is part of a larger institution-wide vision and environmentally conscious plan to both reduce its own carbon footprint while educating students on their own environmental impact. 
  • Vanier College unanimously passed a resolution pledging commitment to climate action by signing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Accord. The accord represents a network of post-secondary institutions and educational organizations around the world who have each identified climate change as a global emergency and committed to action promoting sustainability in education.
  • Capilano University recently launched a unique digital ambassador program to offer peer support to students coping with virtual learning. The digital ambassadors help by creating tutorials, videos, and FAQs for digital learning and providing technical support for students using digital platforms. They help flatten the “hierarchy of learning” and ensure that everyone has equitable access to quality education!
  • At Kwantlen Polytechnic University, the new Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems and Security combines a balanced approach from both KPU’s Institute for Sustainable Food Systems and its Faculty of Arts to tackle uncertainties in the global food system stemming from issues such as climate change, environmental and ecosystem degradation, pandemics and more.

Working together on initiatives like these, we can make progress towards achieving the goals by 2030 and empower others to reach their full potential and help Build Back Better!