Ottawa, June 15, 2021 – Supporting a sustainable recovery will require a whole of country effort, and colleges and institutes have a critical role to play. To help leverage the full potential of its members across the country, Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is launching Massive Impact, a new initiative that will raise awareness among this community and enhance engagement to reduce its environmental footprint.
This five-year pan-Canadian project is made possible thanks to $5.3 million in funding from the Government of Canada, through Environment and Climate Change Canada’s $206-million Climate Action and Awareness Fund.
“By training students with the green skills needed to build a net-zero economy, by supporting innovation and by acting locally to reduce their own environmental footprint, colleges and institutes are already leading the way forward”, notes CICan president and CEO, Denise Amyot. “Thanks to this Climate Action and Awareness funding, our Massive Impact program will help to leverage the strength and full potential of our members to deliver lasting change and raise awareness about ways we can work together to reduce our overall GHG emissions. This will go a long way in supporting Canada’s climate action goals, including net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”
As part of the project, CICan, in consultation with members, will identify best practices for green buildings based on LEEDS standards for specific construction trades and create a train-the-trainer model for faculty. It will also develop a GHG emission reduction awareness-raising campaign on the relationship between GHG emissions and climate. This will include the development of an Emission Reduction Mentorship Program for faculty and staff and a Campus Emissions Inventory Tool for sustainability and facilities staff.
The project will also offer support to colleges and institutes in order to develop living lab projects to demonstrate ways to implement GHG emission reductions in areas such as food, waste, transportation, green buildings/landscape and the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge and practices.
About Colleges and Institutes Canada:
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is the voice of Canada’s publicly-supported colleges, institutes, cegeps and polytechnics, and an international leader in education for employment with ongoing programs in over 25 countries. CICan’s members add over $190B to Canada’s economy each year and contribute to inclusive economic growth by working with industry and community partners to offer more than 10,000 programs to learners in urban, rural, remote, and northern communities.
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For more information:
Julien Abord-Babin
Senior Strategic Communications Officer
Colleges and Institutes Canada
Email: jabord-babin@collegesinstitutes.ca
Phone: 613-746-2222 ext. 3131
Twitter: @CollegeCan