When the COVID pandemic hit a few years back, the world suddenly began creating, consuming and disposing of a much larger volume of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  As global mask sales increased 30-fold in 2020, many people wanted the option of diverting their used masks from the landfill.  A number of initiatives were developed in North America to recycle masks and the folks here in the Sustainability Office purchased pre-paid mask recycling boxes from a company called Terracycle in hopes of keeping our masks out of the landfill. 

We still have a handful of these Terracycle mask recycling collection boxes out in public spaces of the college: the bottom of the stairs near the campus bookstore at NDC, the north doors of building J, the south doors of building T, and the third floor outside the culinary labs at PGI.  Anyone and everyone is welcome to use them!

Additionally, last year, the Sustainability Office consolidated our second PPE recycling program that had been offered through a number of different nursing and health care programs. Now the college collects the following items in bulk, compresses/palletizes the items, and ships them away for recycling to an organization in Quebec called Go Zero.

• Disposable gloves (nitrile, vinyl, latex)
• Disposable & respirator masks
• Reusable masks & disposable filters
• Safety glasses, goggles, face shields
• Isolation gowns, surgical drapes
• Hair & shoe covers
• Earplugs

Upon receiving our pallets of compressed PPE, Go Zero sorts, washes, shreds, granulates, and extrudes the various plastics into pellets that are re-sold back into the plastics market for re-use. If you’re a big recycling nerd like us, you can see more details on the above process here, starting on page 8.

Get involved in the PPE Recycling program!

With the success of our centralized PPE recycling collection initiative over the past year, we’re looking to expand! If you’re an instructor or EA that uses PPE in their lab, workshop or classroom, and you’d like to start recycling it, please get in touch with us at sustainability@rrc.ca. If you’re a student who is interested in diverting more waste from your classrooms or labs, get in touch with us or chat with your instructors about our PPE program. 

And of course, the best way to keep PPE out of the landfill is by avoiding over-use of PPE when it isn’t necessary. The NHS’s Gloves Are Off campaign in the UK is a good example of health care practitioners working to limit un-necessary use of PPE in hospitals and thereby reducing waste while still maintaining safe hygienic practices.

RRC Polytech is proud to participate in SDG Month Canada this March, a national collaborative initiative that brings colleges and universities together to increase awareness and engagement with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a shared global framework for addressing challenges such as climate change, inequality, responsible consumption, and community well-being.

As a signatory of the SDG Accord, RRC Polytech continues to integrate sustainability across campus culture, curriculum, and institutional practices. SDG Month provides an opportunity to highlight this work and recognize the contributions of students, staff, and faculty.

SDG Student Competition

One of the highlights of the month is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Student Competition, which recognizes student projects that advance sustainability and align with one or more of the 17 SDGs.

The competition offers four cash awards:

$2,000 for Best Overall Submission
$1,000 for Top Applied Research Entry
$1,000 for Top Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Entry
$1,000 for Top Academic Assignment

Eligible projects may include course assignments, capstone projects, applied research, case studies, or independent initiatives that demonstrate impact.

Application deadline: March 24, 2026.

The SDG Student Competition is supported by Crozier Kilgour

Manitoba Gardening 101 and Planting Workshops

Growing food locally is one way individuals can take meaningful action toward sustainability.

Manitoba Gardening 101 is a hands-on workshop series hosted in collaboration with Campus Wellbeing and the Sustainability Office. Designed especially for beginners, the sessions introduce participants to practical skills such as starting seeds indoors, understanding Manitoba’s growing conditions, and selecting climate-appropriate plants.

The first session takes place on March 25 from 12:10 to 12:50 PM in the Greenhouse at the Notre Dame Campus, with additional sessions planned for April and May.

Staff and students are welcome.

To learn more about this event and register, click here.

Launching the SDG Community of Practice

As part of SDG Month Canada, RRC Polytech is also launching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Community of Practice for staff and faculty.

The SDG Community of Practice will bring together colleagues interested in integrating sustainability and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals into teaching, research, operations, and community engagement. The initiative will focus on topics, such as education, equity, sustainable communities, responsible consumption, climate action, and partnerships, among others, creating space for collaboration across teaching, research, and campus operations.

The first gathering will introduce the purpose of the Community of Practice and invite participants to help shape its direction moving forward.

Check Staff News for more details.

Additional SDG Month Activities and Related Events

Throughout March, members of the RRC Polytech community are invited to participate in events related to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Here are a few learning opportunities to explore:

March 5 | Wolves of Manitoba

Hosted by the Friends of the Living Prairie Museum, this in-person and virtual talk explores wolf ecology in Manitoba, including how wolves interact with their environment, select prey, and influence predator-prey dynamics. The session will share insights from recent Manitoba-based research.

This event aligns with SDG 15 Life on Land and SDG 4 Quality Education.

March 9 to 13 | RRC Polytech’s Inclusion Week

RRC Polytech’s annual Inclusion Week is a week-long series of in-person and virtual opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to strengthen equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in our classrooms, workplaces, and daily interactions.

Inclusion Week aligns with SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 5 Gender Equality, SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

March 10 | Birdability Community Conversation

Each year, migratory birds travel extraordinary distances using complex navigation systems that include the Earth’s magnetic field, celestial cues, and environmental signals. This virtual Birdability session explores how and why birds migrate, while creating space for learning and connection within a community that includes blind and low-vision birders.

This event aligns with SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities, SDG 13 Climate Action, and SDG 15 Life on Land.

March 24 | Keeping it Local: Co-ops as a Succession Plan for SMEs

This webinar explores how transitioning small and medium-sized businesses to employee or community ownership can provide a sustainable and values-driven approach to business succession. The session will examine cooperative ownership models, Employee Ownership Trusts, and Employee Stock Ownership Plans, and how these models help retain jobs, local expertise, and economic benefits within the community.

This event aligns with SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production.

March 25 | Awards Evening – Building Envelope Design Competition

This event, taking place at RRC Polytech from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM, celebrates innovation in high-performance building design in Manitoba.

The evening brings together professionals, students, and industry leaders to showcase design solutions focused on energy efficiency and sustainable building practices. Attendees will have the opportunity to view submissions, connect with others in the field, and celebrate this year’s competition winners.

This event aligns with SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 13 Climate Action.

The RRC Polytech Sustainability Office is pleased to announce the third annual Sustainable Development Goals Student Competition! The competition provides an opportunity to celebrate the valuable work that students, instructors, and researchers are undertaking in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) here at RRC Polytech.

Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals, their targets and indicators here. To learn more about RRC Polytech’s commitment to the SDGs, read about our signing of the SDG Accord.

The 2026 competition is sponsored by Crosier Kilgour. Four cash award prizes are available:

1. Best Overall Submission $2000
2. Top Applied Research Entry $1000
3. Top Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Entry $1000
4. Top Academic Assignment $1000

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the eligibility requirements?

All currently enrolled students at RRC Polytech are eligible to apply. Students may enter the contest as an individual or as a team. Projects must have taken place in the 2025/2026 academic year.

Do we have to use the award money towards implementing a project? 

No, the prize money may be used by you/your team however you wish.

Can I submit a project that was part of a course assignment?

Yes. Course-related projects are eligible for the award.

Does my submission need to include applied research?

No. Although there is a prize specifically to recognize the top applied research project, we are interested in all sustainability-related projects, research, studies and learning happening here at RRC Polytech! Eligible submissions include, but are not limited to innovative designs, business plans, capstone projects, demonstrations, case studies and more.

What is the evaluation criteria?

The adjudication committee will look for clear descriptions of:
• The “where, why, what, when and how” of your project.
• How your project supports sustainability and one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
• How your project may contribute to ongoing momentum towards sustainability.

How do I apply?

To apply please fill out the application form below. If you would prefer a downloadable application form or have any questions regarding your submission, please email: sustainability@rrc.ca. Applications must be received by March 24th, 2026.

Excellence in Sustainability Award Winner, Ginger Arnold (right), with Stephanie Fulford, RRC Polytech’s Sustainability Specialist.

RRC Polytech is proud to recognize Ginger Arnold as one of this past year’s recipients of the Excellence in Sustainability Award. Her story is a meaningful reminder that sustainability is not only a professional commitment, but a way of seeing, living, and learning that grows through connection to land, community and people.

Rooted in the Land

Ginger’s journey in sustainability began long before she entered the field. She grew up between her grandparents’ farm in rural Manitoba and a remote log cabin on an island in Lake of the Woods, two landscapes that shaped her deeply. As Ginger reflects, “My childhood was grounded in nature. I was always outside, in every season, and that shaped how I see the world and what I care about.”

A high school marine biology course strengthened this connection. Through field trips, hands-on research and a study experience in Belize, she discovered how powerful it felt “to understand the world more deeply and to care for it more intentionally,” a realization that set her on a lifelong path of environmental learning and community-centered work.

A Career Shaped by Community and Environmental Care

Ginger’s career carried her across the North, where she worked in Yellowknife as a Fish Habitat Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and later with Natural Resources Canada, supporting environmental monitoring and field studies in partnership with Indigenous communities. Her work took her to remote regions along the Mackenzie River, where she lived in a wall tent for weeks at a time while conducting baseline monitoring with community members. She also spent time working in Churchill and held a role with Bird Studies Canada, contributing to research and community-engaged science before returning to Winnipeg.

For the next ten years, Ginger served with the Province of Manitoba in the Department of Conservation, later called Sustainable Development, as a Senior Policy Analyst in Indigenous Relations. In that role, she supported policy development, interdepartmental collaboration and initiatives advancing sustainability, community engagement and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.

These experiences gave Ginger a deep understanding of how environmental work and Indigenous knowledge inform one another. She carried this perspective with her when she joined RRC Polytech as an instructor in the Social Innovation and Community Development program, supporting learners who want to make a difference in their communities through social and environmental change.

Today, alongside her work as an instructor, Ginger is leading the development of the new Moojigitoodaa Aki – Environmental Studies and Land Relations program. She also serves as the Employee Representative on the Board of Governors at RRC Polytech, ensuring that staff voices contribute to the institution’s governance and long-term planning.

Designing a Program Centered on Land, Community and Sustainability

Ginger is currently working on the development of the Moojigitoodaa Aki – Environmental Studies and Land Relations program, a two-year diploma shaped by community voices and grounded in land-based learning. As she explained, “Two-eyed seeing allows us to bring Indigenous and Western knowledge together,” a principle that guides every stage of the program’s design.

The program began with a request from an Indigenous community seeking graduates who understood both environmental science and land-based knowledge. After many conversations with communities and industry, the program now reflects what people shared. It responds to a growing demand across Manitoba and beyond for professionals who can navigate environmental challenges while working respectfully with communities and the land.

Teaching Sustainability as Shared Learning

Ginger’s dedication to embedding sustainability into curriculum has shaped the learning experience of every student she has taught. Courses such as Impact of Climate Change on Communities and Reconciling Our Economic Futures have encouraged learners to think critically about environmental issues and their responsibilities within their own communities.

For Ginger, teaching sustainability begins with creating space for multiple worldviews. She believes that students learn best when they are invited to explore how land, community, and the environment connect in their own lives. To help students navigate these perspectives, she grounds her teaching in frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. These tools, she noted, offer a shared language for understanding global challenges while also valuing Indigenous knowledge and community experience.

Ginger describes her classroom as a place of reciprocal learning. “I learn just as much from students and community partners as they learn from me,” she said. “That exchange is one of the most meaningful parts of this work.”

Supporting Sustainability Across the College

Ginger’s contributions extend well beyond her teaching role. She has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing sustainability at RRC Polytech, volunteering her time to support College-wide initiatives, strengthen the curriculum, and encourage community engagement. Her influence reaches students, colleagues, and partners across the country.

She has led workshops that explore how the Sustainable Development Goals connect with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, helping staff reflect on how global sustainability frameworks relate to local responsibilities. This included a presentation during Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement Week, as well as a national webinar for Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), where she shared practical approaches for integrating sustainability and reconciliation in post-secondary education.

Ginger also played a key role in developing the College’s SDG Student Competition, providing guidance and serving on the adjudication committee. She finds this work especially meaningful because it allows her to see how students interpret sustainability through their own identities, studies and lived experiences. Their creativity continually inspires her and reinforces the importance of integrating sustainability across all programs.

Looking Forward

When Ginger imagines the future of sustainability education at RRC Polytech, she sees a campus where learning extends far beyond the classroom, with naturalized spaces and places where students and community members can gather, learn, and feel connected to the land. She is especially excited about expanding project-based learning, creating more opportunities for fieldwork and strengthening partnerships with First Nations and Métis communities.

Ginger Arnold’s story is a powerful example of leadership rooted in community, reciprocity, and respect for the land. Her commitment has strengthened sustainability learning at RRC Polytech and inspired change both locally and nationally. RRC Polytech is proud to celebrate her contributions and the lasting impact she brings to sustainability and education.

For the first time ever, RRC Polytech has earned a Gold rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System known as STARS. Developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), STARS is the most widely recognized framework for measuring sustainability performance in post-secondary institutions, with over 1,200 participants across 52 countries. 

Improving by more than 20 points in the comprehensive scoring system from the previous submission, Gold STARS status acknowledges RRC Polytech’s deep commitment to sustainability across academics, operations, engagement, planning, and innovation. It’s a testament to the Polytech’s collaborative, campus-wide efforts to embed sustainability into every facet of its mission. 

Submitted every three years, the STARS ratings motivate organizations to assess how they approach the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability and develop methods and programs to address the global challenges that we’re all facing. RRC Polytech was the first post-secondary in Manitoba to sign the SDG Accord and commit to pursuing and delivering the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals – measuring and reporting progress is critical to success.   

“We have a shared responsibility to take better care of our planet, people, and community and every effort makes a difference,” said Stephanie Fulford, Sustainability Specialist, Environmental Stewardship and Campus Renewal at RRC Polytech. “Opportunities to do more in both our personal and professional lives are everywhere; we just need to look for them and decide we’re going to lead by example and do something about it.”  

The Gold rating is a tremendous milestone but also serves as a starting point for new strategies and practices that can be adopted to ensure a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future for everyone. 

“As an organization committed to innovation and excellence, we’re not only going to work hard to maintain our top-performing areas but to improve our scores in every area,” said Fulford. “We’re excited to continue leading with purpose and driving even greater impact in the years ahead by learning from others, exploring new ideas, and finding creative ways to embed and advance sustainability in everything we do.” 

Read more on the RRC.ca newsfeed

Every year, the RRC Polytech community comes together to reduce waste and rethink how materials can be reused or recovered. As part of Waste Reduction Week (October 20–24), the E-Waste Drive invites students, staff, and faculty to bring in unwanted electronics so they can be properly recycled, keeping hazardous materials out of landfills and giving valuable components a second life.

Why E-Waste Recycling Matters

E-waste includes any electronic or electrical item that has reached the end of its useful life, such as laptops, phones, tablets, printers, monitors, light bulbs, ink & toner and cartridges as well as other small devices.

When these products are discarded improperly, they can release hazardous substances like lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium into the environment. These contaminants can leach into soil, water, and air, posing serious risks to human health and ecosystems.

Proper e-waste recycling prevents this pollution and allows valuable materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, to be safely recovered and reused. Recycling e-waste is an important way to protect the environment, conserve resources, and reduce the impact of electronic consumption.

What Can Be Dropped Off

You can bring:

• Laptops, computers, and tablets
• Printers and toners
• Phones, chargers, and cables
• Keyboards, mice, and accessories
• Small electronics, such as cameras, speakers, and headphones
• Light bulbs

See here for the complete list of items you can bring.

For Staff: College-Owned Electronics

Items with an asset tag and considered IT equipment, such as monitors and laptops, follow the appropriate disposal process.

For more information, visit Staff Forum

Where You Can Drop Off Your E-Waste (October 20–24)

• Notre Dame Campus: Shipping and Receiving (B183) and Library Hallway
• Exchange District Campus (Roblin Centre): Shipping and Receiving (W101)

After You Drop It Off

All materials collected during the E-Waste Drive are sent to Mother Earth Recycling (MER), an Indigenous social enterprise that contributes to Winnipeg’s circular economy.

MER focuses on recycling and reusing hard-to-recycle materials such as mattresses, electronics, light bulbs, and car seats. Instead of these items ending up in landfills, MER reprocesses them locally, helping to keep materials in use and recover valuable components like metal, foam, and wood.

What Happens to E-Waste

When electronics arrive at Mother Earth Recycling, they are safely taken apart, and all components are sorted for reuse or recycling. Metals, plastics, and glass are recovered to make new products, while data from hard drives and other devices is securely destroyed. Some electronics that can be repaired are refurbished and offered at affordable prices to the community.

By keeping all processing local and providing local jobs, Mother Earth Recycling helps reduce landfill waste, recover valuable resources, and support a more sustainable and local economy.

Together, we can make a difference. Small actions can have a huge impact! Every device we recycle helps prevent pollution, protects our environment, and contributes to RRC Polytech’s sustainability goals.

RRC Polytech is proud to recognize Jennifer Morin, one of the recipients of the 2025 Excellence in Sustainability Award. Jennifer’s dedication to environmental stewardship has made a lasting impact at the College, particularly through her efforts to connect sustainability with health care and education. Her leadership demonstrates that sustainability is applicable to every sector, and can be integrated into all fields of study and areas of life.

From Rural Roots to Nursing Leadership

Jennifer’s passion for sustainability began early, spending large amounts of time in rural Manitoba, she developed a strong connection to the land and an appreciation for animals, and food systems. She recalls how time outdoors gave her energy and a place for renewal. For Jennifer, the environment is not only about what it provides, but also about the responsibility to care for it so future generations can continue to have the same relationship. “It is not just about what I get from the environment, but also maintaining it so that we can continue to have that relationship going forward,” she explains.

When she began working as a nurse, Jennifer quickly noticed the large amount of waste generated in patient care settings and started asking how nursing professionals could practice more sustainably. In 2008, she joined a new special interest group with the Canadian Nurses Association, which later grew into the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment. Alongside this work, she completed graduate research on how sustainability concepts could be integrated into nursing education.

Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders

Mentorship is one of the ways Jennifer makes the biggest difference. She often says that a single person or profession cannot solve sustainability challenges on their own, and that is why she puts so much energy into collaboration and guiding the next generation. A good example is the Climate-Resilient Nursing project, where she worked closely with a student to explore how sustainability can be part of nursing practice. The project had a big impact—sparking new conversations about the connection between health care and the environment, and also gave Jennifer fresh perspectives that keep her motivated. For her, mentorship is about more than supporting students; it is about creating change together and inspiring others to continue the work.

Researching Air Quality in Long-Term Care

Jennifer’s research also highlights the importance of integrating sustainability into health care systems. She has played a key role in a three-year project with the Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre (BETAC), focused on improving air quality in long-term care facilities. The project brought together nursing, engineering, and construction expertise to develop tools such as an Indoor Air Quality Satisfaction Survey that care homes can use to evaluate resident and staff experiences. For Jennifer, this collaboration proved that partnerships are essential, as she believes that “multidisciplinary teams are needed to solve these kinds of complex challenges”. The results have already been shared with long-term care homes and presented at national conferences, showing how sustainability can directly improve community health and wellness.

Collaboration at the Core

Collaboration has been a constant in Jennifer’s work. At RRC Polytech, she has built partnerships that go beyond her own department, including long-standing ties with Université St. Boniface. These relationships have created opportunities for students to take part in projects that connect health care and sustainability, while also strengthening collaboration between institutions. For Jennifer, this kind of teamwork is about building trust, exchanging perspectives, and making sure that progress continues well beyond a single project.

Teaching with Sustainability in Mind

As an educator, Jennifer makes sure sustainability is part of her teaching in every course. She introduces concepts such as recycling, community programs, and professional associations, showing students that sustainability connects to health care in many practical ways. Her approach is about “planting seeds” that encourage students to keep asking questions and to carry those lessons into their future practice.

Leading with Dedication

When asked about receiving the Excellence in Sustainability Award, Jennifer shared how meaningful it is to see this work recognized after so many years of dedication. “Sustainability has been a passion of mine for a long time, and I am grateful to see it becoming part of the conversation in nursing education,” she reflects.

Through mentorship, research, and teaching, she is helping prepare future health care professionals to face environmental challenges and to advocate for healthier communities. RRC Polytech is proud to celebrate Jennifer Morin for her commitment and outstanding contributions to sustainability!

Biodiversity is essential for the natural world. It keeps ecosystems in balance and allows species to live and grow together. For humans it provides food, clean air, and water, and supports our well-being. The Biodiversity in Manitoba is unique, bringing together prairies, boreal forest, and tundra, along with wetlands, rivers, and lakes. This mix creates a home for thousands of plants, animals, and fungi.

At RRC Polytech, we know how important this is, which is why we are excited to join two new initiatives: the Campus Biodiversity Network and the 2025 Campus Nature Challenge. Both are opportunities for students and staff to connect with nature, learn about local species, and take part in research that reaches beyond our campus.

Campus Biodiversity Network

By joining this network, RRC Polytech will connect with other colleges and universities across Canada that are working to highlight and protect biodiversity. The network builds biodiversity profiles for campuses and also contributes to international research on urban green spaces.

Through this work, we want to:

• Build community through a shared focus on biodiversity
• Raise awareness about local wildlife and conservation
• Encourage small but meaningful actions for sustainability
• Create clear biodiversity profiles for our campuses
• Add our voice to international research on urban biodiversity

How to participate: iNaturalist

We will be using the iNaturalist app to collect observations on the Notre Dame Campus. It is easy to use and a fun way to get involved:

• Take a photo of any plant or animal you see on campus
• Share your observations with the iNaturalist community
• Learn more about the species around you with help from others

To view what species have already been observed at the Notre Dame Campus, visit our project page.

2025 Campus Nature Challenge

From September 21 to 28, 2025, campuses across Canada will take part in the 2025 Campus Nature Challenge, a week-long “bioblitz” to record as many species as possible. RRC Polytech will join from the Notre Dame Campus.

To kick things off, the Office of Sustainability will host a Nature Walk on Monday, September 22, from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. We will meet in the main hall of the STTC building at the Notre Dame Campus, and from there we will walk around campus, make observations together, and share information about local biodiversity.

If you would like to participate, we encourage you to register in advance to let us know you are coming. Registration is not required, and walk-up participants are also welcome. Also, we recommend downloading the iNaturalist app before the event, but it is not mandatory.

September 22 to 26, is also Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement Week on campus. RRC Polytech recognizes Indigenous people as the original and ongoing stewards of this land. Around the world more than 80% of biodiversity is stewarded by Indigenous communities. We encourage all interested participants to also explore the Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement Week workshops and events schedule.

If you have any questions, comments, or would like more information, please write to us at sustainability@rrc.ca

At RRC Polytech, water isn’t just a utility, it’s a responsibility. We adopt a proactive approach to monitoring, managing, and reducing our water footprint across all campuses. As outlined in our Sustainability Strategy and Land Acknowledgement, RRC Polytech recognizes the sacred importance of water, which for our Winnipeg campuses originates from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation in Treaty 3 Territory. The institution also recognizes the Treaty Territories that provide the electricity powering our personal and professional lives. Conservation, in this context, is both a practical and deeply respectful commitment.

To honour this commitment to water stewardship, RRC Polytech has undertaken a water footprint assessment to reveal usage patterns, costs, and opportunities for conservation. This assessment includes both our direct water usage, as well as our indirect water usage consumed during the production of natural gas, electricity, paper and electronics used in our operations.

Our conservation efforts to date have included engaging strategic tools like ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager and data visualization platforms to analyze trends, increase transparency, and drive continuous improvement. Innovative conservation measures such as rainwater harvesting at Manitou a bi Bii dazigae, low-flow fixtures, green roofs, and drought-resistant landscaping, have supported direct water usage reductions, while initiatives like our Sustainable and Socially Responsible Procurement Policy support efforts to reduce our indirect water usage.

The results of our water footprint assessment indicate that both our conservation efforts have been working, and that we have further to go. While our direct water consumption grew slightly, from 78,260 m³ in 2019 to 84,964 m³ in 2024, during this time RRC Polytech had an increase in both floor space, and student enrollment. Our indirect water use has seen a reduction, partially influenced by reduced natural gas usage due to warmer than usual winters, but also due to building efficiency improvements and a massive reduction in paper usage. Thanks to our collective efforts, our total water footprint has decreased by more than 1.4 million cubic metres since 2019, a strong step forward in our sustainability journey. 

 Looking ahead, we’re taking tangible steps to improve on these efforts by: 

1. Installing more metering and sub-metering systems to gain precise insights into water performance 
2. Establishing conservation targets tailored to each campus 
3. Identifying retrofit opportunities that enhance water-use efficiency 
4. Expanding the re-use of water and rainwater capture in daily operations 

As we move forward, RRC Polytech remains committed to being a steward of sustainable water use, ensuring that every drop counts toward a healthier, more resilient future for our community and the environment.

Students at RRC Polytech are concerned about the world we live in and are driven to find ways to make a difference in their personal lives and future careers. They know that we are in an ecological and climate crisis, see the inequities that exist in society, and are seeking knowledge and experiences that will help them address these issues.

The impacts of climate change have led to an emerging demand for skilled professionals who can contribute to mitigating and adapting to its effects. Across Canada, technological, environmental and social change continues to radically transform labour markets. RRC Polytech is playing a key role in training the highly skilled workforce pursuing careers in green building and construction, clean energy, healthcare, community development, and more. As tomorrow’s innovators, professionals, leaders and change-makers, our students will be at the forefront of building a greener, healthier and more prosperous future.

If you’re curious about how sustainability can fit into your studies, check out our current sustainability course offerings below.

Know of a sustainability course offering at RRC Polytech that you think should be on this list? Contact us at sustainability@rrc.ca and let us know!