Since 2004, the annual Sustainability Appreciation Luncheon recognizes staff, faculty, and students who help advance sustainability at UBC through their participation in the SEEDS Sustainability Program and the Sustainability Coordinator (SC) Program in offices and labs.
On May 26th, over 130 attendees gathered at the newly opened Ponderosa Ballroom to celebrate their contributions to campus sustainability while enjoying a local and sustainable meal prepared by UBC Food Services.
Andrea Cheng, UBC SEEDS student participant, shares, "As I am a UBC alumni, it was nice to come back and meet other people who are involved in sustainability initiatives around the campus. It definitely shows how sustainability can and ought to be achieved through all of the activities that occur on campus. I'm so proud of all the work that UBC does to strive for better environmental and social stewardship".
16 years in operation, the SEEDS Sustainability Program each year engages hundreds of students and dozens of faculty and staff members in innovative projects that integrate operational and academic efforts to address campus sustainability issues.
Deb Pickman, Marketing and Communications Specialist, UBC Arts and Culture District added, " "I feel very fortunate to have been part of a collaborative SEEDS project with the students from the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. The ‘Strata-Sphere’ project, installed in the Arts & Culture district, is now enlivening our nightscape, it’s welcoming glow contributing to a sense of place and raising awareness about the outstanding research of our students".
“The Sustainability Appreciation Luncheon reflects the importance we place in community and gathering together to appreciate what is being accomplished".
In 2015, 194 student reports related to campus operational sustainability topics such as building operations, waste, water, transportation, energy, land, food, climate, community, and finance were generated.
The luncheon also recognized the leadership of over 80 Sustainability Coordinators for their efforts to champion sustainability initiatives across offices and labs.
Initiated in 1999, the SC Program offers staff members the support, awareness, skills and tools they need to foster sustainability in their respective departments.