The goBEYOND Campus Climate Network engages students, faculty, staff and community partners at post-secondary institutions. Our goal is to move schools beyond climate-neutral - taking responsibility for our social and ecological impacts while taking the opportunity to create climate change solutions for our communities!
The goBeyond Campus Climate Network is composed of over 20 colleges and universities across the province, and is collaboratively supported by the UBC Sustainability Office, Common Energy, and the Sierra Youth Coalition.
goBEYOND is made possible by generous contributions BC Hydro, the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, the BC Government and Service Employees Union, and the Capital Regional District.
goBeyond Board of Directors
Angela Willock
Angela Willock is a super driven, thoughtful and lively UBC student who has had a solid track record with goBEYOND. Most recently she was the goBEYOND Campus Organizer and Director of Common Energy at UBC. In the past, she has sat on goBEYOND's Challenges, Planning and Education Working Groups, helping to develop and implement initiatives like the Teach-in, SEAP and the Personal Greenplan workshop. She has also attended the past three Sustainable Campuses Conferences, and the past two "YAGs" and GB Project Development Summits as either a participant and/or supporting organizer. This summer she is already signed up as facilitator for the Education Working Group and Advisory Committee member of goBEYOND's new Ready, Set, Solve project. As member of the Board, she will offer facilitation, strategic development, action planning and communications skills, as well as contribute her past three years of knowledge, insight and connections to lead GB's Education initiatives and support programming in a few other areas. She loves goBEYOND, believes strongly in its vision to transform post-secondary institutions into climate change-solving machines through the power of student organization, and would like to step up her efforts to lead the organization into the next level of effectiveness and awesomeness. She intends to kick it with goBEYOND for the long term because climate change needs to go.
Cameron Bell
Cameron Bell is going into his third year at UNBC, working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. He is originally from Barrie, Ontario, and came out west and up north to study at a university that is actively working towards sustainability. Last year, Cam was the President of UNBC's student-run environmental club, Students for a Green University (which was created as a subsidiary of goBEYOND, and continues to co-ordinate goBEYOND initiatives at UNBC), and led the club as they ran events such as bicycle-blended smoothie sales, workshops, presentations, and awareness campaigns. He is currently the Associate Director of Campus Sustainability on the Northern Undergraduate Student Society (NUGSS), and looks forward to making UNBC and NUGSS more sustainable in the upcoming year. Cam believes that food is a key component of sustainability - how it is produced, distributed, prepared and eaten all have impacts on the natural environment, our economies, and our social well-being. Universities have the opportunity to show leadership by adopting local and ethical purchasing policies, teaching students how to grow food, and growing as much food on campus as possible. Cam is enthusiastic, outgoing, and dedicated, and he hopes to work on the goBEYOND Board of Directors to encourage sustainable behaviours and practices on campuses all over BC.
Duncan Wlodarczak
Duncan Wlodarczak is the Executive Director of Sustainable SFU, a student funded, student run not-for-profit based out of Simon Fraser University. Duncan has a Masters Degree from SFU's Urban Studies Program, as well as a BA in geography from SFU. Duncan sits on BC Hydro's Electricity Conservation & Efficiency Advisory Committee, and the West End Mayor's Advisory Committee in the City of Vancouver. Duncan believes universities are absolutely critical in addressing the most serious issues our world faces, and believes students need to play a key role in not only shaping the conversation at universities to move them towards campus sustainability, but must also take part in shaping the conversation in the wider community. Duncan is a strong believer in building student capacity and helping students develop a diversified skill set and base of knowledge. "The issues our world faces are complex, multi-faceted and vast. We are at a critical moment in history and these issues require us to have a deep understanding of a number of issues and how they are connected. Students must be given the ability to think critically and act decisively, and universities must be the place we equip them with that knowledge and skills.
Sarah Stoner
Sarah Stoner has been involved with goBEYOND since 2008 when she attended the first Project Development Summit where the organization was given its name! Since, Sarah has served on the steering committee, various working groups and as the project manager. Currently, Sarah works as the Sustainability Coordinator at Simon Fraser University. Her passion and commitment to sustainability, conservation and climate solutions were fostered at a young age through regular outdoor adventures and inspiring environmental education experiences. Sarah completed her BA in Geography and Environmental Studies at UVic in 2008 and dove straight into her MA- researching and evaluating community based vulnerability and resilience to natural hazards. Sarah is also active with Pacific Wild and Sierra Club BC where she plans and organizes photography exhibits and film screenings shedding light on development issues threatening BC's pristine North Coast. When she's not schooling or working, Sarah spends time in the natural places that inspire her- whether it's backcountry skiing in the mountains, surfing off of BC's rugged coast or playing with her furry friend Bowie at the park.
Samantha Lefort
As designer and agent of change, I am constantly seeking to integrate the essence of sustainability into my practice, my lifestyle, and my everyday. With this aim, I believe that shifting beyond sustainability is best achieved when it's essence is ingrained in your everything, propelling it forward. With experience as a Communications and Outreach Coordinator, I have been leading, hosting, and developing workshops to educate the public around urban agriculture, climate change, and food security. I have experience sitting on the Board of Governors for Emily Carr University; as well as two years as the Emily Carr Students' Union Chairperson, among several other positions. My personal ethos and practice allow for a great deal of sustainable integration in the post-secondary institution as well the general public; I am a design-activist and hold myself accountable for inventing and implementing projects that engage and activate the community through knowledge, behaviour, and practice. My strengths lie in creative process, problem solving, and collaboration; I look forward to bringing my skills and positive attitude to goBEYOND's Board.
Scott Varga
I am a current 4th year University of the Fraser Valley student studying Geography and Visual Arts who is actively engaged on campus: Senate, Chancellor Succession Committee, Undergraduate Education Committee, goBEYOND Campus Organizer, U-District Design Charrette, Students for Sustainability, Cascade Journalism Society, Geography Undergraduate Society, and Visual Arts Student Society; and in the community: Board Member of The Reach Gallery Museum. My passion for post-secondary institutions is derived from studying in Halifax and Abbotsford as well as spending time in Edmonton as a research assistant. Through these diverse campus experiences I have learned how post-secondary institutions are microcosms of idyllic communities.
My vision for post-secondary institutions is to see them become community anchors and leaders while bolstering their presence by bringing the university to the city and the city to the university. As a current work/study student with UFV's Campus Planning office I am able to directly encourage environmentally responsible actions and attitudes to senior administration to help create a vibrant and dynamic university environment and culture that inspires Abbotsford. Furthermore, by holding the U-District Design Charrette, I have established a direct and amicable relationship with the City of Abbotsford's Director of Community Planning to assist in the creation and development of Abbotsford's University District.
Spencer Rasmussen, chair
Spencer has been with goBEYOND since the beginning. He spent two years as UBC coordinator of this fantastic project, helping build Common Energy UBC from an organization of 4 people to 20. He even remembers when goBEYOND was called Get Evolved before it was launched. In the summer of 2009 Spencer organized the goBEYOND Youth Action Gathering and in the summer of 2010 he coordinated goBEYOND's programming development process. In his spare time Spencer studies political science and economics and also serves on UBC's Senate. He believes passionately in the role that universities can play in addressing climate change. Spencer is entering his second year of a two year term on the goBeyond board. If elected to chair, Spencer will focus on challenging other board members to bring their best.
goBeyond Managing Staff
Melissa Kendzierski - Project Manager
Melissa believes that we have the power to effect the future! As goBEYOND's project manager her desire is to support and empower those who share in the vision to see campuses and communities go beyond climate neutral. Melissa has been with goBEYOND since it's beginning- when it was just an idea, yet to be the fabulous project it is today. Her experience as a student activist while at the University of the Fraser Valley, and later in her position as UFV's Sustainability Coordinator Assistant, speaks to her knowledge, dedication and enthusiasm for campus sustainability. In her spare time, Melissa loves spending time with her husband, experiencing the wilderness and exercising her alter ego as a roller derby superstar!
Ashley Webster - Development Manager
I am a Masters candidate in Urban Studies at Simon Fraser University studying community engagement, municipal governance, social economy, and urban resilience. I have been a research assistant with the BC Working Group for Sustainability Education where I coauthored a report on how post secondary institutions in BC are responding to carbon neutral legislation. My diverse professional experience includes business governance and management, sales and marketing, event management, volunteer coordination, information technology, and quality assurance. You may find my resume on LinkedIn and I am publicly accessible on Google+.
Trevor Stokvis - Finance Manager
Trevor Stokvis is a fourth year Commerce student at the University of British Columbia. He will be completing his BCom degree with a specialization in Management Information Systems in April of 2011, and a Diploma in Accounting in December of 2011. After school, he will be pursuing a Chartered Accountant designation. Through his degree, and various employment experiences such as Operations Manager, Trevor brings a business-oriented mindset to the team. He is passionate about strengthening goBeyond's financial systems so that we may be more effective.
Nicole Beneteau - Communications Coordinator
Nicole is currently completing a Diploma in Applied Communication at Camosun College where she has gained skills in everything from radio production to graphic design. After graduating from Ontario's University of Guelph with a BA in English, Nicole sought out the coastal life of Western Canada and a career in environmental advocacy. She could not be more thrilled to be working with such an amazing organization and dedicated group of people as the goBEYOND crew, combining the work she loves with a mission she is passionate about.
The UBC Sustainability Office
The UBC-SO creates a culture of sustainability at the University of British Columbia. In 1998, UBC became Canada's first university to open a Sustainability Office. Funding for the office is generated through energy savings from the EcoTrek energy retrofit program. Its programs have campus-wide reach, working towards systematically institutionalizing sustainability in every aspect of campus life, including learning, teaching, research, operations, living, working, and external alliances.
The UBC-SO is engaging students, staff, faculty and administrators in a participatory process to build a comprehensive climate-management strategy for the university. Since June, 2007, the UBC community has been working on a climate plan that integrates teaching and learning into strategies that reduce GHG emissions on campus. To date, the project has successfully completed the campus' GHG emissions baseline, engaged students and professors in directed studies and course work that examines innovative ways to reduce GHG emissions on campus, launched a climate strategy consultation process, and begun the process of moving UBC beyond climate-neutral.
In March, the Sustainability Office will launch its first climate roundtable discussion that will bring together community members in the development of issues-based strategies to reduce GHG emissions, enhance teaching and learning at the university and advance UBC's research that is serving the public good. Through working with Common Energy UBC, the sustainability office has used the Go Beyond campaign to raise awareness of the climate-planning process.
University of BC
Common Energy
Common Energy develops relationships between students, staff, faculty, and regional partners at B.C. universities and colleges to move these institutions beyond climate-neutral. Common Energy UBC was one of the key stakeholders that helped get UBC's Climate Action Partnership off the ground. More recently, they are helping to define students' role in collaborative climate change planning, and have been playing a large role in running the education round table, which will help set UBC's direction for future curriculum as it pertains to the university's climate strategy.
Common Energy UVic has deployed a large-scale collaborative planning process to develop the first comprehensive beyond climate-neutral strategy. The strategy integrates UVic's education, research, operations, and external relations to both go climate-neutral in its operations and go beyond climate-neutral by supporting solutions in its region. Hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and regional partners have been directly engaged in developing the plan through multiple conferences, working groups, a wiki website, and direct feedback. The process has developed many innovative strategies, cultivated the support it needs, and created the relationships necessary to implement the plan. In the process, Common Energy UVic has developed extensive knowledge on climate solutions in many areas, in collaborative planning processes, and in youth leadership and skills development.
Common Energy
The Sierra Youth Coalition
The SYC is the youth arm of the Sierra Club of Canada and all of the programs are run entirely by youth, for youth. The Sustainable Campuses Project is the largest SYC program, working with over 50 university and college campuses, and maintaining the largest network of students, faculty and professionals working on campus sustainability issues in Canada.
This 11 year-old program aims to empower students with training, resources, and access to regional and national networks, in order to institutionalize sustainability through campus operations, curricula and community member attitudes. As Sustainable Campuses is focused on institutionalizing sustainability, we've been an integral part in the student-led initiatives that have seen policies, multi-stakeholder processes, assessments, sustainability strategies, and long-term initiatives become the fabric of many institutions. SYC supports students by providing campus visits, organizing annual conferences, and supplying the tools, resources, success stories, training, and networks that are necessary for their initiative to be successful. It has been working to build the current community of student leaders across B.C. for nearly two years.
Over the past two years we have been an active partner within the Canada-U.S. Energy Action Coalition, and have been working with over 38 organizations to deliver climate action programs and support to students. Over a six-month period in 2006/2007 SYC supported 9 schools to undertake and complete campus greenhouse gas emission inventories, and worked with over 800 youth climate leaders and volunteers to undertake climate change initiatives, while exposing nearly 20,000 of their peers to this work. In BC, SYC is ready to take this work to the next level and support the transition to an education system that goes beyond climate-neutral.
Sierra Youth
Our Funders
goBEYOND would like to thank the following funders for making our project possible .
As the third largest electric utility in Canada, BC Hydro serves customers in an area [PDF, 140 Kb] containing over 94% of British Columbia's population.
BC Hydro endeavours to provide energy solutions to its customers in an environmentally and socially responsible way by balancing British Columbians' energy needs with the concerns of the environment.
Vancouver Foundation helps people give back to the communities they care about, in a way that is simple, convenient and lasting.
We are the largest of Canada's 160 community foundations. We've been around since 1943. Our focus is on improving our communities -- the places where we all live, work, play and raise our kids. The place we call home.
Capital Region Disctrict Climate Action Project
The CRD Climate Action Program was established in 2009 and acts as a resource, hub and facilitator on climate change issues in the CRD. The program serves and works in cooperation with local governments, electoral areas, non-profit organizations, the public and private sector and local citizens to reduce emissions and build capacity for “future friendly” communities on Southern Vancouver Island.
Building on the strengths of BC’s four research-intensive universities, the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) will harness the intellectual resources of BC to develop innovative climate change solutions, seek new opportunities for
positive adaptation, and lead the way to a vibrant low-carbon economy.
BC Government and Services Employee Unions
The BCGEU is one of the most diverse unions in British Columbia. We represent approximately 65,000 men and women in more than 550 bargaining units. Our union can trace its beginnings back to the early 1900s when provincial government employees formed an association to address their working conditions. Since then, the union has organized thousands of workers outside the government service.
BC Hydro
University of Northern British Columbia - Students for a Green University
At UNBC in Prince George, Students for a Green University have been engaged with the goBEYOND project since September, 2008. Our campus has a population of about 3,000 students, of which 20 times the national average are enrolled in environmental programs. We also have an extremely high proportion of research activity focused on the environment. UNBC is contained in one centrally heated building and is surrounded by forest on all sides. We recognize these unique features and believe that they leave us well set up to move UNBC beyond climate-neutral. Students for a Green University are focusing on the transformative education and collaborative planning pillars of the goBEYOND project. Through initiatives such as the Teach-In, and through working with the Green University Committee we hope to develop UNBC as a leader in campus sustainability and climate change education so that students embarking into careers have an understanding of the issues and solutions that can be applied in their working and personal lives.
UNBC - Canada's Green UniversityThompson Rivers University - TRU Eco
TRU eco, at Thompson Rivers University has been an active group since 2006. We have completed many cool projects and always have a number on the go. We held the 2008 SYC sustainable Campuses Conference, and recently held a sustainability week, featuring many great events such as a waste audit, a Climate Project Canada speaker, a local and organic community kitchen, and a stuff swap. We were one of the three campus to participate in the goBEYOND pilot project. TRU (located in Kamloops) is a fairly small campus with around 10,000 students. We have a great active student body as well as a highly engaged faculty, and have been working with our administration to make the institution more sustainable as an official member of the TRU Environmental Action Committee.
TRU Eco CommitteeCamosun College - Camosun Students for Environmental Awareness
Located in Victoria, Camosun College and CSEA have been working towards the official launch of the goBEYOND Project on campus since September 2008. Many of the college's 8,000 students and 500 members of faculty have shown great enthusiasm in regards to helping solve the climate crisis we face today. As seen in the incredible growth of our environmental technology program, students are also determined to solve the ecological problems of the future. Since September 2005, CSEA has seen accomplishments in many areas, such as electing a sustainability director within the Student Society, establishing a regular column in the school's newspaper, and becoming one of the first post secondary institutions to implement 100% post-consumer recycled paper in all of the photocopiers and printers. A few of the many projects the group is working on right now include introducing sustainable food in the cafeteria, establishing a more extensive composting network on campus, and growing fruit trees and an organic garden for environmental and academic benefits. CSEA is looking forward to working with the Campus Climate Network, and hopes to be a strong member of the goBEYOND Project.
Camosun Students for Environmental AwarenessUniversity of British Columbia - Common Energy UBC
Common Energy UBC is a student group working in dynamic ways to move our UBC campus beyond climate-neutral. We envision UBC setting an example of the political, social, environmental, and economic solutions needed to build liveable futures in the context of the climate crisis. Common Energy has another hub at The University of Victoria.
Common EnergyCapilano University - goBeyond Capilano
The North Vancouver campus of Capilano University is one of the latest institutions to join the goBeyond Project. Capilano has a student population of 6500, the majority of which has been recruited directly from North Vancouver. While the campus offers an array of programs from business to performing arts, from tourism to sustainable development, and from applied science to liberal arts, goBeyond hopes to draw the attention of each field of study to the importance of environmental responsibility within the context of each respective field. The Capilano students of goBeyond plan to create these efforts through the Teach-In initiative, and by collaborating with the few already established environmental projects taking place on campus.
Capilano UniversityUniversity of Victoria - Common Energy UVic
Common Energy is a network that develops relationships
between students, staff, faculty, and regional partners
at universities and colleges to move these institutions
beyond climate neutral.
To move beyond climate neutral an individual or organization
must do more to solve the problems of climate change
than they do to cause them.
How can you do more to solve the problems of climate change
than you do to cause them?
Vancouver Island University - Solutions: A Sustainability Network
In April 2006 an impromptu gathering of students, faculty, staff, and community members who were concerned about climate change convened as the Malaspina Climate Change Group (MCCG). In September 2006 we hosted the Fall Climate of Change Fair highlighting local solutions to a global problem. The Fair was a success in that it raised awareness, called for action, and expanded our network.
As more students got involved, we also expanded our areas of interest to include other ecological, social and economic challenges. We renamed our group Solutions: A Sustainability Network in January 2007.
We are a growing coalition of people and organizations working to promote a culture of sustainability at Vancouver Island University and in the community.
Solutions: A Sustainability NetworkSimon Fraser University - Sustainable SFU
Simon Fraser University
Ranked by respected national surveys as one of Canada’s top three comprehensive universities for almost 20 years. SFU has approximately 32,000 students, more than 900 faculty and more than 100,000 alumni. Spanning many disciplines in eight faculties, SFU offers more than 100 undergraduate major and joint major programs and more than 45 graduate offerings.
SFU is dedicated to advancing global sustainability. Our initiatives include operational, academic and community related projects and ongoing programs.
Recent accomplishments include:
• The development of SFU’s Sustainability Policy (GP38)
• The creation of a full-time continuing Sustainability Coordinator Position
• Development of faculty and student working sub-committees which contribute to the Sustainability Advisory Committee strategic planning
• Completion of 2009-2013 Strategic Sustainability Plan
• Development of an Energy Committee in Facilities Services to identify and act on energy saving opportunities
More information can be found at www.sfu.ca/sustainability or by contacting Candace Le Roy (nee Bonfield) at cbonfield@sfu.ca
University of British Columbia - Okanagan - Office of Workplace Health and Safety
Envisioning a healthy sustainable future
Welcome! Here, you will discover the resources, systems, activities and connections to support your personal and social health and wellbeing, and the health and sustainability of our campus community.
Mission
The mission of the Office of Workplace Health and Sustainability is to lead and facilitate the advancement of a culture of health and sustainability at UBC Okanagan by building and supporting the growth of its social, cultural, ecological and economic sustainability.
Vision
The Office of Workplace Health and Sustainability is a living workspace for a healthy, sustainable workplace, through leadership, shared learning and innovation.
Our Role
- Lead, develop, promote and sponsor workplace health and sustainability strategies and initiatives across campus.
- Engage, support and collaborate with the many sustainability and health champions at UBC Okanagan.
- Help build the capacity of our campus community to apply healthy and sustainable workplace and people practices.
- Provide a central resource or “come to” place – physically and virtually - for direct service or referral to assist faculty and staff with health related concerns and the integration of work-life and family responsibilities.
- Facilitate appropriate support and accommodation to prevent absence from work and promote the early return to productive work of injured and ill faculty and staff.
- Coordinate the development and communication of public health information strategies.
Capilano University - Sustainability on Campus
Capilano University is committed to the environment and the University’s role as environmental steward.
As natural resources become scarcer, Capilano University is taking steps to reduce our institution’s impact on the environment while meeting the Provincial Government Climate Action legislated requirements to become carbon neutral by 2010 and to make public a report every year detailing actions taken towards carbon neutrality.
In August 2008, we completed a baseline energy audit of each of our campuses and are actively engaged in identifying and implementing changes that will result in a reduction of our impact on the environment. Changes to date include increased energy usage awareness and conservation practices, adoption of a Sustainability Policy, expanded recycling programs and increased community awareness of the need to improve our waste management.
President Greg Lee has made a powerful statement for sustainability by signing the University and College Presidents’ CLIMATE CHANGE STATEMENT OF ACTION in addition to the recent renewal of our BC Hydro Power Smart Partner Conservation Awareness Pledge
Sustainability on CampusRoyal Roads University - Office of Sustainability
A challenge for our time
At Royal Roads University, we are determined to act on environmental leadership because we see climate change as one of the most critical challenges of our time.
Environmental sustainability is not only intrinsically linked to RRU’s teaching and research mandate, it is a challenge that calls for the kind of interdisciplinary and collaborative problem-solving at which Royal Roads excels.
The most recent articulation of RRU’s role in safeguarding the environment is the Royal Roads University Sustainability Plan.
The five overarching initiatives of the plan, developed against the backdrop of B.C.’s Climate Action plans, are tied to:
• Greenhouse gas management
• Going grid-positive
• Campus transportation
• Building & heritage conservation projects
• University stewardship plans
