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Standing Committees

Environmental Sustainability

About Sustainability

Sustainability and sustainable development refer to our ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Globally, we are in an age of polycrisis, where conflict, poverty, climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution, misuse of resources, inequality, and many other social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors threaten a sustainable future for humanity.

In 2015, all 193 United Nations (UN) member states unanimously agreed to work toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are the universally agreed upon roadmap to bridge economic and geopolitical divides, alleviate human suffering, halt environmental degradation, restore trust and rebuild solidarity. Now, midway to 2030, the polycrisis we face threatens to derail progress on the SDGs and a fundamental shift is needed—in commitment, solidarity, financing and action—to put the world on a better path. This shift needs to involve everyone, and we need it to happen now. Read the UN’s 2023 Sustainable Development Goals report to better understand global progress on the SDGs.

Selkirk College was the first post-secondary institution in Canada to sign the Sustainable Development Goals Accord. At Selkirk College, we recognize our central and transformational role in advancing the SDGs within and beyond the communities we operate, and we are dedicated to advancing principles of sustainability within our academics and our operations to ensure that we, as well as our learners, are prepared for a future of sustainability challenges.

Purpose

Sustainability is one of Selkirk College’s five fundamental commitments. The strategic plan states that Selkirk College will continue to integrate respect for the land and natural environment, sustainable practices, carbon footprint reduction and responsible use of natural resources into student learning, services, operations and workforce development. We are committed to implementing practices that promote a healthy natural environment and climate change mitigation in our teaching practices, administration, programming, facilities and operations, funding allocations, and applied research priorities. We are committed to developing and supporting college-wide and regional solutions to environmental remediation, cleaner transportation, lowered emissions and waste reduction. Selkirk College is a proud partner in the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating (STARS) system in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).


The Sustainability Committee works to oversee our commitment to sustainability by formulating and implementing policy, which works to reduce our overall ecological footprint and educate our communities. The committee supports and encourages a variety of environmental initiatives on all our campuses.

Successes

Selkirk College is proud to have earned its second Silver STARS rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in recognition of sustainability achievements. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.

Read Selkirk College's STARS report.

Selkirk College has been award the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce Green Award in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Learn more about Sustainable Selkirk’s initiatives.

Committee Members

  • Kayla Tillapaugh (Sustainability Coordinator)
  • Allison Lutz (Instructor, School of Environment & Geomatics)
  • Maggie Matear (College President and CEO)
  • Donna Drover (Director of Facilities & Business Services) 
  • Doris Hausleitner (Instructor, School of Environment & Geomatics)
  • Janet Mayr (Instrcutor, Sociology & Women's Studies)
  • Robert Macquarrie (Faculty Researcher, Selkirk Innovates; Instructor, School of Environment & Geomatics)
  • Susan Burr (Program Coordinator and Instructor, Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
  • Heather Bishop (Campus Manager)
  • Scott Stevens (Instructional Assistant, Fine Woodworking)
  • Kate Nott (Program Coordinator, Academic Upgrading & SOAR; Instructor, School of Academic Upgrading & Development)
  • David Havemann (Instructor, Professional Cook)
  • Thomas Render (Instructor, Postgraduate Culinary Management)
  • Celina Duarte (Instructor, Applied Environmental Science and Planning Technology and Co-op Services Advisor)


Read the Environmental Sustainability Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Please direct inquiries regarding this committee to Kayla Tillapaugh.