Purpose of Project:
Right to Move/La voie libre is a renowned non-profit bicycle coop that celebrated its 10th year anniversary last year. RTM/LVL's main project is a community bicycle workshop wherein members of the public can fix their own bicycles and learn about bicycle maintenance. The money from the 1% campaign will fund a summer coordinator position. The coordinator will enable the coop run more efficiently by setting up a system for inventory, soliciting donations from local bicycle shops and ensuring that the workshop is well stocked with new and used bicycle parts. The coordinator will also help RTM/LVL attain a larger space so it can meet the growing demand.
Total Amount Granted: $3,500 over four months (May-August, 2008)
Expected Completion Date of Project: August 23rd, 2008
Project Application: PDF (48.9 KB)
Purpose of the Project:
We have been operating a vegan soup kitchen out of Concordia University as a way to address student poverty, food security issues and social justice issues since 1999. We serve daily meals throughout the semester to approximately 400 students per day and work to make our operations as sustainable and community oriented as possible, through composting our waste, using organic grains and beans and working with volunteers to produce our meals. During the summer, we maintain an organic vegetable garden at the Concordia Loyola campus that brings together students and community volunteers to grow organic vegetables, compost and share garden skills. Funds from the Sustainability Action Fund will help staff members implement the garden and a system of distribution of the vegetables produced which will be donated in part to the NDG food bank system and in part to students and community members who do not have access to good quality organic vegetables. Our aim is to teach and share sustainability skills such as organic gardening and composting while at the same time building community with a wide base of volunteers.
Total Amount Granted: $2,000
Expected Completion Date of Project: October 15th, 2008
Purpose of the Project:
In an effort to reduce waste and promote green initiatives, students are
able to loan dishes (plates, plastic mugs, ustensils, wine glasses,
serving platters) for free from the R4 program (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle). Since its inception, the Free Dishes Rental has saved over
20,000 plates, 3,000 mugs, 500 knives and forks, 300 spoons, 1700 wine
glasses and 12 serving plates from the landfills. The project has become
very popular among students, but requires expansion to further encourage
waste reduction. Presently, students who borrow dishes are responsible for the pick-up, drop-off and cleaning of the dishes before and after their
event. This is the single largest deterrent for event hosts when deciding
whether to use the service. Consequently, R4 wishes to purchase an
industrial dishwasher, baskets and trolleys to clean and transport the
loaned items, and streamline the service. The Sustainability Action Fund's sponsorship will go towards the purchase of baskets and trolleries to help facilitate the transportation of dishes and mugs.
Total Amount Granted: $650.00
Expected Completion Date of Project: May 31st 2008
Project Application: PDF (169 KB)
Purpose of the Project:
PistolPress, is an emerging literary & arts publication dedicated to promoting and showcasing the works of established and unrecognized artists. The proposal seeks funding for the printing of PistolPress' anthology of creative writing entitled "Pistol" in a 100% post-consumer paper and in vegetable-ink. The goal of the project is to compile, produce, and distribute quality books in a non-wasteful fashion. We are concerned about the amount of paper waste that comes with running a publishing company. We are have been actively trying to reduce waste by accepting only electronic submissions, providing information through the web as opposed to paper hand-outs and posters, and researching and investigating sustainable printing methods through a number of local printing presses.
Total Amount Granted: $1,600
Expected Completion Date of the Project: May 1st 2008
Project Application: PDF (45 KB)
Purpose of the Project:
The campus sustainability assessment is at the core of Sustainable Concordia's work, providing a solid research base and theoretical background from which all campus sustainability initiatives are executed. Through a framework of 10 focus areas the assessment reviews the university's operations, research, academics, and community, identifying obstacles and opportunities for sustainable development on campus. The assessment is conducted every three years and many innovative projects have been born from the research and relationships formed in conducting research for the assessment. This initiative has engaged hundreds of student researchers, guided by the knowledge and expertise of Concordia staff, faculty, and administrators. The Sustainability Action Fund is being asked to help sponsor Concordia's third campus sustainability assessment.
Total Amount Granted: $4,500.
Expected Completion Date of the Project: November 15th 2008
Project Application: PDF (167 KB)
Purpose of Project:
On March 14th 2008, SBC will turn its spotlight towards the food industry, with a
conference titled "Food for Thought". In an industry that effects the world's entire population, this
topic combines all aspects of sustainability: economic prosperity, environmental integrity, and
social responsibility. Keynote speakers and discussion panels are combined to review relevant
obstacles, strategies, and advantages.
The mission of the Sustainable Business Conferences is to increase the sustainability literacy of
our business students and to highlight businesses that have incorporated sustainability into their
practices. Furthermore, the SBC is an opportunity for business students to see that
sustainability and economic prosperity need not be mutually exclusive. It is a chance for them to
learn beyond the scope of the classroom, through exposure to tangible examples of ingenuity,
determination, and success. Furthermore, as teachings of sustainable business practices begin
to filter into classrooms and companies alike, attendants of the SBC will hold a distinct
competitive edge over their peers.
Total Amount Granted: $10,000 one year sponsorship.
Expected Completion Date of Project: March 31st 2008
Project Application: PDF (396 KB)
Purpose of Project:
A waste audit performed by R4 Concordia in January 2007 revealed that 43% of the waste sent to landfill is organic/biodegradable material that could be composted. Currently, the university is composting part of its raw fruits and vegetables, coffee grinds and tea bags, and dead leaves, which are labeled "in-situ" type materials. In order to achieve a 60% biodegradable material recovery rate, as the Quebec Residual Material Management Policy (1998-2008) require; Concordia needs to expand its composting facility and management system. R4 compost (Loyola) project seeks to enhance the composting capacity by processing all "in-situ" and "ex-situ" materials, which consist of meat, dairy products, and cooked/oily waste. R4 Compost (Loyola) is a student-driven initiative that will increase the current composting system capacity and divert from landfill the organic waste from both the Loyola and Sir George William Concordia University campuses. The ultimate goal of R4 compost (Loyola) is to transform 100 tons of organic waste into 30 to 50 tons of rich fertilizer and soil conditioner to be used by the Grounds and Maintenance department for the grass and flower beds beautifying the university's campuses.
Total Amount Graned:$34,000.00 approved for first year, and $25,000 multi-year funding afterwards up to 2012.
Expected Completion Date of Project: March 2012
Project Application: PDF (60.9 KB)
R4 Budget: PDF (14.4 KB)
Purpose of Project:
Until now, Greenhouse logistics have been coordinated by a multi-stakeholder volunteer group. After one year of operation it has become apparent that for the greenhouse to reach its full potential, a paid coordinator is needed. At the year-end review meeting of the Greenhouse Committee, increasing the effective use of the space was discussed and to this end, several objectives were set. These included increasing the number of visitors to the space, filling all of the compartments with long term projects, and increasing the number of volunteers involved in these projects. In the coming year we would like to work with the volunteers, project groups, the board, greenhouse technician, to pull all the threads together and ensure the greenhouse's mandate is met. Sustainability Action Fund's grant will be used towards hiring a coordinator to oversee the Greenhouse and make it more accessible for the Concordia Community.
Total Amount Granted: $11,000 over one year grant with option to apply again.
Expected Completion Date of Project: January 1st 2009
Project Application: PDF (40.3 KB)
Purpose of Project:
The purpose of the project is to garner support through rallies, petitions, and media appearances and publications, for a major contribution from the federal and provincial governments for sustainable projects on university campuses across Canada. This injection of funding, if forth coming, would give Canadian universities to opportunity to develop some of the most environmentally sound facilities in the world, and become global leaders in sustainable research and testing. The federal government will be approached prior the tour in order to request the funds be set aside for the initiative. If the Federal government agrees to the contribution prior to the tour, the tours purpose will focus primarily on the subsequent goal. The goals of the Generations Tour are to increase sustainability literacy among university, college and high school students across Canada; and to convince the federal and provincial governments to create a fund of $500 Million over three years to fund sustainability initiatives on campuses.
Total Amount Granted: $15,000 over one year only.
Expected Completion Date of Project: April 1st 2008
Project Application: PDF (60.1 KB)
Recently Reggies Bar has grown in popularity amongst the student body and is gaining its well-deserved recognition as "The Local Bar". With its current operations, drinks are being served in plastic cups, class Number 6, which are not recyclable in Quebec. This is a concern addressed by the staff and ownership who want to send a message to patrons that we do believe that there is a smarter alternative. Reggies will be partnering with the Sustainability Action Fund to purchase an energy-efficient dishwasher and 1,000 glass cups. An estimated 2,000 plastic cups will be saved from landfill from the Thursday night consumption, and well-over 100,000 plastic cups over a year.
Total Amount Sponsored: $7,533.33
Contact Person : Marlow Wilson
Email: reggiesbar@gmail.com
Expected Completion Date of the Project: September 1st 2008
Art Matters Festival will be offering 30 student-curated exhibitions around downtown Montreal, featuring all forms of art practiced in the University. This scale of a production requires immense planning and publicity, which has included the printing of 2500 program guides, handbills, and posters in order to promote the festival and its exhibition to the Concordia community and beyond. In trying to think of ways we can lessen the environmental impact of our festival, we realize that our printing practices are the most important issues our organization faces. This year we’ve decided to partner with the Sustainability Action Fund to print the festival program guide on 100% post-consumer paper along with our promotional material.
Total Amount Sponsored: $3,479.93
Contact Person: Harley Smart
Email: ammaters@alcor.concordia.ca
Expected Completion Date of the Project: February 2008
• Proud sponsor and supporter of the Sustainable Campus Conference organized by Sierra Youth Coalition of Quebec.
• Re-launching of the Bring-Your-Mug Campaign. The Sustainability Action Fund is pleased to work in partnership with Chartwells, Java U, and R4 to print posters to be placed outside cafes on campus reminding students to bring their mug and to inquiry about discounts.
• Proud supporter of Sierra Youth Coalition of Quebec’s December 8th 2007 protest, "Moving Beyond Kyoto".
Page Title: Our Initiatives - Sustainability Action Fund: Projects - Concordia University - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Page URL:http://sustainable.concordia.ca/ourinitiatives/saf/projects/index.php ...index.php
Date Printed: Tue February 9, 2010
