Community and culture
NSCC cultivates a deeply rooted culture of sustainability that reaches beyond the classroom, offering community-oriented, hands-on experiences to foster the development of engaged citizens.
On our campuses
We strive to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of our operations, making it an integral part of our campus culture. This year's Student Sustainability Survey indicated that 78% of students agreed that it was important for NSCC to demonstrate leadership in sustainability on campuses. In response, this year we expanded several existing programs and introduced new community opportunities.
We were thrilled to participate in SDG Week Canada for the second year in a row from March 4 – 8, 2024. Through a week of activities and events, we were able to raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals and provide learning opportunities for students and staff across all of our campuses.
This year for SDG Week, we focused on SDG 13: Climate Action. Addressing climate change is a critical step toward building a sustainable future, and we are pleased to have drawn attention to this important goal through a week of activities and events on our campuses. Some highlights from this year’s SDG Week include:
- Featured article on Connect
- Promotion in student and staff newsletters
- Student Sustainability Survey with YETI prizes
- Sustainable dining promotions with Chartwells
- SDG activity tables at campus libraries
- Events from Student Associations (information tables, trivia contests, etc.)
- International Student Ambassadors Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
- Toward Net-Zero Workshop for employees
- Sustainability Fair at Ivany Campus
- UN SDG Open Pedagogy Fellowship information session
- Access to webinars and virtual events with SDG Week Canada
- College and Institutes Canada Impact Climate Challenge
With the expansion of campus housing at Nova Scotia Community College, we have placed a strong emphasis on integrating sustainable living education and engagement into our student housing experience. This year, the College organized its first Eco-Week for our campus housing student community. Throughout the week, the Sustainability team in partnership with Campus Housing Coordinators, offered an array of environmentally focused events and challenges, including a waste sorting challenge and audit at each location, eco-trivia, movie night, plant potting workshop and campus scavenger hunt. As the College’s campus housing network continues to grow, a focus on sustainability will remain a key component of our training and culture.
Sustainability Fair at Ivany Campus
During SDG Week Canada, the Ivany Campus hosted a Sustainability Fair that welcomed a variety of local businesses and community groups with a focus on sustainability, providing students with an opportunity to connect with organizations in the area. This event, in conjunction with other events and activities hosted on campus throughout the week, gave students the chance to learn more about sustainability and ways they can get involved.
Goals for 2024/25
- Increase support for the SDGs on our campuses by allocating $25,000 to the SDG Project Fund this year, with plans to raise this amount to $50,000 by 2030.
- Host sustainability fairs at all metro campuses.
- Maintain and expand engagement opportunities for students on campus, including SDG Week and Eco-Week.
Recap of 2023/24
- Hosted a Net-Zero Campuses workshop for Atlantic Colleges and Institutes in partnership with Colleges and Institutes Canada.
- Implemented the College’s first ever Eco-Week at campus housing to celebrate sustainable living.
- Expanded the College’s Bike Loan program by adding 8 new bikes.
Accessing active transportation
We have rolled out Bike Loan programs across the College for increased student mobility and the promotion of active transportation. Bike Loan programs offer convenient access to well-maintained bicycles for active transportation, physical activity, and personal enjoyment. Thanks to support from the College’s SDG Project Fund, bicycles have been purchased across multiple campuses and are available for loan free of charge, encouraging sustainable transportation among our students and staff.
The Sustainability team is currently working on streamlining the administration process for Campus Bike Loan programs to enhance support for program delivery. The team has updated the program’s procedures and responsibilities, waiver and emergency contact forms, and the bike maintenance plan.
SDG project fund highlights
The SDG Project Fund was created to help advance the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across our campuses. The fund has contributed to an impressive number of projects in the last year, such as new Bike Loan programs and upgraded storage solutions to encourage active transportation, gardening supplies and seeds that promote sustainable agricultural practices, new recycling bins and composters to support proper waste sorting, and a variety of other inspiring initiatives.
Through the fund, we supported several activities and events that helped increase awareness of and engagement with the 17 Goals among our students and staff during SDG Week this year. Some examples include the purchase of SDG board games and puzzles for each of the campus libraries and grocery gift cards for SDG trivia contest winners.
The Keep Warm Event is held at the AVC Middleton and COGS Campuses in November. Every year, students, faculty, and staff at each campus donate a variety of clean and gently used clothing items and accessories for those who need them. The event creates a stigma free environment where students can get winter apparel for themselves and their families so that they can stay safe and comfortable during the colder months. The SDG Project Fund contributed new socks, gloves, and hats for the event, ensuring that everyone received what they needed to keep warm this winter.
The SDG Project Fund was used to purchase a storage shed for gardening and beekeeping supplies at the Institute of Technology Campus. The Campus’ community garden and bee apiary require a considerable amount of equipment and tools, and the new storage shed provides easier access to the items required for maintenance. The garden and apiary provide numerous benefits to the College community. For example, honey from the apiary is sold and the profits are used to help cover the costs of the campus’ Food for Thought program.
Horticulture students at the Kingstec Campus have implemented a free Seed Library. Every year, a generous supplier donates an allotment of seeds and through the SDG Project Fund, pre-moistened coin envelopes and labels were purchased to package and distribute the seeds to students on campus. This initiative supports sustainable agricultural practices and provides students with an opportunity to grow their own nutritious food.
In our communities
NSCC’s mission is to improve Nova Scotia’s economy and quality of life. One of the ways that NSCC commits to this is by getting involved in our communities and supporting our students and alumni to do the same. NSCC staff and students regularly participate in giving back to our communities through community clean-ups, paid volunteer days and supporting local organizations.
Net-zero campuses
At NSCC, we understand the importance of sharing knowledge and best practices as a higher education institution. When College and Institutes Canada (CICan) invited us to host a workshop for Atlantic Canadian colleges on creating net-zero campuses, we eagerly embraced the opportunity. The event served as a valuable platform for learning and discussing common challenges. NSCC also brought together leaders from within our institution to collaborate on our pathway to achieving net-zero by 2050. A highlight of the day was a condensed lesson from our Climate Literacy microcredential, led by one of our expert instructors, which engaged attendees in meaningful dialogue.
CORAH
Two new Centres of Rural Aging and Health (CORAH) are in operation at our Strait Area and Shelburne Campuses. These centers are designed to meet the needs of seniors in the Port Hawkesbury and Shelburne area, offering customized activities, educational programs, and various services. The programming at CORAH covers a wide range of topics, including safety, injury prevention, physical activity, nutrition, and social connections. Workshops are available on subjects such as cybersecurity, estate planning, and pharmacy healthcare services. Additionally, there are classes in diverse areas like dance, knitting, rug hooking, mindfulness, and yoga. NSCC students and faculty actively participate in the CORAH program, sharing expertise from their various programs, such as plumbing and culinary arts. By doing so, they enrich the overall experience for CORAH participants while also enhancing their own learning.
Showcasing leadership in building operations
BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) through its BEST (Building Environmental Standards program) measures the environmental performance of buildings. NSCC has been BOMA BEST certified since 2008 and has achieved Gold and Platinum ratings at all our campuses. In May, BOMA NS and NSCC co-hosted an event at our Ivany Campus that not only showcased the College and its building management achievements, but also provided valuable insights for BOMA members. The event included a panel discussion with BOMA Platinum building managers, Darrell Stevens, Facilities Manager at Ivany Campus, Robbie Isner, Facilities Manager at the Institute of Technology Campus, and our Manager of Infrastructure, Space Planning and Sustainability, Michael Chapman. The panelists discussed how they leverage best practices, how they employ BOMA BEST to achieve their goals, and what new developments are in the pipeline. After an engaging Q&A session, attendees received a tour of the Ivany Campus and Centre for the Built Environment led by subject matter experts.