Canada's Greenest Employers (2025) - Flipbook - Page 22
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CANADA'S GREENEST EMPLOYERS (2025)
BCIT brings to life big ideas on sustainability
A
t the British
Columbia Institute
of Technology
(BCIT), sustainability
goes beyond
environmental stewardship,
according to Jennie Moore,
director of institute sustainability
at the Burnaby-based polytechnic.
“Sustainability and environmentalism are similar but different,
and what makes the difference is
the social equity piece,” says
Moore, whose team is responsible
for leading a coordinated
approach to sustainability across
BCIT, which offers applied
education programs at campuses
throughout Greater Vancouver.
everyone,” she adds.
This perspective informs a new
strategic initiative called IDEAS
that is intended to bring to life
concepts relating to sustainability,
environmental wellness, social
equity, and more. An acronym for
Indigenization/inclusion, diversity,
equity, accessibility, and
sustainability/student well-being,
IDEAS is a paradigm shift that
goes beyond being green, Moore
says. It will serve as a platform for
BCIT’s educational vision going
forward.
“What kind of contribution are
our graduates going to be making
to lead purpose-driven careers
that build a better world?” Moore
asks rhetorically. IDEAS
represents an integrated approach
that formally connects BCIT’s
work in several different areas,
explains sustainability manager
Christina Olsen.
“IDEAS is a lens through which
people can view their work and
change perspectives, which will
change their work,” she explains.
“If you do proper reconciliation,
you’re going to get to
sustainability.”
As Moore and Olsen work on
implementing a big-picture
sustainability vision for BCIT, on
the ground level there are several
employee- and student-led groups
that promote environmental
wellness.
A green team organizes
“GoByBike Weeks,” two-week long
campaigns that take place three
times a year (winter, spring, and
fall). The goal is to encourage
people to cycle more by getting
them to log their bike trips online
in exchange for a chance to win
prizes. The green team also
organizes an annual Sweater Day
in support of climate action.
Members of the campus
community are encouraged to do
their part in saving energy by
wearing a sweater and turning
down the heat.
BCIT also recently launched a
“sustainability community of
practice” for instructors who have
an interest in environmental
wellness and social responsibility.
“They think about how to infuse
sustainability in the curriculum,”
says Olsen.
There are also several energy
and greenhouse gas initiatives,
including a decarbonization
Being a green employer isn’t
just about the ecological
piece — it’s also about
embracing social equity.
— Jennie Moore
Director, Institute Sustainability
“It’s not just about having a nice
environment here,” she says.
“Being a green employer isn’t just
about the ecological piece — it’s
also about embracing social
equity.” She explains that
sustainability involves working
towards an ecologically healthy
planet while striving to reduce the
gap between “benefit-takers” and
“cost-bearers.”
“We have a lot of work to do
around rethinking our economy
and how the benefits and costs are
shared more equitably so that we
can do a better job of stewarding
not just our environment, but our
social programs and benefits for
BCIT features an Indigenous garden dedicated to cultivating Indigenous plants at its Burnaby campus.
