Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals at UTSC by Claire Marshal, Sustainability Ambassador
In March 2022, the Sustainability Office hosted a Knowledge Cafe event as a follow-up for the 17 Rooms event held in fall 2021. The Knowledge Cafe brought together the UTSC community to discuss ongoing projects on campus that contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the UTSC campus continues to grow in the coming years.
The Knowledge Cafe hosted faculty from the Department of Physical and Environmental Studies and Department of Geography in a panel discussion with staff from Facilities Management, the Office of Business, Operations, and Strategic Affairs, and Community Partnerships and Engagement. The event began with highlighting projects such as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs, which are a collection of campus projects working to minimise UTSC emissions and combat climate change, and the Landscape and Public Realm Master Plan which will integrate sustainable development practices such as native landscaping and permaculture to facilitate relationships between pedestrians and the built environment. The event moved into several breakout room panel discussions where staff and faculty discussed the projects in detail.
As a notetaker for the event, check out some of the exciting discussion points in one of the panel rooms in case you missed the event!
UTSC already hosts vibrant outdoor spaces that work with the environment as opposed to against it, such as the Valley Trail whose intentional meandering avoids the destruction of native habitats. As UTSC grows, more sustainable designs will be incorporated and outdoor spaces will come to life as pedestrian priority zones, sustainable landscapes using native trees and plants, and open spaces will be a major component of the built campus environment.
On sunny days when the sky is blue and leaves are peaking out from under bare branches that have survived another cold winter, students want to be outside reading, working, and socialising with friends and peers. In this panel we discussed how native plants and trees will be planted along outdoor sidewalks and electric outlets, so students can recharge from computer screens and working on papers by birdwatching and soaking up the sun! Being outdoors and able to feel like I am with nature has always been an important way to ground me and boost my outlook. Creating natural spaces allows me to still be a hardworking student but move from the library to being part of nature; this is so important for boosting my creative thinking and state of mind. New plans to improve public space will be excellent opportunities to get students outside and feel more closely connected to the landscape upon which we study, work, and live.
Figure 1: “The right landscape interventions, even modest ones, can reinforce campus identity and bring people together in a safe and welcoming place for the university community and the community beyond” (DTAH design firm)
Sustainable Development Goal 8 highlights the importance of developing local employment opportunities and growing the economy, especially in underserved communities.
In the panel we discussed what it means for UTSC to serve as an Anchor Institution for the larger Scarborough community. UTSC strives to support the local economy by researching and sourcing materials and services from Scarborough businesses where UTSC is actively engaging and supporting the community. I find this goal so important as a member of the Scarborough community who tries to support local farmers and businesses before spending money at larger, non-local corporations. UTSC is serving as a role model to myself and others by playing a major role in supporting and building the Scarborough community through programs such as East Scarborough Storefront, Hammerheads, and other Trade Union locals to create apprentice opportunities for local community members on the major construction projects.
Figure 2: UTSC Farmers’ Market, Fall 2021
Sustainable Development Goal 11 encourages governments and institutions to build sustainable cities and communities, planning and using resources that benefit the entire community equitably as well as emphasises planning for the wellbeing of community members in future generations.
In this panel we discussed UTSC’s plans for building safe access to green, public spaces for everyone, emphasising the importance of increasing accessibility for marginalised communities. UTSC is building a campus for all the members that make up the community, including women, children, ageing populations, those with varying mental and physical abilities, and those in the BIPOC community (this does not compose a comprehensive list and only serves as a few examples of those in marginalised communities).
Sustainable Development Goal 17 focuses on bringing together communities and all of the shareholders that play a role in building a community, from governments to businesses, and from schools to universities.
Building partnerships requires getting to know the community members with whom you share space and resources. UTSC is working to build more and closer relationships with the Scarborough community, from hosting local venders at the seasonal farmers’ market on campus to creating safe and welcoming spaces on campus for not only faculty and students, but everyone who comes from near and far to visit, learn, and grow.
“It’s not a matter of parachuting into these communities… we have to be an active partner” Brent Duguid, UTSC Community Partnerships and Engagement
A question we asked ourselves during this breakout session - Why is it important to include community partners in decision making?
UTSC is a publicly funded educational institution, where research is conducted not only with the community, but FOR the community. Everyone in the Scarborough and GTA community have individualised realities, and by working with the community, we can learn to grow and share our needs and wants that arise from having lived experiences that differ across community members.
Concluding Remarks
“At the university level, we say we are leaders…rarely do we say we are learners” - Professor Ken MacDonald, UTSC
UTSC is proud to be working towards not only being a trail-blazing leader and world-renowned knowledge institution, but also an integral part of the community that hosts it. We are seeking knowledge regarding how to grow sustainably, how to reach a wider community, and how to support local businesses. Through storytelling and sharing these projects, we hope to continue to inspire growth and connect the university and projects with students and beyond.
Figure 3: group walk at Rouge National Urban Park with classmates
As a Master of Environmental Science degree-seeking student at UTSC, I am continually impressed and inspired by the work being done at UTSC to build safe and eco-friendly spaces, minimise the negative impact made on the planet, and build upon the positive impact on the surrounding community. Through my time spent at UTSC, I have waded the waters of Highland Creek with my classmates learning how to test for water quality and stream health. I have also witnessed the current efforts being made to reduce energy consumption, such as Pan Am’s ability to run partly off of geothermal and solar energy. Finally, I have built connections with my peers, faculty, and Scarborough community that will leave a lasting impact on my life. I only hope to return the favour and leave a lasting impact on theirs by being the best environmental steward and neighbour I can be.
Read more about the UTSC Sustainability Office on our website, we hope to connect with you in the future!
(1) UTSC Landscape and Public Realm Masterplan
(2) UTSC Anchor Strategy and strategic plan
(5) U of T Low Carbon Action Plan
(6) Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Gold Star Energy Consumer
(7) UTSC Sustainability Office
(8) UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals