Post-secondary schools, conservation authority to nurture future sustainability leaders

A strike has been called by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), representing full-time support staff at colleges across Ontario. Classes will continue and the College remains operational with some service adjustments.
The next generation of sustainability leaders will benefit from a newly established partnership between a consortium of post-secondary institutions known as the Earth District and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). The Earth District and TRCA on May 2 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will provide for collaboration opportunities such as guest lectures by TRCA experts, joint research and student internships.
Earth District brings an education lens to the collaboration as it is a consortium of five Ontario post-secondary institutions, including Centennial College, Fleming College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University, and University of Toronto Scarborough. TRCA contributes its longstanding history and commitment to conservation, restoration, and responsible management of Ontario’s water, land, and natural habitats.
In addition to nurturing the next generation of leaders who will drive sustainability across various sectors, the collaboration focuses on leveraging innovative technologies to develop clean, green, and thriving communities within the GTA and beyond.
The MOU will enhance environmental protection and sustainability efforts by pledging the partners to:
The impact of the partnership was on display following the MOU signing, with Earth District and TRCA Partners in Project Green collaborating on the Decarbonizing Buildings: What is Holding Us Back? event. The event brought together academic and industry leaders and innovators to tackle the biggest challenges in building decarbonization.
“I want to congratulate TRCA and Earth District colleges and universities on this exciting partnership that will help drive the adoption of cleantech and sustainable solutions as well as other innovations to protect our environment. By bringing together the resources and expertise of the TRCA with the young environmental leaders of tomorrow, initiatives like this one are helping to build stronger, more sustainable communities for future generations.”
“Signing an MOU with TRCA, a leader in conserving, restoring and managing natural resources, not only creates a whole host of new learning, applied research and work opportunities for our students, it also strengthens the Earth District’s own efforts to shape resilient, inclusive, and intelligent urban ecosystems. Together, Earth District and TRCA will go well beyond the teaching of sustainability — to living it, building it, and, ultimately, making it a central pillar of the communities we call home.”
“TRCA is thrilled to enter this MOU with Earth District partners. This partnership leverages the complementary expertise of each of our organizations, and will help move forward our shared commitment to training the next generation of environmental professionals and accelerating the adoption of clean and sustainable technologies.”