WGA Past Recipient

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2011

Marsha Cooke (Student, Engineering) - Marsha is responsible for arranging group clean-ups for parks and places around campus. Environmental challenges every month through the UES and other clubs she is involved with and just making people aware of issues in general and challenging them on their part towards these challenges. She also does her best to help the reduce her carbon footprint by having her own garden to grow food for herself and others, and composting and offering to take people's compost for them. She has motivated others, myself included, to do our parts towards helping the environment by showing us that it is possible and trying to convince or remind us that we should try living our lives as sustainably as possible. Her actions have resulted in a better environment for people all over campus, the community and the city as a whole. People are more aware of the issues, it gets people talking and interested in things that they might not have known otherwise

Operation Green - Yoan Kagoma, Nathan Stall, Jen Bondy (Students, Schulich) - As the founders of Operation Green, Jen, Yoan and Nathan have spearheaded an initiative to recycle surgical supplies and donate them to developing nations. In any surgical procedure, many items are prepared for instant access if required by the surgeon, but not used during the procedure. Operation Green collects these items and ships them to developing countries. The implications of Operation Green's work is twofold. Firstly, it contributes to easing the enormous environmental burden caused by surgical overages. It also serves to provide surgical equipment to populations that desperately require it. Thanks to their work, the first shipment of recycled supplies was sent off recently. It weighed in at over 500 pounds, and was valued at almost $15,000. Those two values, representing the amount of waste prevented and the value of goods provided to developing countries really underscores the value of their efforts. In class, their fellow students often joke that Operation Green's motto should be 'Saving the World: One Green Towel at a Time'. While this comment is in jest, it serves to emphasize the scope of their undertaking. Operation Green is the first such project in Canada, and is very reasonable to visualize a time when all Canadian hospitals collect and recycle their surgical waste, largely due to Jen, Yoan and Nathan's efforts.

Honourable Mentions (2011)

Sarah Morrison (Staff, King's College) - Sarah is an activist for the environment on the King's University College campus. She initiated a USB drive program to be used by all students in the School of Social Work by uploading documents necessary for course work and program descriptions. Sarah has decreased paper use dramatically at King’s. In addition Sarah is the Chair of the Environment Committee (Green Team) for the Staff Association, promoting staff contributions to environmental issues both on and off campus. She has been actively involved in raising funds for the Green King’s Tree Fund to plant trees on campus and her contribution through the campus "Green-Up" days twice a year encourages both staff and students to play a part in keeping the campus clean. Sarah also worked cooperatively with Aramark services on campus to introduce recyclable and biodegradable containers being used on the campus and promoted Tim Hortons & cafeteria discounts for those who use reusable mugs. Sarah is well known around the campus for her energy and enthusiasm in support of environmental concerns.

Marcia Steyaert (Staff, Communications & Public Affairs) - At Westminster Hall, the best effort is made to keep the environmental impact at a minimum. Along with recycling bins on each floor. While this has made an impact, Marcia Steyaert decided to take the environmental awareness to the next level by introducing a composting system. Marcia kept it practical yet simple for all to participate. What began as a simple bin under the kitchen sink for banana peels and coffee grounds, soon grew to a building-wide initiative and the introduction of a full-size composter located outside the building. Her enthusiasm quickly caught on and composting in Communications has become as everyday as getting your morning cup of coffee. Westminster received the Zero Waste Award, properly disposing of of 9.4 metric tonnes of organics annually. They compost 96 per cent of our organics and while diversion of organics is often the lowlight for a building's report it was actually a bright spot.

Environment and Sustainability Society (Students, Environment & Sustainability) - The Environment and Sustainability Society (ESS) was voluntarily formed of Masters Students in the MES and collaborative program. They formed as a means to collaborate and bring change during their year at UWO. They successfully hosted an open mic night at the Grad Club to raise money for an interdisciplinary forum that was held on February 7th. ESS organized and hosted the 1st annual forum titled Putting Theory into Practice. Six panelists with diverse backgrounds presented their specific approaches to Environmental Sustainability that encompassed both local and global concepts. Each speaker gave a ten-minute presentation on how they personally have Put Sustainability Theory Into Practice. From the broad strokes of worldwide applications, to the localized stewardship of our community and our land, environmental sustainability casts an inclusive net. The Environment and Sustainability Society was honoured to host a forum offering unique, interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainability.

2010

Dr. Natasha Patrito Hannon (Faculty, Teaching Support Centre) - Dr. Hannon has developed and integrated a small group environmental issues project into a first year level course with more than 300 students. The design of the project allows students to choose an environmental issue that is of particular interest to them. A component of this project involves students contacting experts in the field in which the students are focused on for their project. The collaborative projects that the students are working on will come together for a culmination of displays concerning the various environmental issues in the U.C.C. in April. Dr. Hannon is working hard to organize an e-waste disposal drop-off for the same day to combine the showcase of her students work with proper disposal of household electronics waste. The presentations scheduled for April will show all that attend a detailed investigation into almost 70 environmental issues.

UWO Book Store/Books Plus: Chris Mouritzen and Carol Dipietro (Staff, Western Retail Services) - In August 2009, the UWO Book Store and Books Plus phased out complimentary plastic bags to customers. Customers are now encouraged to use reusable bags, backpacks or no bag for their purchases. If customers do not have a reusable bag, our plastic bags, which are biodegradable, are available for five cents. The proceeds are directed toward blue box programs in Ontario and an annual donation to ReForest London, a local environmental group that plants and cares for trees. From August 2009 to January 2010, they have reduced plastic bags by 168,934, which is a 90% reduction in plastic bags. If the trend continues, we will save close to 200,000 plastic bags from going into the landfill. They have donated $1500 to ReForest London since the launch of the program, which can be used to plant 300 seedlings in our city.

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2009

Dr. Denis O'Carroll (Faculty, Engineering) - Dr. O’Carroll has been involved in a number of initiatives that support positive environmental outcomes and a sustainable environment. He joined Western in 2005 and immediately became involved in the new engineering green building design (CMLP building) as the course coordinator for fourth year civil and environmental engineering students developing preliminary designs for the new building. The goal of this project was to have a building “designed by students for students”. With his mentorship the students developed building plans for a functional engineering building that minimized the faculty’s environmental footprint. They proposed a number of innovative and environmentally friendly building design options that are now currently being implemented in the final building design (eg: ground loop heating/cooling system, rainwater collection system, atrium). In addition he has taken a leadership role in developing the Eco-lab project for the new building. Dr. O’Carroll also organized the SyNRGS symposium that brought 80 participants (15 professors, 50 graduate students, 8 industry reps & 7 government reps) in May 2008 from across Ontario and Quebec to the University of Western Ontario to discuss groundwater resources and contamination. At this symposium student attendees presented their research and discussed the sustainability of Canada’s groundwater resource. He is also involved in a number of committees on campus and internationally. Of note he is a member of the Centre for Environment & Sustainability Advisory Committee. This committee is currently making important decisions regarding the development of the new School. Finally, Dr. O’Carroll is heavily involved in curriculum development for courses linked to the environment. For example he has introduced new classes, including an undergraduate Drinking Water Quality course, and three graduate courses dealing with environmental issues: Groundwater Flow and Transport, Environmnetal Chemistry & Drinking Water Quality. In the graduate Drinking Water Quality course Dr. O’Carroll organized a 3 day field trip for the students to spend time at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre pilot plant. At this field trip the students learned the importance of safe drinking water and methods to ensure this could be delivered.

Undergraduate Medical Students from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (Students, Schulich) - In 2007, the medicine classes of 2009 and 2010 initiated a project which has had a tremendous impact on the lives of students, faculty and staff at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. In 2005-2006, The Dr. Don Rix Clinical Skills Learning Building was constructed along the face of Elgin Drive, adjacent to the Medical Sciences Building. A small courtyard area was left between the existing wings of the Medical Sciences Building and the new building, with only one tree preserved from the previous landscape. The Quadrangle Beautification Project was initiated by students “to fill the area with gardens and seating for all members of the faculty, staff and student body to enjoy.” The garden layout and species selection was done by Amy Glover (Meds 2009) with input from Amanda Gardhouse (Meds 2010) and dozens of students worked hard to plan and physically plant the flowers, trees and plants and lay paving stones. The Global & Ecosystem Health Interest Group (GEHIG) is a group established by Schulich Medical students to promote a broad understanding of health that includes the vitality and sustainability of the socio-economic, political and biological ecosystems which human communities are a part of. The Mug Program was started by Nitasha Puri in 2007/08 as a first year medical student. Since then, she has received help from Emma Love (Meds 2011) and Kara Schneider (Meds 2012) as well as a couple of other people as part of the Environmental Initiatives Project under the Global and Ecosystem Health Interest Group. The Environmental Initiatives Group has just recently put into place a composting program at the School.

2008

Lois Armstrong (Faculty, Education) - "Lois believes that the best way to influence people is to lead by example. She has incorporatred her concern for the environmment into her daily life. Lois believes individuals can make a positive difference" - from nomination

Hospitality Services Sustainability Committee - Ruth Harland, Frank Erle, Ann Stone, Anne Zok, Catrona Graham, Craig Clifford, Jim Galbraith, Jordan Kemp, Margaret Eldridge, Janet Smith (Staff, Hospitality) - "Current HS initiatives:In support of our local economy, HS supports local businesses by purchasing products from London and the surrounding area. We use seasonal fruits and vegetables. Styrofoam-free in Residence Dining Halls. Promoted recycling in all eateries." - from nomination

Andy Merucci (Staff, Facilities Management) - "Andy created an online Service Interruption form eliminating the need for paper copies. Andy has taken the extra time to show everyone individually how the new computer form works to make the transition as easy as possible. About 35,000 pieces of paper a year have been saved." - from nomination