Red River College Polytechnic has proudly become the first post-secondary in Manitoba to the sign the SDG Accord, committing to embed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its education, research, leadership, operations, administration and engagement activities. The seventeen SDGs are an ambitious call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. They align with the values in RRC Polytech’s strategic plan and directly support the College’s commitments.

“Our primary objective is training the workforce of today and tomorrow, so RRC Polytech is uniquely positioned to lead transformative change and build a more sustainable future – and the SDGs are a valuable tool to help us focus our efforts,” said President and CEO, Fred Meier at last week’s signing ceremony in the Roundhouse Auditorium at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae.

“Sustainability is a journey without a final destination, so we’re prepared and excited to build on the current initiatives led by our Environmental Stewardship and Campus Renewal team and broaden our approach to include research, academics, and all areas of College operations.”

The SDGs are a global blueprint for all people around the world to improve health and education, reduce inequality, spur economic growth, and tackle climate change. They aim to achieve peace and prosperity for people and the planet now and into the future. While each goal has its own separate objective, they are indivisibly linked and interdependent.

“We can’t have good health and well-being without clean water, and we can’t have sustainable, inclusive communities without reducing inequality so while the goals are ambitious, they reflect the scope of our global challenges, give us real targets to strive toward and a pathway to achieve them,” explained Sustainability Specialist, Stephanie Fulford, as she hosted the event. “We also recognize that to achieve these goals will require all of us, in every sector of society, working together – which is why formally signing the accord is so important.”

The SDG Accord is a commitment that learning institutions are making to one another to do more to deliver the goals, to annually report on progress, and to do so in ways which share the learning between institutions both nationally and internationally. The SDG Accord is a worldwide partnership, representing 361 institutions and 85 countries, designed to inspire, celebrate and advance the critical role that education has in delivering the SDGs and the value it brings to governments, business, and wider society. In signing the accord, RRC Polytech pledges to:

• Align all major efforts with the SDGs, targets and indicators.
• Aim to involve members from all key stakeholder groups in this endeavor, including students, academics, professional staff, local communities and other external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with other signatory institutions as part of a collective international response.
• Share our learning.
• Annually report on our progress toward the SDGs by answering the questions “how does my institution contribute to the SDGs and what more can we do?”

To demonstrate the impact that focusing on the SDGs can make in the classroom and in the community, Ginger Arnold, Instructor in the School of Indigenous Education, presented the course material she’s developed based on the global blueprint. Ginger teaches the Social Innovation and Community Development Program and after joining an internal panel exploring the interconnected nature of the SDGs at RED Forum – a staff and faculty professional development day – in the spring, she identified them as an excellent opportunity to connect with her students, many of whom attended the signing.

“We can naturally braid Truth and Reconciliation with the Sustainable Development Goals because each of the goals have environmental, economic, or social benefits that can be aligned within the six categories outlined in the 94 Calls to Action: child welfare, education, language and culture, health, justice, and reconciliation,” she explained while showing examples of the visual aids she’s created to help students make the connection. “Having a better understanding of these relationships will help our graduates drive change in their communities as they work to plan alternative tomorrows with hope.”

Sustainability is one of the most complex challenges of our time. It requires a collaborative approach that addresses the social, environmental, and economic needs of present and future generations. The SDGs are a universal call to action and RRC Polytech is proud to be a leader, make this commitment and continue turning thoughts into action.

Click to see the full list of signatories that now includes RRC Polytech   

Is your DVD player gathering dust?  Is your flip phone a flop?  Well, we can help!

The Sustainability Office is organizing an E-waste drive as part of our Waste Reduction Week on campus.  E-waste can include anything with electronic components that has reached the end of its useful life.  Many of the components of E-waste can be recycled, thereby keeping the toxic parts out of the environment and the non-renewable parts in-use.  Bring in any E-waste items from your home or office and we’ll dispose of it safely for you.

Office items that still work may be given a second life through our campus Free Shelf, so please clearly label any broken items as such.

*Please note: RRC equipment with asset tags must be accepted by someone at Shipping & Receiving to ensure they are disposed of properly.  Please fill out an Asset Disposal form and email it to Materials Management before handing off the item to staff at Shipping & Receiving. 

Please ensure that private data is removed prior to dropping off any personal equipment. Red River College and Powerland (our e-waste collection partner) do not accept liability for data or any other digital content left on your devices.

Any large items such as TV screens can be dropped off directly at Shipping & Receiving.

Notre Dame Campus:
Drop off personal e-waste in the big marked box across from the Library in the mall level. Open all day Monday to Friday. Collection closes on Friday at noon.

Hand off asset-tagged E-waste at Shipping & Receiving (B183).  Open 8AM-Noon, 12:45-4:00PM

Exchange District Campus:
Drop off personal e-waste in the big marked box outside Shipping and Receiving (W101 – across from elevator on 1^st floor) Open all day Monday to Friday. Collection closes on Friday at noon.

Hand off asset-tagged E-waste at Shipping & Receiving (W101).  Open 8AM-Noon, 12:45-4PM

A list of acceptable items can be found here. If you’re not sure if something is acceptable, contact us to find out. Can’t make the e-waste drive? Personal items can also be dropped off at the multiple City of Winnipeg 4R Depot locations anytime.

The fall weather is fine and it’s a great time of year to try commuting by bike.  Riding your bike to school or work is a great way to save some money, get some exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and show up to your destination awake and energized!  The Sustainability Office would love to help you ride your bike to work for the first time or give you some suggestions on how to make your bike commute more enjoyable. Geoff Heath, our Environmental Initiatives Coordinator will be running a series of lunch & learn workshops on bike commuting over the next few weeks.  The first workshops will be an intro to bike commuting covering the 7 topics we get asked about regularly by first-time commuters.   

Bring your bike and stay after the workshop to take advantage of free basic bike adjustments and tune-ups for anyone who needs one! 

Intro to Bike Commuting at Notre Dame Campus: Wednesday, Sept. 27th – 12:00-1:15 PM.  Tune-ups until 2:30 PM – Prairie Lights meeting room 

Intro to Bike Commuting at Exchange District Campus: Thursday, Sept. 28th – 12:00-1:15 PM. Tune-ups until 2:30 PM – P107 meeting room (Roblin Centre) 

Please email Gheath@rrc.ca to register 

If you aren’t able to make it out to the workshop, here’s a quick summary of some common bike commuting questions answered for you! 

Where can I buy a decent, affordably priced bike? 

Buying a used bike is a great way to save some money IF you know what to look out for and if you’re able to return a bike with unforeseen issues.  There are several community bike shops in Winnipeg that sell re-furbished used bikes.  Some commercial bike shops also sell used or consignment bikes.  You can often find slightly cheaper bikes on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji but be sure to test ride the bike, know how to identify any potential mechanical issues with it and to follow all safety tips for buying items online. 

How do I find the best route for commuting by bike? 

The google maps bike directions tool and biking map layer are both great resources for planning a route beforehand.  That said, sometimes you’ll find helpful shortcuts, scenic trails or quiet back lanes that aren’t noted on any online maps.  Try riding the route to work/school for the first time on an evening or weekend when you have lots of time to explore different streets and paths.  Ask a cyclist friend to show you their preferred route through the area or email us in the sustainability office for help finding a “bike buddy” from your neighbourhood who also rides to campus and could take you along on their favoured route. 

How do I keep my bike from being stolen? 

The NDC and EDC campuses have a variety of secure indoor and outdoor parking options that include card-access bike rooms and rentable bike lockers.  If locking your bike to a bike rack, use a good quality U-lock and learn how to properly secure your bike.  If your bike has quick release wheels or seat, learn how to secure them too.  Be sure to take a photo of yourself with your bike, as well as its serial number (usually under the bike’s bottom bracket) so that if it ever does get stolen you can report it and hopefully have it returned. 

Do I need to know anything about fixing bikes to commute? 

No, although you eventually may wish to learn more about basic maintenance and repair to diagnose and fix your own bike.  To prevent breakdowns, take your bike into a bike shop for a full tune up and basic bike fitting before your riding season begins.  If you’d like to learn more about how to DIY, the Sustainability Office offers a couple basic repair workshops every year, and EDC, NDC, Portage La Prairie and Stevenson campuses all have bike self-repair stations with a selection of essential tools.  Topping up your tires and oiling your chain every few weeks will go a long way towards making your bike run quickly and smoothly, as well as extending the life of your bike’s parts. 

How can I learn to be a safe & confident cyclist on the roads? 

Picking a quiet, low traffic route goes a long way towards making riders feel safe, but most commuters must ride in traffic at some point on their route.  Communicating where you’re going using hand signals, shoulder checking when changing lanes, staying visible with lights and clothing, and behaving like traffic while riding in traffic all make it easier for drivers to give you a wide berth. Finally, riding a meter from the curb will give you plenty of maneuverability for dodging potholes or puddles and will encourage drivers to safely move over to pass instead of squeezing by in the same lane. Riding on the road gets much easier with practice.  Manitoba Cycling Association has some great short videos about road riding skills and safety, and MPI regularly offers cycling safety courses for adults. Check them out and we’ll see you at the bike rack soon! 

On June 1st, 2023 members of the Manitou a bi Bii daziigae project team attended the Canada Green Building Council national conference in Vancouver B.C. The team was recognized at the award ceremonies with the New Construction award for Green Building Excellence, presented to only one group from across the country each year. This prestigious award celebrates the most innovative and inspiring green building projects in Canada.

The judge’s selection of Manitou a bi Bii daziigae focused on the design stage and the choices made to achieve environmental sustainability goals and occupant health and wellness. A key aspect of that success was the prioritizing of Indigenous knowledge, teachings and traditions in the design and creation of the building. The end result is a building that achieves ambitious energy efficiency goals while providing inclusive, functional and beautiful spaces for learning and collaboration.

Manitou a bi Bii daziigae is on track to be RRC Polytech’s fourth LEED-certified building, with a goal of 100 energy use intensity and a near net zero efficiency. For more details on the many sustainability design features of Manitou a bi Bii Daziigae, including the building integrated photovoltaic exterior, the Indigenous artwork, pedestrian plaza and the abundance of natural light, please check out the virtual tour and write up here.

Anyone commuting to the Notre Dame Campus by bike or bus may have noticed the new multi-use path running along Dalton Crescent.  High praise is deserved for the folks in our Facilities department for including this important piece of connective infrastructure in their recent bus-loop upgrade project. 

Another recent boon for commuter cyclists is the installation of bike pumps alongside our self-repair stands in front of D Building at the Notre Dame Campus and at the William Street entrance of the Roblin Centre.   Missing tools on the self-repair stands have also recently been replaced. The Sustainability team is also planning to install a self-repair stand at the Portage la Prairie and Stevenson campuses in the near future.  If you commute by bike these stands are a great resource for making minor repairs and adjustments to your ride.

In other news, on Monday, June 5th, RRC Polytech hosted a Bike to Work Day pit stop at Omand’s Creek park serving passing bike commuters.  By 9:00 am all the coffee had been drank, a dozen bikes had been repaired, plenty of snacks had been noshed and roughly 185 commuters had passed through our hospitality station.  A rousing success!  Bike to Work Day was the kickoff to Bike Week, be sure to check out the Bike Week event calendar for plenty of other fun bike-centric events through June 11th.

If you commute to the College by bike and have suggestions as to how we can improve our bike facilities, please reach out to our Environmental Initiatives Coordinator, Geoff Heath.

Spring has sprung and next week is all about active and sustainable transportation. The College will be celebrating by participating in the Commuter Challenge (June 4-11), hosting a Bike to Work Day Pit Stop (June 5), and leading a group ride from NDC to Sargent Sundae for ice cream (June 8).

The Commuter Challenge is a friendly workplace competition to encourage active and sustainable travel. This event encourages people to use sustainable transportation during the week for their mental and physical health, to minimize their impact on the environment and for workplaces to demonstrate commitment to environmental sustainability. During the pandemic, the challenge was expanded to include recreational activities outside of commuting. This year, the challenge will be focusing on commuting once again.

Any kilometers travelled using active and/or sustainable modes of transportation that are related to your daily commutes qualify. That could include your bike ride, walk or roll to work/school, taking transit, carpooling or even telecommuting (your commute isn’t producing any carbon emissions if you’re working/schooling from home!).

Participating is easy! First, register using the RRC Polytech link then, either daily or at the end of the week log your KMs travelled. Anyone who logs their sustainable KMs during Commuter Challenge 2023 is eligible to win one of dozens of prizes, including:

Grand Prize: Two Any-Day passes to Winnipeg Folk Festival 2023
Grand Prize: Two night stay at Wild Skies Resort
Grand Prize: FREE Bus Pass for a Year with Winnipeg Transit

For extra incentive, all RRC Polytech participants will also be eligible to win a bonus prize of a $100 gift certificate for Jane’s restaurant!

Bike to Work Day

On Monday, June 5 the College will be hosting a Bike to Work Day pit stop from 6:30-9 AM at the foot bridge at Omand’s Creek. Stop by to grab a coffee or a snack, get a quick tune-up and meet some fellow RRC Polytech bike enthusiasts.

Bike to Work Day kicks off the tenth annual Bike Week Winnipeg, a whole week celebrating bikes and anyone who rides them in our fair city. Check out their events page for group rides, workshops, leisure and cultural events that encourage all Winnipeggers to get on their bikes and ride.

Our own Campus Well Being team is organizing a special ride to Sargent Sundae on June 8 at noon leaving from NDC. Bring your bike to the Notre Dame Campus bus loop at 12pm to join a special lunch hour ride from noon to 1:30pm. Please register so they know whom to expect. Remember to bring your helmet, some water, and money to buy ice cream. Contact Kristi, Recreation and Wellness Coordinator with questions. Subscribe or visit the Campus Well-Being blog for ongoing event and activities information.

On Earth Day 2023, RRC Polytech is celebrating the achievement of receiving a STARS Silver Rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, or AASHE. With more than 900 participants in 40 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance.

“Sustainability is embedded in the culture at RRC Polytech,” says Lynn Zapshala-Kelln, Vice-President, Finance and Administration. “This STARS Silver rating is both a celebration of our collective accomplishments and a benchmark for identifying future opportunities to advance sustainability at RRC Polytech.”

Highlights of RRC Polytech’s recent sustainability efforts include the construction of the new Manitou a bi Bii daziigae building, designed to LEED Gold standards, and the coordinated efforts to re-use and donate over 1,900 furniture items and 3.5 tonnes of books and household items during the move of the Language Training Centre from its old location into the new building.

“Sustainability doesn’t belong to one department; it’s a way for the College to come together around common goals,” says Maria Mendes, Director of Environmental Stewardship and Campus Renewal. “This achievement is a testament to RRC Polytech’s leadership at all levels when it comes to sustainability efforts in teaching and applied research, outreach and engagement, college operations, and institutional planning and administration.”

“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “RRC Polytech has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”

The RRC Polytech STARS report is public and can be found online.

As we jump into the week leading up to Earth Day, we’d like to take a moment to welcome and introduce Geoff Heath, the newest member of the Sustainability team! As the new Environmental Initiatives Coordinator, he will be connecting with staff and students to help reduce consumption of materials on campus, working towards re-using and repairing items when possible, and attempting to recycle or compost just about everything else.   

Learn more about Geoff in his own words… 

Hi RRC Polytech, I’m Geoff Heath, the new Environmental Initiatives Coordinator. I’m learning lots about all the great sustainability initiatives across our campuses and look forward to engaging with y’all to continue improving upon them. 

I have an academic background in biology and have spent most of my adult life in the world of environmental advocacy.  I recently worked for 11 years as a founding director at The WRENCH, a local youth bike repair education organization. If you have any bike related questions, please ask, I’m very happy to help! 

Having spent the past decade working to empower individuals with sustainability skills, I’m excited to have a role here at RRC Polytech facilitating change at an institutional level.  When I started in this field 20 years ago people were always questioning why they ought make the sustainable choice.   We’ve come a long way since then!  In my first couple weeks here at the College I’m instead hearing “How can we make the sustainable choice?”  I’m looking forward to being part of the team here helping to make that cultural shift towards meeting our sustainability goals. 

If you have a waste diversion initiative or other project you’d like to discuss please drop me a line at gheath@rrc.ca or pop by our office at C515 on the Notre Dame Campus. 

As the new school year starts many are coming to RRC Polytech for the first time, and many are returning after a long time away. So, to help your transition, here’s a roundup of what you need to know about being sustainable on campus.

Greening Your Campus Commute

If you are coming to campus, there are many options for traveling sustainably and the College is working actively to support you in choosing those options.  Below are some tips to help you plan your transit or bike trip to campus.

Taking Transit to Campus

Many Transit routes conveniently service our Winnipeg Campuses. Here are some tips to help you plan your trip:

• Transit has a handy trip planning tool called Navigo. Simply enter your information and it will provide multiple options. Tip: If you don’t know the address of your campus, type in “Red River College” and a list of campuses will pop up for you to select from.
• You can use one of many park-and-ride locations across the City if Transit isn’t an option for your complete commute.
• If you have accessibility barriers to using the City’s fixed route transit system, Winnipeg Transit Plus offers door-to-door transportation.
• On campus and wondering when your next bus will arrive? Look for one of our Real-Time Transit Screens – stay warm and dry inside while you check the real-time status of your next bus.
• Did you know that most RRC Polytech Students and Staff are eligible for reduced rates on some Winnipeg Transit passes?
• Please make sure to review Winnipeg Transit’s COVID-19 protocols before planning your trip

Cycling to Campus

Considering riding your bike to campus? Here are some tools to support you:

Trip Planning:

• Google Maps allows you to plan your trip by bike and also has a “Biking” layer to check which routes are most bike friendly.
• The City of Winnipeg Bike Map outlines cycling routes and the Pedestrian and Cycling Proposed Network to help you plan your trip. Pick up a copy at Security at both the Notre Dame Campus and the Exchange District Campus.
• Still not sure about riding your bike to campus? Contact us! We’ll be happy to help you plan your route and we can even help set you up with a bike buddy!

Bike Maintenance and Security:

If you need to perform some minor maintenance on your bike before heading home, we have repair stations available at both the Notre Dame Campus (NDC) and the Roblin Centre. These stations have a stand to hold your bike and some commonly used tools.

If you’re using a conveniently located bike rack at one of our campuses, be sure to use a U-Lock and follow these tips to dramatically increase the security of your bike. Looking for added security for your bike? See the options below at both NDC and EDC.

The Notre Dame Campus has 30 bike lockers to offer extra security and protection from the elements for your bike, bag and helmet. These lockers are free to use (subject to availability) although there is a refundable key deposit. To sign up for a bike locker, visit the NDC Campus Store.

The Exchange District Campus has 51 indoor bike parking stalls in two card-swipe secured bike rooms – 35 in the basement of Paterson GlobalFoods Institute (PGI) and 16 on the main floor of Manitou a bi Bii daziigae. Staff and students can get access for free (but you need to provide your own lock). You will need your Staff/Student ID Card to access the room.

Please note: the bike room at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae is currently full, but there are some spots available at PGI.

Working Towards a Zero Waste Campus

We’ve got a variety of programs to divert materials from the landfill and give them another useful life. But, we can’t do it without you! Here are some ways you can help us in our work towards becoming a Zero Waste Campus:

Waste, Recycling and Compost

Garbage and Recycling bins are conveniently located in central locations around campus. Our program consists of three bins: two for recycling (paper and containers) and one for garbage. Large “Pitch In” signs above many of these trios will help you figure out where to put something if you’re not sure.

At NDC, pre-consumer organic waste is collected from kitchens and taken to our on-site compost pile which is managed by our Grounds crew. At PGI, both pre-consumer organic waste collected from kitchens and culinary labs and post-consumer organic waste (your unfinished lunch for example) collected in the Annex are transported to a commercial composting facility.

Other Recycling Programs

ReBins are located at NDC (by the Campus Store and in the Library) and the EDC (in the Roblin Centre Atrium outside the Campus Store). These bins collect markers, pens, and pencils for recycling; plastic bags for reuse; and batteries for recycling.

All faculty, staff and students can also recycle their disposable masks – including 3-ply surgical, dust masks, and KN95/N95 masks – by placing them in any of the mask recycling boxes listed below:

EDC Mask Recycling Locations

• Roblin Centre, north entrance
• Paterson GlobalFoods Institute (PGI), third floor by the lockers

NDC Mask Recycling Locations

• South Parking Lot, by Commissionaires Booth
• STTC Building, main entrance
• Building J, north entrance

Find out more about our integrated waste and recycling program.

Eco Mug

Don’t forget your reusable mug when you go to fill up on coffee or tea – prevent a disposable coffee cup going to the landfill and save yourself 10 cents!

Water

There are more than 50 water bottle filling stations located in convenient locations around most of our campuses. Save money and the environment this year by filling your reusable water bottle with cold, filtered water at one of these stations.

Connect With Us

Our Sustainability Team holds many events throughout the year. To keep up to date with our latest news, get involved with us, or learn more about how to make your campus life more sustainable: find us on Facebook, Instagram and subscribe to our blog.

Now that spring is finally (!) here, it’s time for the Commuter Challenge.  The Commuter Challenge is a friendly workplace competition to encourage active and sustainable ways to travel.  From June 5 to June 11, join the challenge and celebrate all the sustainable ways to get around – walk, bike, wheel, rollerblade, take transit, carpool, telecommute – whether it’s for work or for play.  It’s a great way to get outside, get active, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and you can even win some great prizes! Here’s how you can participate.

• Register for the Commuter Challenge using the RRC Polytech link.  Log your kilometers travelled and see how much our actions can add up.  All trips can be counted, whether it’s a walk around the neighbourhood, biking to the park or telecommuting to work.  The Green Action Centre has lined up some amazing prizes for participants.
• Play RRC Polytech Commuter Challenge Wordle!  We have a top secret five letter word, and there are five activities in the table below.  For each activity you complete, send us a photo (email sustainability@rrc.ca or Instagram @rrcgoesgreen) and we’ll send you one letter from the word. If you guess the word correctly by 4:00 pm on Friday June 10, you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift card from Le Marche St Norbert Farmers’ Market, or a local market of your choice.  There’s also a participation prize – for each activity completed, you will be entered to win a $50 gift card.  We’ll share photos and stories on Instagram and Facebook. The contest is open to RRC Polytech staff and faculty.

• This year Bike Week is the same week, so there are lots of opportunities to get your Commuter Challenge kms.  Monday June 6 is Bike to Work Day and the RRC Polytech pit stop is returning new and improved! This year, we are partnering with Assiniboine Park Conservancy on a pit stop on the north side of the Assiniboine Park footbridge on Portage Avenue at Overdale Street (across from Sargent Sundae). Come visit us on June 6 and enjoy some treats, get your bike chain cleaned, get a RRC Polytech Wordle letter, and enter the prize draw. 

The recent sustainability survey showed that sustainable transportation is important to staff and students.  Whether you are biking to work, walking to the grocery store or carpooling with friends, choosing active and sustainable transportation can be rewarding for our health and our planet.  

See you at the Commuter Challenge!