The results of the RRC Polytech sustainability survey are in – sustainability is important, and people are engaged.  The survey was sent to staff and students in February and a whopping 650 staff (30%) and 1,100 students (13%) responded, showing how much people care about sustainability.  This reflects the trend in Canada and globally, that people are increasingly concerned about the environment, and they want to live more sustainably.  

This was the most comprehensive survey on sustainability at the college in 10 years, with questions on sustainability culture (how people feel) and literacy (what people know).  The survey results are used to help inform our Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) report and develop programs and initiatives. 

Here are some highlights from the survey results.

Sustainability Culture

The culture of sustainability at the college is resoundingly positive.  Most staff and students said that environmental sustainability is important, they want to learn more about sustainability, and they consider social sustainability when making purchases.  This echoes the value of sustainability in the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.

Environmental Priorities

With sustainability as a value that guides us, there are many different areas we can focus our efforts.  Staff and students identified reducing / minimizing waste and other waste diversion programs as the most important environmental sustainability issue to address.  Waste reduction and diversion are some of the most visible sustainability programs at the college.  The second priority identified is to increase awareness and education, followed by support for sustainable transportation.  All three priorities help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainability Literacy

Understanding sustainability and its main concepts can help affect change. When asked to identify the three main components of sustainability, 41% of staff and 31% of students successfully identified economic, environmental and social, while 43% of staff and 52% of students selected reduce, reuse, recycle.

This is not surprising, given the effectiveness of the 3R messaging and the decrease in visibility and communication on sustainability during the pandemic.  Historically more staff answered this question successfully.  This year had the lowest successful response rate.  

For the other literacy questions, most staff and students could successfully define a life cycle analysis (89% / 68%); define the concept of Zero Waste (91% / 77%); and identify the food with the highest carbon footprint (81% / 67%).

Social Sustainability

Social sustainability is fundamentally interconnected with environmental sustainability.  We asked staff and students to identify examples of social sustainability.  Most staff (76%) and students (68%) identified truth and reconciliation, which could be connected to increased focus and education.  A much smaller number of staff (29%) and students (18%) identified accessible technology (using closed captioning in course materials).  For this question, all the answers are examples of social sustainability at the college.

The survey results showed that staff and students value sustainability and have a good understanding of the concepts.  The results provided us with feedback on what’s going well and where we can improve.  Thank you to everyone who completed the survey, your answers provide valuable input and help inform sustainability work at the college. 

As the new school year starts many are coming to RRC 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.

Getting to Campus Sustainably

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

Check the real-time status of your bus at one of four Transit Screens.

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 RRC 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:

• 

  Rent a bike locker at NDC for free at the Campus Store.

  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.

• Traveling to the Exchange District Campus and looking for added security? There are 35 indoor bike parking stalls in the card-swipe secured bike room in the basement of PGI. 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.
  • NOTE: The New Innovation Centre will also feature a bike parking room with 16 bike parking stalls, including fat bike friendly stalls. Stay tuned for information on how to access this room coming soon!
• The Notre Dame Campus has 34 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.
• 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 and the Roblin Centre. These stations have a stand to hold your bike and some commonly used tools.

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

Our “Pitch In” signs help you find out which bin your waste goes in.

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 the Notre Dame Campus, 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 the Notre Dame Campus (by the Campus Store and in the Library) and the Roblin Centre (in the Atrium outside the Campus Store). These bins collect markers, pens, and pencils for recycling; plastic bags for reuse; and batteries for recycling.

Give used markers and pens, batteries and plastic bags new life by placing them in one of our ReBins.

While many of us choose to use reusable masks, we know disposable masks are still used, either through preference or necessity. We’ve set up three disposable mask recycling boxes at the Notre Dame Campus: in the South Parking Lot, by Commissionaires Booth; outside the STTC building main entrance; and at the north entrance of Building J. The boxes accept all non-woven, disposable, plastic-based masks including 3-ply surgical, dust masks, KN95, and N95 masks. Paper or cloth masks or anything else isn’t allowed in the bin.

Find out more about our integrated waste and recycling program.

Water

Fill up your reusable water bottle at one of our many bottle fill stations

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 (virtually for now, but hopefully in person again soon!). 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, Twitter, Instagram and subscribe to our blog.

Looking forward to being able to greet you at one of our Commuter Welcome Stations again one day!

The Commuter Challenge is over for another year and while we didn’t get to greet you all with cinnamon buns and coffee as you arrived at campus like we’d hoped, we still enjoyed connecting with you all virtually! This year the challenge ran from May 30 to June 5 and celebrated not just sustainable work commutes, but all of the active and sustainable ways we get around.

RRC has a history of high participation in this event and we’re excited to announce that the tradition continues with us being awarded GOLD in Workplace Category this year! Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make that happen!

RRC Winners

We weren’t the only winners!  Below is a list of all the RRC winners from the Challenge, including some new prizes we added since we were so blown away by everyone’s participation!

Top Traveler: The RRC participant who logged the most KMs over the week
Prize: $50 Gift Certificate to Jardins St-Léon Gardens
Winner: Cheryl J. who logged 757 KMs

NEW! Serious Cyclist: The RRC participant who logged the most cycling KMs
Prize: Winners choice! $25 Gift Certificate to Jardins St-Léon Gardens, Le Marché Saint-Norbert Farmers’ Market, or Black Market Provisions
Winner: Mike P. who logged 336 cycling KMs

NEW! Walking Warrior: The RRC participant who logged the most walking KMs
Prize: Winner’s choice! $25 Gift Certificate to Jardins St-Léon Gardens, Le Marché Saint-Norbert Farmers’ Market, or Black Market Provisions
Winner: Debbie M. who logged 164.2 walking KMs

Lucky Winner: One RRC participant selected by random draw
Prize: $50 Gift Certificate to Le Marché Saint-Norbert Farmers’ Market
Winner: Mike M.

Most Traveled Team: The RRC Team with the highest average KMs per team member
Prize: 2 x $25 Gift Certificate to Black Market Provisions, 2 x $25 Gift Certificates to Le Marché Saint-Norbert Farmers’ Market, and 1 x $25 Gift Certificates to Jardins St-Léon Gardens
Winner: C517 Group A (Laurie-Ann N., Krystal B., Karen D.) with an average of 555.6 KMs 

NEW! Most Tireless Team: The RRC Team with the highest average active KMs per team member
Prize: Winner’s choice (each team member)! $25 Gift Certificate to Jardins St-Léon Gardens, Le Marché Saint-Norbert Farmers’ Market, or Black Market Provisions
Winner: The Cyclopaths (Guy D., Wayne F., Mike P., Laura P.) with an average of 201. 9 active KMs.

Finally, a very special shout-out to Del P. who won the Green Action Centre’s Grand Prize – a free bus pass for a year!

Congratulations to all the winners!

Team Results

We had 11 teams sign up for the Challenge, logging a total of 8,740 km for the week! The winning teams were selected based on the average per person total of kms logged for the whole team. The full results are below.

AVERAGE TOTAL KMS PER TEAM MEMBER
1	C517 Group A	555.6
2	Loftus Yellow Kayakius	255.0
3	RRComrades	236.1
4	C517 Group B	221.9
5	Lofty Loftmore and the Sons of Oats Cousins	211.2
6	The Cyclopaths	201.9
7	Geese Mode	156.0
8	Active Leadership	123.6
9	Wildwood Park Commuters	103.0
10	Sustainability in Motion	90.1
11	Adventurous Admins	88.7

 

AVERAGE ACTIVE KMS PER TEAM MEMBER
1	The Cyclopaths	201.9
2	Wildwood Park Commuters	103.0
3	RRComrades	88.5
4	Active Leadership	79.1
5	Geese Mode	74.7
6	C517 Group A	67.9
7	Lofty Loftmore and the Sons of Oats Cousins	66.6
8	C517 Group B	62.8
9	Loftus Yellow Kayakius	54.2
10	Sustainability in Motion	30.9
11	Adventurous Admins	17.7

Commuter Profiles

We asked RRC participants to share their stories about how they were taking part, how they were going to motivate themselves to keep it up, and what tips they have to inspire others to go that extra mile or try something new.  Their stories are below. The Commuter Challenge is just one week, but let’s try to keep up with our active and sustainable trips all year round!

Lynn after one of her Commuter Challenge runs. I usually carpool to work but outside of work I love walking. I live in a fairly walkable community and am able to easily run most errands without the use of a vehicle. For the 2021 Commuter Challenge, I will be logging many different sustainable trips including carpooling to work and walking, running and riding my bike for pleasure and to fulfil household requirements. With the Challenge being in the summer, it motivates me even more to get outside and enjoy the short season.  Given what we’ve all been dealing with, it’s a wonderful opportunity to connect and challenge ourselves and others – even though we have to do it in a socially distanced way. My tip for others to help them get started or to try something new is: Just do it! I find activity helps my mental health and also helps me to stay in shape. My mantra is – A body in motion stays in motion!! – Lynn Zapshala-Kelln, Vice President, Finance and Administration

Christine enjoying her bike commute I currently drive from my home in Tuxedo, to the Notre Dame Campus, 3 to 5 days a week. I am also very active in walking our two dogs twice a day to and from Assiniboine Park (30 mins total). My commitment to the 2021 Commuter Challenge will be to ditch the 15 minute drive for a 30 minute bike ride to and from work (60 mins total) and to increase the daily dog walks to a full 60 minutes. As a bonus, I’ll be engaging my wife and sons to go on bike rides with me for fun! I am not sure who will be more tired, me or the dogs! Good luck to everyone in this amazing opportunity. – Dr. Christine Watson, Vice-President, Academic and Research Check out this episode of Where’s Watson? where Christine speaks with our Director, Sara MacArthur, about the Commuter Challenge.

Linda’s bike at her favourite spot on Lyndale Drive. The commuter challenge is a great reminder to get out, get moving and be active.  As a fitness professional and yoga teacher, I add cycling to my workout and this is my chance to connect with nature. I find that it really helps improve my mental health and the sunshine always makes me feel better.  I can usually be found cycling down Lyndale drive and even though I don’t live in the  neighborhood, everyone waves and says hi to me when I am in the area.  Enjoy your day everyone and take care. – Linda Caldwell

The Cyclopaths team jersey The Cyclopaths are a four-member team of current (Laura P. & Mike P.) and retired (Guy D. & Wayne F.) RRC staff: Originally formed for a 2019 seven-day, 540 km cycling adventure through the Rockies, the reconstituted Cyclopaths (with the addition of Laura) are now going flat out, so to speak, as a RRC team in the Commuter Challenge. We are particularly invigorated since Laura brought our average age down from 70 to just over 60. Go team go! – The Cyclopaths (Team Profile)

Tune up that bike and get ready for the 2021 Commuter Challenge!

The Commuter Challenge is an annual event that encourages Canadians to green their commute by choosing (or continuing to choose) sustainable transportation. This year the challenge runs from May 30 to June 5 and we’re celebrating not just sustainable commuting but all of the sustainable and active ways we get around. So, on top of logging your sustainable commute to work (yes, telecommuting counts!), you can count your walk at lunch, your family bike ride around the neighbourhood, walking your dog (or cat), taking transit to get groceries – any and all ways you travel sustainably during the week.

The Commuter Challenge at RRC last year encouraged you to reconnect with your commute, this year we’re encouraging you to reconnect with each other. It’s been a long 14+ months for many of us away from the office, away from colleagues, away from students, and away from our friends and family. While we still can’t get together in person let’s challenge ourselves to find new ways to connect, to stay active and to have fun. See below for some ideas on how to reconnect during this year’s Commuter Challenge.

To participate REGISTER HERE, log your sustainable trips over the week, and be entered to win great prizes (more on that later).

Read More →

The sustainability team rode together for the last prize delivery to our final participant winner Jackie!

This year, 296 workplaces and 2,868 people registered for the Commuter Challenge across Manitoba. At RRC, 80 staff and faculty participated to collectively reduce 1661 kgs of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. All told, this earned us a Silver medal finish in our workplace category!

While reflecting on the College’s strong participation in the Commuter Challenge throughout the years, we found this year’s results to be particularly interesting. Compared to last year, our percentage of participants decreased by 15%, yet the emissions avoided per person increased by 30%. So while the 15-step commute from your bedroom to your home office might have been a little less stressful and a lot less time consuming, it also brought a per-person reduction in CO2 emissions.

Because of COVID-19, staff, faculty and students have transitioned to online working and learning and remarkable speed. We’ve all experienced many adjustments to our routine, including replacing our regular commute with telecommuting. Since March 16th, we’ve tracked and calculated the impact of emissions from kilometers not traveled for student and staff parking pass holders at NDC, Stevenson, Bannister and LTC. Collectively, we haven’t travelled 3,939,637km. This amounts to greenhouse gas emissions avoidance of 797,382kg of CO2. That’s like (not) driving around the world 94 times!

In a 2017 College survey, 15% of staff and faculty cited telecommuting as their preferred commute mode. Now that we’ve settled into our work-from-home routines for the last 3+ months, we can’t help but wonder if attitudes and beliefs around telecommuting have shifted and wonder what (and where) the future of College work will look like.

Thanks to everyone who took on the challenge! We hope to greet you with warm cinnamon buns and Fairtrade coffee at the kickoff of Commuter Challenge 2021!

Check the real-time status of your bus at one of four Transit Screens.

Real Excited about Real-Time Transit Screens 

In a progressive step, Red River College has partnered with Winnipeg Transit and the Students’ Association to install real-time transit information screens across our campuses. These four screens, or passenger information kiosks, keep you ‘outta the dark’ (and out of the cold) while you wait for your bus. We know that transit is a primary commute mode for a large number of our students and staff and we’re excited that this technology will help improve the transit experience for so many. Read More →

RRC is celebrating Waste Reduction Week from Monday October 22^nd to Friday October 26^th to engage and raise awareness on how much waste we as individuals create, and the easy changes we can make to reduce this. This is also an opportunity to celebrate the changes we have made, and the impacts both of these can make on the health of our planet environmentally, socially and economically.

Read More →

As you may know, this week is Bike Week, and what better time to dust off that bike and take it for a ride. So, with a ton of great events going on all week, lets get moving!

Not only is biking a great way to reduce your personal carbon emissions, but it has many other benefits on your physical health and mental wellbeing.

Our office sat down with Breanna Sawatzky, the College’s Mental Health Coordinator to discuss sustainable transportation.  Her role consists of many important facets such as drop-in counselling as well as training and education. Below Breanna answers some questions about her experience biking to work, and how it can positively affect your mental health.

Q: Tell me about yourself and your transportation strategies in the past?

A: I live in St. James and have a family of four, with one car. In the past, we would convoy together when we all worked downtown. When I started at the college, my husband and I would take turns either busing or taking the car, without really finding a method that worked better than the other. Our home is about 7km away from the campus so in reality it isn’t that far. Read More →

Sunday, April 22^nd is Earth Day – a worldwide event to celebrate our planetary home and to show our support for a healthy, sustainable environment. At the RRC Sustainability Office, we think that one day is just not enough to celebrate our Earth, so we’re hosting Earth Week Celebrations April 16-23!  Read More →

We’re happy to tell you that bike lockers are now available for rent at the Notre Dame Campus. Seventeen bike lockers have been installed in high traffic locations around campus. The lockers have access doors on both ends and hold two bikes each – adding a total of 34 bike parking spots on campus. These lockers are ideal for regular bike commuters who want a place to lock their bike, bag and helmet in a secure place protected from the elements. Read More →