Get Involved
Get involved with Sustainability!
Whether you’re a student or staff, there are many ways you can make a difference with sustainability on campus. Get your hands dirty digging up produce, help out at our annual campaigns and events, or support local vendors at our markets. We can also create volunteer opportunities suited to your skills and interests. Have other ideas? We’d love to hear from you!
Email us at sustainability@rrc.ca
Events
Put your best sustainability foot forward and stay involved year-round! Check out our events calendar to find out the campaigns we support and our annual Sustainability events. Sometimes we attend off-campus events, too (you might spot us with our nifty bike-blender). For exact dates and news on upcoming events, follow our blog.
March
Earth Hour
Lights out in 3, 2, 1…. Support climate action by joining millions of people around the world in shutting down lights and electronics for one hour. Watch for details on how to pledge to participate at the College and have a chance to win prizes through our office. Earth Hour occurs on a Saturday night in March. Find the date and time for this year on the Earth Hour website.
April
Earth Week
April 22nd is Earth Day, but we think we need a whole week (sometimes more!) to do it justice. During Earth Week, we celebrate the planet through a variety of campus activities for both staff and students supporting environmental protection. In the past, this has included a behind-the-scenes tour of the Phoenix Recycling Facility, a pop-up Fair Trade Café, a free lunch hosted by the Sustainability Office and a semi-annual E-Waste drive.
State of Sustainability
As part of Earth Week, watch a live presentation on eTV from the Sustainability Office on sustainable initiatives and accomplishments in the past year, and the office’s plan to grow sustainability on campus in the future. See this year’s and past presentations
May
Summer Seasonal Shutdown Office Challenge (Staff)
Academic offices that close for the summer are invited to participate every Spring. Before you make a break for the lake, make a splash and cool off your office’s energy consumption while you’re away. Read more ›
June
Commuter Challenge (Staff)
The Commuter Challenge is a friendly, week-long competition between Canadian cities and workplaces. RRC Polytech is a fierce competitor that has topped the charts in the past few years. Join our winning RRC Polytech team and commute sustainably at least once over the week (and be entered to win great prizes). Read more ›
Bike Week
It’s the perfect chance to soak up that Winnipeg sun for all its worth! Commute sustainably and attend activities hosted by our office hosts activities, like group rides to Sargent Sundae and a bike-to-work-day pit stop. These events are open to the public and part of the city-wide Bike Week Winnipeg celebration that promotes cycling as an alternative form of transportation.
September
RRC Polytech Farmers’ Market
Held at Notre Dame Campus every year, this mid-size market is your one-stop shop to buy fresh produce, baked goods, personal care products and more, all from local vendors. While you’re there, pick up some Red River honey made by bees on campus!
Grow-A-Row
Every year, NDC grounds crew donates almost all of the College’s campus-grown veggies to Winnipeg Harvest’s Grow-A-Row program. This city-wide event encourages people and companies to donate portions of their harvest to those in need. Usually on a day in September, staff and volunteers dig up and prepare the produce to send over. On average RRC Polytech donates around 3,000 pounds of fresh produce to the program – that’s a lot of potatoes!
Fair Trade Campus Week
Fair Trade Campus Week is all about celebrating Fair Trade products, especially the ones we have here at the College. These products influence the lives of other people around the world and teach us about the power behind consumer choices. Try samples, purchase Fair Trade merch, and learn about consumer impacts. Read more ›
October
Waste Reduction Week
This week raises awareness on how much waste we create and engages individuals to make changes to reduce it. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate our waste reduction initiatives on campus. Waste reduction does wonders for the health of our planet environmentally, socially and economically.
December
RRC Polytech Winter Market
Our Winter Market transforms the Notre Dame Campus hallway into a wonderland of local goodies. With locally-made items ranging from food to beauty to decor, you are sure to find a perfect gift for that special someone or to treat yourself. And of course, pick up the perfect stocking stuffer: honey made from campus bees.
Winter Seasonal Shutdown Office Challenge (Staff)
Before you dash away into the night, recruit your colleagues to help rein(deer) in unnecessary energy consumption when shutting down your office. All staff offices are invited to participate in this challenge every December break. Read more ›
RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dené, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.
We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.