A Sustainability Across Disciplines conference
March 19-21, 2019, Concordia University
This conference was designed to provide students, researchers, and the general public with the opportunity to participate in cross-disciplinary discussions and activities addressing sustainability research in relation to pressing urban and global issues, as well as the role that art plays in shaping more socially and environmentally just urban futures.
In keeping with the theme, for the first time, the Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability and the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre partnered with the Institute for Urban Futures, expanding collaborations across faculties.
Sessions took place on at the Jesuit Hall and Conference Centre on the Loyola campus and the John Molson Building on the Sir-George Williams campus at Concordia University.
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Panel IA: Urban Sustainability
Panel IB: Where Can a Sustainability Internship Lead You?
Art Hives: Public Practice Arts for Sustainable Cities
Hosted by Rachel Chainey and Janis Timm-Bottos
2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Panel IIA: The Value of Our Green Space: How are we using the Loyola campus?
Panel IIB: Where Can a Sustainability Internship Lead You?
3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Panel IIIA: Issues in Global Sustainability and Governance
Panel IIIB: Gardening, Food, and Sustainability
4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
9:30 a.m. to 10:15 p.m.
Panel IVA: What is Urban Sprawl and Why Does it Matter?
Panel IVB: Sustainability on Campus
Art exhibit
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Panel VA: Panel Discussion and Workshop on Urban Sprawl in Montreal
Panel VB: Sustainability Theory and Climate Change
Student films and Miri Chekhanovich: Trash Tours and Meditations
11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Panel VIA: Panel Discussion and Workshop on Urban Sprawl in Montreal
Microgreens Workshop by Emma Simon and Elanur Eroglu
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Panel VIIA: Making Canadian Cities Smart (er): Reflections on the Canadian Smart Cities Challenge
Panel VIIB: Pollination and Soils
Art exhibit
10:30 a.m. to 11:15 p.m.
Panel VIIIA: Reconciling Biodiversity Conservation with Social and Economic Concerns
Panel VIIIB: Roads and Connectivity:
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Photo credit: Kendra Warnock
This year, for the first time, we held a student photo competition in preparation for the conference. Students were asked to address the following question through their work: "What does sustainability in the city mean to you?" In addition to their photos, students were invited to provide a short explanation as to how the photo addresses the question.
Rising from the Ashes. Photo credit: Eleanor Simpson
"A sustainable city is not only one that was made to be, sustainability in a city can be developed through the revisioning of our current ways. Through introducing cyclic processes and action-plan policies, repurposing existing infrastructure and a slight change in way of life, a sustainable city can rise from the ashes of its predecessor."
Compostable? Photo credit: Juliette Carman
“Often a part of the puzzle will be solved, but a piece will still be missing when we fail to think about the full cycle of an object we create.”
“Sustainability in a city is about gathering in person and exchanging ideas. The zero waste movement is about community and creativity. Making things yourself, buying from local makers, exchanging things, fixing things and having a junction where one person's trash becomes another person's treasure. ”
“Sustainability in the city is having access to public transportation. This photo is of Lund Central Station in Sweden. It is a parking lot for bikes located in the town square. This station has direct access to multiple train and bus lines just across the road. The buses and trains run at regular frequent intervals and there are more bikers in the city than cars.”
We acknowledge that Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
If you are not joining from Tiohtià:ke/Montréal, you can learn more about the land you are on.
This event is brought to you by:
With the support of:
Special thanks go to all of our wonderful presenters and participants and especially to Shauna Janssen for her support and inspiration and for the beautiful photo of the milkweed that is featured above and on the conference posters; Alex Tigchelaar for organizing the artistic contributions; James Grant, Jeannine-Marie St.-Jacques, Sarah Turner, and Jochen Jaeger for judging student presentations; Kailin Mailly, Tamara Elias, and Jaime Malone for volunteering their time to run the registration table; Eric Daigle for photography; Payton Ashe for social media; Taylor Tower for Concordia media coverage; and Matthew Leddy, Raymond Paquin, and Rebecca Tittler for bringing it all together.
Catering was provided by Vert La Bouche.
This event will contribute to Concordia's Sustainability Action Plan by increasing the visibility of sustainability research at Concordia.
For more information or questions, please get in touch with Rebecca Tittler.
© Concordia University
