Sustainability at Concordia

September 2024 Newsletter

Welcome!

Whether you've been a Concordian for a couple of years now or are on campus for the first time, it's easy to forget all the ways we can be more sustainable at Concordia. Are you getting your school supplies for FREE from the Creative Reuse Centre this semester? Did you know that Concordia has a Farmers Market every Wednesday downtown during the fall? Do you know what waste goes where on campus? Are you looking into volunteer opportunities through our Sustainability Volunteer Program? There's no shortage of opportunities at Concordia.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Understanding variations in animal and plant movement is key to conservation, new research shows

New research is illuminating how the movement of plants and animals across different landscapes, known as dispersal networks, plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity.

Most ecological models work on the assumption that life follows unvaried — or homogenous — pathways through habitats. A recent study from Concordia researchers, published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, calls for greater value to be placed on the variations — or heterogeneity — in this movement.

Read the story >

SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 14 Life below water
SDG 15 Life on land

Two FOFA Gallery shows feature immersive artworks and talks on labour, reuse and sustainability

As the summer wanes, Concordia’s FOFA Gallery is inviting audiences to immerse themselves in two compelling exhibitions. Too Good to Waste and paper_work.doc (on until September 6) offer works and interactive programming that explore themes of sustainability, materiality and labour dynamics.

Both shows feature a diverse range of artistic practices and dialogues that challenge traditional notions of artmaking and exhibition processes. Building on the gallery’s ongoing sustainability work, they emphasize the importance of sustainability and thoughtful engagement in the art world, reflecting broader societal shifts toward more eco-conscious and relational practices.

“The guiding question for this project was ‘who and what sustains an exhibition, and how can we embody these roles in ways that are healthy, ethical and ecologically conscious?’” explains María Andreína Escalona De Abreu, BFA 22, curator of paper_work.doc. “One of my answers is at the heart of the exhibition: we must be intentional about social and human dynamics and material resources.”

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SDG 4 Quality education
SDG 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production

Inder Bedi, sustainable fashion and design innovator

Decisiveness and a tolerance for risk are among the hallmarks of every successful entrepreneurial journey. Just ask Great Concordian Inder Bedi, BComm 96, the innovator behind behind two popular sustainable fashion brands.

Bedi first made his name with Matt & Nat, the vegan-leather venture that he launched as an undergrad, built into a worldwide success and relinquished in 2013. The company helped establish Bedi as a sustainable-design luminary — so much so that he was named a Climate Champion at the COP 26 United Nations conference.

At BEDI Studios, he has maintained his focus on upcycled materials for Canadian-made designs.

The brand’s creative and thoughtful use of seat belts from Quebec scrap yards, used Air Canada airline seats and regenerated fishing nets have helped position it as one of the most sustainably advanced brands in the world.

Read the story >

SDG 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production
SDG 13 Climate action

Get involved

Volunteer for our campus gardens

Until the end of October

Discover the student-led initiatives on our campuses that connect the community to experiential learning, food security, and sustainable food options. This summer, join our plethora of gardens at our Loyola Campus, from mind.heart.mouth to the Loyola Food Forest Restoration Project, to support urban agriculture and gain new skills.

Volunteer

UPCOMING EVENTS

Get your fresh, local products at the Concordia Farmers Market

Wednesdays, 3-6 p.m., September 4th – October 30th

Concordia Farmers Market - 1400 Maisonneuve Blvd W.

Established in 2014, the Concordia Farmers’ Market is the main provider of fresh local, direct-to-market products for the 40 000+ daily eaters on campus. Come visit us next market day and sample what’s on offer by the many incredible growers and makers in the Concordia community!

Bat Walks

Wednesday, September 11 @ 8 p.m., outside Hall building so 1455 Blvd. De Maisonneuve W.

Monday, September 16 @ 8 p.m., 4455 Rue West Broadway

Join Finding Urban Nature (FUN) Montreal for some final nighttime bat walks while the weather is nice!

Harvest Supper Fundraiser

Friday, September 20 @ 5:30 p.m., 6225 Avenue Godfrey

Join us for our Harvest Supper Fundraiser, featuring a gourmet dinner prepared with organic, fresh vegetables grown by our participants as part of the intergenerational Full Circle Project in collaboration (among other partners) with ACT Concordia. Enjoy an evening of delicious food and community spirit while supporting a great cause. Can't attend? Consider sponsoring a ticket for one of our seniors to enjoy the dinner!

Cinema Politica Opening Screening for Fall

Monday, September 23 @ 7 p.m., H110, H Building 1550 De Maisonneuve W.

Cinema Politica's first screening of the Fall semester, film TBA.

Opportunities

Learn how to embed education for sustainability in higher education courses

Discover the essence of education for sustainability and its integration across disciplines. This book offers a beginner's toolkit, evidence-based insights, and best practices to inspire and guide faculty, while also showcasing the latest trends for those already championing sustainability in teaching.

Read the guide

Fix your bike for cheap

Are you looking for a bike to ride this Fall? Do you have a bike that needs repair, but getting it fixed is just too expensive? Come visit Le Petit Vélo Rouge at the Loyola Campus! Our community bike repair shop is open to all to address your bike repair needs. We sell tubes, tires, new and used parts, bikes, you name it! Everything is cheap and our volunteers are friendly.

Learn more

STUDY

Are you interested in Sustainability or Diversity studies? Did you know you can add a Minor or Elective group to your degree without having to take more credits, as long as you have space for at least 15 credits of general electives in your program?

Minors and elective groups provide meaningful ways to group the electives you have to take anyhow to complete your degree, and the demand for expertise in Sustainability and Diversity studies on the job market is only increasing.

Learn more about our minor programs

EXTRAS

Feedback: Following the new requirements for businesses to have testing or substantiation to support certain environmental claims, the Competition Bureau is seeking feedback about the new provision of the law relating to statements, warranties or guarantees of a product or service’s environmental benefits. If you're interested in calling out greenwashing wherever you see it, the Bureau is accepting feedback until September 27.

Survey: Need a quick guide to sustainability at Concordia to orient you as the semester begins? Look no further than our short Sustainability Brochure, which provides a brief survey of sustainable offerings on campus.

Recommendations: In need of some climate optimism? Check out this filmed discussion where faculty members and graduate students presented and discussed readings that bring them hope and inspire them to action.