Sustainability Action Plan 2026-30 Launch

Join Concordia’s Office of Sustainability on September 29 at 4TH SPACE to celebrate the launch of the university’s Sustainability Action Plan 2026–30.

The morning's launch event will bring together members of the Concordia community to learn more about the plan, hear from those leading its implementation and explore opportunities to get involved. The afternoon's events will feature presentations and conversations highlighting projects connected to the plan’s priorities. 

You may attend one or all of the day's events. Come learn what’s in the new plan, ask questions and explore how sustainability is shaping Concordia University.

How can you participate? Join us in-person by filling out the Microsoft form or online by registering for the Zoom Meeting or watching live on YouTube.

If attending in person, we encourage you to use sustainable transportation where possible. Consider taking public transit, cycling or walking to campus. If you are unable to attend in person, you can join online.

Have questions or if we can make this event more accessible for you: Contact us at info.4@concordia.ca

This event is part of Campus Sustainability Month at Concordia, a month-long series of sustainability events and activities.

Launch of Sustainability Action Plan 2026-30   

10:00 a.m.  - 11:15 a.m. 

Join Concordia’s Office of Sustainability on September 29 at 4TH SPACE to celebrate the launch of the university’s Sustainability Action Plan. Introducing the plan will be Graham Carr, President and Vice-Chancellor; Michael Di Grappa, Vice-President, Services and Sustainability; Sabrina Lavoie, Associate Vice-President, Campus Services and Sustainability; and Cassandra Lamontagne, Sustainability Manager. Project leads from numerous departments will be available to answer audience questions.

Indigenizing and Decolonizing Sustainability Curriculum at Concordia with Donna Goodleaf and Rebecca Tittler

11:30 a.m.  - 12:15 p.m. 

Join us as we present new opportunities and explore ongoing efforts to decolonize sustainability curriculum through partnerships with the Office of Decolonizing Curriculum and Pedagogy, with Donna Goodleaf, Director, Decolonizing and Indigenizing Curriculum and Pedagogy, and Rebecca Tittler, Academic Advisor and Administrative Coordinator at the Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability and Coordinator of the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre.

Launch of Pathways to Impact with Prem Sooriyakumar and Brett Cox

1 - 2 p.m. 

Born from various sustainability lead and focused consultations regarding research impact, Concordia’s Office of the Vice President, Research Innovation and Impact (OVPRII) has launched a new web platform for its Pathways to Impact initiative, an ongoing collaboration with units from across the university designed to help researchers strengthen their research impact. Join project team, Prem Sooriyakumar and Brett Cox, to learn more about the initiative, how it came to life, and what’s being offered to the research community.

Fair Trade at Concordia with Shatha Arslan and Sofia Melatti

2 - 2:15 p.m.

Concordia University is a Fair Trade certified campus; offering a range of Fairtrade product availability for students and faculty while hosting events for engagement. Fairtrade is an ethical certification and sustainability label that puts farmers’ rights at the forefront, ensuring they get paid a fair livable wage. Join us as we present the necessary steps towards gold status campus designation, our outreach with the Concordia community, and our engagement with the academic faculty.

Donna Kahérakwas Goodleaf is Turtle Clan and is a citizen from the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Nation, Kahnawake Territory, which is part of the Rotinonhsión:ni Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy. She is a Kanien’kehá:ka educator and scholar who joined Concordia university in January of 2018 as the new Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogical Advisor for the Centre for Teaching and Learning. Her current primary role as Director, Decolonizing and Indigenizing Curriculum and Pedagogy is to develop university-wide training for Concordia faculty on decolonizing and Indigenizing their curriculum programs of study in ways that re-center the advancement and integration of Indigenous peoples’ diverse humanities - intellectual, scientific and cultural knowledge systems, worldviews, epistemologies, histories, research and pedagogies across all academic units. She also serves on Concordia University’s Indigenous Directions Leadership Council. 

Rebecca Tittler is a second-generation settler here in Tiohtiá:ke. She first joined Concordia's Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability in 2013 as an instructor, adding her current position asAcademic Advisor and Administrative Coordinator at the College and Coordinator of the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre in 2016. In both roles, she has worked and continues to work towards the development of sustainability curriculum that incorporates Indigenous expertise and knowledge systems. 
 
Prem Sooriyakumar is Tamil, originally arrived as a refugee to Tiohtià:ke, from Jaffna, Sri Lanka.  Currently a Senior Knowledge Broker at the OVPRII. He works with researchers on knowledge mobilization planning and research impact development and strategy. Additionally, Prem has been developing and supporting the institutional Pathways to Impact initiative and is one of the senior strategic advisors on the Abundant Intelligences NFRF-T research project, a majority Indigenous lead research project on Artificial Intelligences.

Brett Cox is a third-generation settler originally from Brantford, Ontario – land that is situated on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnawbe and Haudenosaunee peoples. Since June 2023, Brett has worked as Coordinator of Sustainability in Research at the OVPRII. His work involves coordinating various projects aimed at meeting the goals and strategies of the Sustainability in Research action plan. In addition to any questions related to the Pathways to Impact initiative, you can contact Brett for support with exploring sustainable research practices, developing a research impact plan, and any questions related to Concordia's Sustainability in Research action plan.

Shatha Arslan is a settler in Tiohtiá:ke. She first got involved with sustainability at Concordia as a sustainability and Fair Trade ambassador. She conducted a Fair Trade impact report for Concordia University in the summer of 2025. She later transitioned into the role of Fair Trade coordinator in September 2025 and has managed and coordinated Fairtrade activities in the academic year of 2025-26. She has assisted in the development of the new goals pertaining to the new Sustainability Action Plan through the food stream under Fair Trade. Shatha recently graduated with a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering from Concordia.

Sofia Melatti is a second-generation settler here in Tiohtiá:ke. She is an undergraduate student at Concordia University majoring in Environmental Geography. She volunteered as a Fair Trade ambassador last school year and is now entering the position of Fair Trade Coordinator this fall. During her time as an ambassador, she volunteered for many Fair Trade events and oversaw social media outreach. In her new position, she will work towards advocacy for farmer’s rights and sustainability on campus.