At Concordia, sustainability has long been driven by a diversity of student projects, initiatives and passions. Meet the student groups that continue to drive sustainability at the University.
Executive Director, Hawa Keita, and Internship Coordinator, Josie Fomé, of Ceed Concordia
CEED Concordia is a fee-levy association of Concordia University and a non-profit organization operating in Montreal, Canada and Gulu, Uganda. We are an organization dedicated to social justice, community empowerment, and positive change by supporting youth in our communities. CEED offers Concordia and Ugandan students an opportunity to contribute to sustainable community projects in northern Uganda for 3-month internships during the summer semester.
The Centre for Gender Advocacy promotes gender equality and empowerment, particularly as it relates to marginalized communities. Along with a variety of programming and campaigns, the Centre provides respectful, confidential peer-to-peer support, advocacy and resources; houses a resource centre and libraries; and offers accessible spaces to facilitate community organizing and action.
Cinema Politica is a Montreal-based non-profit network of community and campus locals that screen independent political film and video by Canadian and international artists. Each semester they screen powerful independent documentaries and connect Concordia students to artists, activists and the Montreal community. To see their schedule for this year, please visit their website or just show up in H-110 at 7 p.m. on nearly every Monday during the school year!
The City Farm School is an initiative to develop partnerships and expertise in urban agriculture on the island of Montréal. With the support of Concordia University, The City Farm School (CFS) offers seminars, discussions, internship placements, volunteer opportunities and popular education style teach-ins on permaculture, organic crop planning, producing seedlings, composting, pest management, rain water harvesting, and other topics of great public interest, promoting a strong focus on experiential learning and the cultivation of a can-do spirit.
A not-for-profit alternative to corporate bookstores, the Cooperative Bookstore is located on Concordia’s downtown campus at 2150 Bishop Street. Offering both new and used books, in addition to a wide variety of artisan consignments, we also boast the largest selection of sex and gender studies titles anywhere in Montreal. Textbooks and T-shirts are sold here as well.
The Concordia Food Coalition (also known as Community Food Coalition or CFC) is a not-for-profit student-run organization concerned about the economic, ecological and social implications of the food system at Concordia University. The CFC brings together students, faculty and staff to promote and facilitate a transition to a more sustainable food system at Concordia.
The Concordia Greenhouse Project is a collectively run, consensus-based, not-for-profit organization. It uses the Henry H. Hall Building rooftop greenhouse as an all-organic space geared towards community, education and sustainable horticulture. The greenhouse is a year-round green space that hosts workshops, projects and events raising awareness around food issues and alternatives to mainstream consumerism.
As the representative body of all Concordia undergraduate students, the CSU is dedicated to deepening understanding of sustainability issues on campus, while encouraging sustainable practices off-campus and advocating for environmental protection and social justice in our provincial and federal politics.
Frigo Vert is Concordia’s student non-profit health food store. It offers a variety of organic and bulk foods, as well as quick snacks, coffee and environmentally friendly household products at affordable prices.
Join us every Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. for the Pay What You Can Café fundraiser. Meal, coffee, tea and snack are all by donation. All funds from the café are donated to a local cause.
The Hive Café Solidarity Cooperative consists of a downtown and a Loyola café that offers locally and ethically sourced, healthy, affordable and delicious food options. The downtown Hive Café is located in the Hall Building Mezz level. The Loyola Campus café can be found on the second floor of the Student Centre building. The Hive Café Solidarity Cooperative rents out their spaces for events and their delicious catering service is on the Concordia approved caterer list.
The JMSBG is a graduate student organization with a mission to build responsible business leaders by instilling a clear understanding of the viability and value of sustainable business practices within JMSB graduate students, which they will apply throughout their careers.
The JSEC strives to deepen ideas concerning responsibility and opportunity in business environments by facilitating conversations about sustainability’s role in firms. They endorse the concept of "...a living laboratory," where individuals are encouraged to use the university’s resources at their disposal to enhance personal growth and knowledge. JSEC supports Concordia’s undergraduate community to discuss and collaborate on meaningful projects and events.
LPVR is located in the PS (Physical Services) Building at Loyola Campus and has a mission to promote sustainability and active transportation by fixing and selling refurbished bikes and through educational outreach (e.g., workshops, events and resources). LPVR strives to create an anti-oppressive, inclusive space where students and non-students alike are empowered to fix bikes, share resources and build community.
The People's Potato is a collectively run soup kitchen that offers vegan meals to students and community members on a by-donation basis. The Potato serves more than 400 meals daily to students and community members with the help of dedicated volunteers, with the aim of educating about healthy cooking and food politics.
The Quebec Public Interest Research Group at Concordia is a resource centre for student and community research and organizing. We strive to raise awareness and support grassroots activism around diverse social and environmental issues.
Queer Concordia is an on-campus resource centre and safe space for all students identifying outside the cissexist heteronorm and for their allies. We provide free, safer sex products, an extensive lending library, and plan a multitude of events throughout the school year. We’re always looking for volunteers and love meeting new community members.
The Sustainability Action Fund is a fee-levy granting organization for Concordia University students who want to develop, coordinate and foster high impact sustainability projects at Concordia University. SAF provides students with support and resources within a supportive environment to encourage project success and autonomy. Unique among sustainability groups on campus, SAF provides significant financial support to a diversity of related projects in an active effort to increase the sustainability of Concordia University.
Sustainable Concordia is a nexus that engages students, staff, faculty, and administrators to work together in non-hierarchical, consensus based decision-making processes to address issues of sustainable development on campus. We are founded in the belief that our community stakeholders must communicate and work together to create viable solutions to sustainable development challenges on campus. Bringing the perspectives of each stakeholder group together in dialogue allows us to see the University as a system where solutions reach across sectors and departments.
The Refugee Centre is fee-levy group and Canadian not-for-profit located in Montreal, Quebec. We provide a sustainable structure of integration for refugees and immigrants in Canada through an array of services to facilitate these individuals' settlement and integration process. Some of our services include language classes, legal aid, employment and résumé help and academic aid and orientation. All of our services are also available to Concordia students.
Zero Waste Concordia
Zero Waste Concordia is a university initiative that partners with students on initiatives that divert material from Concordia's waste stream. CP3 is a multi-disciplinary initiative recycling plastic on-site and raising awareness of the plastic crisis. ABCompost uses small scale solutions such as vermicomposting and composting tumblers to address food waste. The Centre for Creative Reuse (CUCCR) reclaims materials and offers them to the general community for free. Zero Waste Events Services offers reusable dishware through a service formerly known as the Dish Project; waste bin set-up; custom bin signage; volunteers; food leftover donation; and more!
If you would like your group to be added to the list, please contact us at sustainability@concordia.ca.
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