“We had to follow institutional protocols to get approval for the events, putting safety measures in place,” said Nicole Arsenault, program director of the Office of Sustainability.  

Nonetheless, there were plenty of eager participants for the events, held in the fall at Glendon and in the spring at Keele. “It was a great opportunity for students, faculty and staff to get involved and to de-stress,” said Arsenault. “Being in touch with nature has so many well-being benefits.” 

As for the larger picture, noted Arsenault, “�첥��Ƶ aspires to be Net Zero by 2049 and the regenerating of our ecosystems on campus is important and plays a big role in getting there.” As trees grow, they help mitigate the effects of climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing that carbon within the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.   

The events also fit perfectly with the University’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals, especially Climate Action, Life on Land and Partnerships for the goals. 

The trees came courtesy of a City of Toronto grant to Regenesis@York. The city’s strategic priorities include investing in people and neighbourhoods, tackling climate change and building resilience. They were chosen by the Facilities and Services staff, who also determined the best planting locations. All of the trees were native species, as specified by the grant and applauded by the University. 

“We’re trying to encourage more native species on campus to build an eco-system for native pollinators, such as bees, that are struggling,” said Arsenault. 

The events offered participants a chance to do something on campus, even when classes were being delivered remotely. 

“People love this event,” said Arsenault. “We have a history of doing tree planting events on campus, and there is such joy when they get their hands dirty and feel as if they are giving back.” 

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For example, is a recognized Centre of Excellence at the Schulich School of Business and was launched in 2021 with Professor David Johnston as the inaugural director. It is made possible by a gift from George Weston Ltd. The Centre supports innovation in both management education, academic and industry research.   

In education, the Centre has focused on creating experiential learning for graduate students that gives them hands-on experience working with organizations grappling with the costs, opportunities and trade-offs involved in making supply chains part of a lean and circular economy. For example, students in the program work with organizations to solve real-world business problems related to supply chain management in a four-month capstone course.  

An increasing number of the projects directly address sustainability issues, such as carbon reduction, waste reduction, resilience to supply disruption and better public sector supply chain management. Past projects have looked at implementing lifecycle costing in sourcing products, single use plastic reduction, reducing carbon emissions in global logistics decisions, eliminating waste in distribution networks being dumped in landfill and better managing a diverse workforce in operating facilities.   

The George Weston Ltd. Centre for Sustainable Supply Chains is advancing a portfolio of research programs in leading edge, non-competitive areas of priority to responsible supply chain management. For example, the centre has launched the to develop better ways to assure sourcing processes in organizations incorporate sustainability goals.  

emphasizes a proactive and data-enabled approach to managing the risks of supply disruption, resulting from the pandemic or climate change. They confront emerging issues such as that can interrupt or cripple the flow of critical supply leading to waste and inefficiencies that ripple through an economy.   

Research output is expressed in peer-reviewed publications, white papers, media, and outreach through both academic and practitioner forums. The Centre curates a community of  who play an integral role in contributing to the Centre’s research, education, and outreach initiatives, while pursuing their own unique approaches to topics at the intersection of sustainability and supply chain management. The Centre also provides a bridge between academic research and industry practitioners to explore emerging issues at events such as the annual .   

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As concerns about climate change grow, York plans to shift its electricity supply toward the 93 per cent emission-free Ontario power grid and away from onsite electricity production at the co-generation plant that consumes natural gas. The plant, which produces approximately 60 per cent of Keele Campus’ electricity requirements, offered financial savings at a time when that was a top concern. 

However, says Steve Prince, the university’s director of utilities and energy management, electricity production from the co-generation plant is also responsible for 24,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHGs). As a result, York is looking toward a transition to purchased electricity by July 2023, using the co-generation plant largely for cost savings during peak periods and as a backup in the event of a disruption. This shift will contribute to York’s ability to achieve its target of a 45 per cent reduction in GHGs by 2030, compared to its 2005 baseline. 

In addition, York plans to have energy meters installed in all campus buildings by July 2023, allowing for data collection and evaluation. The real-time data about energy use on campus will be available on a public platform. This information will also assist in identifying major energy users, allowing a tactical response to reducing our need for utilities.

 “We plan to establish key performance indicators and targets with real-time data that can be utilized in a Campus-as-a-Living-Lab setting,” Prince says. Prince would like to see classes use the university’s actual operating data in their studies and would like to see the interest extending to residences – re-establishing the former in a digital world. 

 “We can envision a competition between residences to see who has the lowest energy use,” he says. “If we can engage and empower the student population in our emissions reduction mission, we will be successful. In fact, I can picture future generations of students demanding that York be accountable for its environmental footprint and insisting on reducing it.” 

 The university is exploring opportunities through a renewed Energy Management Group and will start the process of recommissioning all mechanical spaces and HVAC systems on campus. This initiative will drive lower campus emissions and improve system efficiency, all while maintaining safe airflows and air quality for all occupants. 

 “We continue to tighten the operation to be sure we’re as effective and efficient as can be in delivering services,” Prince says. “It’s all part of the strategy to ensure that York is carbon neutral by 2049.” 

 “It’s very exciting to have the opportunity to do work that has an impact on York’s carbon footprint. The work we are doing will change the landscape of the University forever.” 

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