Sustainable Champions Network Meeting Spring 2026
On the morning of Wednesday March 24th, members of CIG’s Sustainability Champions Network (SCN) met in the Intergenerational Hub to discuss their latest sustainability initiatives, as well as engage with new resources provided by the SRIU to help expedite project planning processes.
To kick off the event, Chief Sustainability Officer Ms. Jennifer Ahearn had planned an Island Survival Activity that got the conversations started and allowed the Champions to identify just who was the “fittest” for survival among them. After many ruminations about the luxury or curse of inheriting a deserted island, and some questions as to why anyone would want to leave such a place, it became clear that many of the Champions had different ideas of paradise. The Champions were asked to rank the tools in their hypothetical survival kit: water purification tablets, a knife, some rope, WD-40, a sextant, and more. Some banded together to make a boat, others sought out fresh water, and a few prayed to never be stranded together.
Next on the agenda was the Project on a Page presentation, led by Shanelle Lalor and introduced by Narinder Dhaliwal from the Office of the Deputy Governor’s Strategic Reforms Implementation Unit (SRIU). Project on a Page is a resource put together by the SRIU to assist department members with pitching projects from all backgrounds. On the day, the main topic of discussion was, appropriately, sustainability projects. The room split into groups and went to work trying to develop an initiative using the Project on a Page template. We were asked to list points such as the project’s “assumptions,” “timeline,” “constraints & risks,” “key stakeholders,” “sustainability impact,” and more. The Project on a Page segment was a hit, with many Sustainability Champions finding the tool extremely useful and leaving with hopes of using it to assist with planning and seeking approval for future initiatives.
Towards the end of the meeting, we got to hear from multiple Champions and learn more about the initiatives they had taken on since the network’s last meeting. First, we heard from Alyssa Archer-Cooper and Olukemi James from Sunrise Adult Training Centre. Since the last meeting, they had been hard at work getting their Miracle Mix project off the ground. They shared that their sustainability initiative was organically produced, environmentally friendly, and unified the adults at Sunrise with a shared purpose. Secondly, Michael Edwards spoke about his plans for a bottle-less water cooler initiative. He explained that he had been working with his head of department to explore the installation of these water coolers in department kitchenettes. Benefits he mentioned included a reduced need for storage of large bottles, minimized spending on bottled water, and a decreased contribution to plastic production. Lastly, we heard from Sasha Rankin, who shared that her Paperless Friday’s initiative, which had successfully produced meaningful impact by helping to significantly reduce her department’s paper use and spending.
These SCN initiatives are great examples of the work being done behind the scenes to embed sustainability and create resiliency across CIG. Also worth mentioning is the way these 3 initiatives map onto the UN SDG’s: 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 15 (Life on Land), 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) as well as the Strategic Policy Statement’s Broad Outcomes, specifically Housing, Infrastructure and Environment as well as Public Services.
As an intern, it was truly motivating and uplifting to spend time with the SCN and hear everyone discuss their ideas and plans for the future. The network is a wonderful way to highlight all of the hard work being done across the organisation to propel CIG’s operational sustainability commitments forward. As a Gen Z individual, this meeting made me feel hopeful for the future and proud to witness the group’s dedication and efforts to incentivize CIG employees to become champions of sustainability as well. This will, no doubt, produce meaningful impact down the line.
While attending university in Canada, I had the privilege of learning a lot about Indigenous communities and the history of their culture and people. As a result, I have come to appreciate and respect their connection to the Earth. With that being said, I’d like to end by sharing this Native American proverb, attributed to American farmer, poet, and conservationist Wendell Berry: “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
In my eyes, this quote reflects CIG’s intention to preserve the island for the generations growing up today. Additionally, it speaks to our inherent inclination as younger generations to observe and learn from those who came before us—the actions we would like to replicate and the things we will strive to do better. Lastly, a big thank you to Ms. Jennifer Ahearn for giving me the chance to be a part of the meeting, and to the Sustainability Champions Network for making me feel so welcome.
