Prince George, B.C. - UNBC’s vision is to lead a sustainable future through education, research and community impact, and this year’s Green Week highlighted that vision in action, showcasing some of the new and ongoing sustainability initiatives underway in collaboration with partners and community organizations. 

While sustainability has always been central to UNBC, the week’s events offered students, faculty and staff with opportunities to take meaningful steps to a more sustainable future.

Green Day began at UNBC as a class project in 2008 and has become an annual event that was nurtured into a full week this year by the Sustainability Team and student intern Madi Tokarchuk.

An undergraduate student in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program, Tokarchuk says this year’s theme, Act on Sustainability, emphasized the importance of taking steps to get involved. 

“We hold the future in our hands and creating a sustainable future is of utmost importance,” says Tokarchuk. “Acting on sustainability should not be something daunting or out of reach; it is an inclusive learning experience for everyone and it’s important to have fun while doing it!”

The week’s events featured a local foods fair with vendors from throughout the region, a hydroponics and vermi-composting workshop co-hosted by UNBC Green Grant recipients Tokarchuk and Dr. Resty Nabatarega and Hydro Produce PG owner Kyle Doering, and information sessions with Sustainability Manager Ann Duong to learn more about the University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan.  

Bachelor of Health Sciences student Jo Van Winkle was named Sustainability Challenge Winner at Green Week’s closing ceremony. Van Winkle accepted the challenge handed out by the Sustainability Team at the start of the academic year to tackle almost two dozen tasks, including finding sustainable ways to commute to campus, participating in the Green Christmas gift exchange, and touring friends through the composting and recycling spaces at UNBC.

Van Winkle is also a member of the Office of Sustainability’s recently created G-Force team made up of students, faculty and staff to further promote sustainability on campus.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Faculty of Business and Economics Dean Ron Camp said sustainability crosses all disciplines and points out the faculty was created around this core value. He added that it’s important to make sustainability initiatives visible and to invite others to join the effort.

UNBC Chancellor Elder Darlene McIntosh praised UNBC’s commitment to sustainability, which aligns with the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation as stewards of the land.

Learn more about the innovative sustainability initiatives underway at UNBC, including Green Grant opportunities and the G-Force.