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promoting change within working people to live sustainably at the personal level
2006-05-24 09:11:22 UTC
In answer to the query from Soula Kipos regarding specific programs that encourage and promote change within working people to live sustainably at the personal level, I would like to share a couple of programs that we have developed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Hike and Bike Challenge is a program developed through a partnership between the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (an ENGO) and the Saskatoon Health Region's In Motion program which promotes active lifestyles. Essentially the Challenge promotes active transportation (AT) as a healthy choice -- good for your body, good for the environment. The Challenge has become an annual event that has been increasing in scope since the first one in 2004. We first targeted only In Motion workplaces which potentially gave us access to over 10,000 employees. Each year we have been able to expand the program so that this year's Challenge will be promoted in even more workplaces, on campuses, in schools and throughout the community. For the Challenge, participants form teams of up to 10 people -- colleagues, friends, family, etc -- and record the number of trips they make during the week of the Challenge (Environment Week in Canada). We encourage teams to challenge other workplaces, classrooms, etc. to take part. The team with the highest average number of AT trips wins a lunch donated by a local restaurant. Individuals have their name entered into a draw for prizes, once for every trip they make. For the past two Challenges participants have been given a durable, brightly coloured tag to attach to their backpack, briefcase, etc. Hike and Bike staff, along with local media, then make unannounced spot checks out in the community looking for someone with a tag who is then awarded a prize (a bike or new runners). The tags not only serve this identification purpose but also promote the event in the community and serve as a reminder to the participant to use AT. Road Map 2020 is a project that has been promoting sustainability in Saskatoon for the past two years. We have been engaging people from all sectors, educating them on what sustainability is and the benefits for the community, and involving them in discussions about potential projects in Saskatoon to showcase sustainability.
So far it has been quite successful and in the coming year we will be working for the City of Saskatoon to engage people in the development of a local action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and providing education on sustainability. Through the work of Task Groups (made up of members of the community who attended two public forums), Road Map has developed a Sustainability Champions program. While it is not specifically designed to promote change at the personal level through the workplace it certainly has the potential to. Sustainability Champions can be any business, organization, government agency, institution, etc. in the community that is willing to publicly sign a document declaring their support for building a sustainable Saskatoon. This is the text of the declaration:
As a Sustainability Champion we: support the development of a local action plan to chart a course for a sustainable Saskatoon, one that strengthens our local economy while living in balance with our environment and building a healthy community; will work with other individuals and organizations in the community to develop this plan; will show leadership in the community by modeling sustainable practices in our organization; will focus our early efforts on measures to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions; and will share with other members of the community the knowledge and experience that we gain.
This program is in its infancy but we do already have 17 Champions made up of a variety of types and sizes of organizations with varying levels of experience with sustainability. Their experience to date is not the point, only their desire to begin taking action. Over the next year we plan to enlist more Champions. We have begun by networking the Champions, providing them with the opportunity to share their experiences and expertise with one another. So far the results have been very positive. Reporting to one another on a regular basis keeps the spotlight on their commitment and learning about what the others are doing helps to support and motivate them. It is our hope that in the future we will be able to offer an employee education program (based on The Natural Step Framework ) to each Champion organization, along with other workplace programs that will promote awareness of sustainability and translate into personal changes in behaviour outside of the workplace.
Heather Trueman
Road Map 2020 Steering Committee
Saskatoon, SK Canada
[email protected]
306.665.3457
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