Saskatchewan Polytechnic staff receive awards for dedication to education for sustainable development
May 6, 2015 - Today two Saskatchewan Polytechnic staff received Education for Sustainable Development Recognition Awards from the Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development in Saskatchewan.
RCE Saskatchewan provides recognition to innovative research, projects and activities promoting Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the prairie region. Saskatchewan Polytechnic employees Dr. Rod Stutt, Architectural Technology program head, and Merilee Leason, Instructional and Leadership Development Centre office assistant, are two of 25 award winners raising awareness and implementing ESD practices in Saskatchewan.
Stutt, along with colleague Angela Deans, brought in consulting engineer Michael Nemeth for a Passive House seminar for students, instructors and industry partners to learn about an energy efficient construction method that uses passive methods of heating and cooling. "Saskatchewan Polytechnic could have paid for a few individuals to take this Passive House seminar in Alberta," says Stutt. "But this information is too valuable to limit to a few individuals... It's exciting we were able to offer this Passive House course free of charge to anyone in the Moose Jaw area interested in environmentally sustainable building."
Leason and Cindy Koob, program assistant, University of Saskatchewan, Prince Albert Campus, coordinated efforts for Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the university to donate outdated textbooks and school supplies to communities in developing countries around the world. "Two 6,000-pound shipments of textbooks and school supplies have been sent to global communities in need," says Leason. "This initiative encourages our students and staff to be responsible global citizens. We are keeping books out of landfills and providing valuable materials to those who may not have access to post-secondary educational opportunities."
Today Rod and Merilee were recognized for their ESD efforts with awards presented by Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield, who is the Patron of RCE Saskatchewan. "We are very proud of our award winners," says Dr. Reg Urbanowski, vice-president, Strategy and Advancement. "Sustainability is one of our core values at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and we're very proud to see our employees living our values through grassroots efforts such as these."
RCE Saskatchewan is a partnership between Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions. The goal of RCE Saskatchewan is transformative education that promotes sustainable lifestyles and livelihoods in the region while sharing knowledge and insights with other RCE chapters around the world. Saskatchewan Polytechnic is a founding member of RCE Saskatchewan, created in 2010.
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