Past Events
Technical Workshop: Understanding Carbon Offsets
Technical Workshop
Location: Viking Suite, Delta Kitchener-Waterloo
Date: May 9, 2013
Time: 7:30 am to 10:00 am
Cost: $35.00 (plus HST), Regional Carbon Initiative Members: no fee (with promotional code)
Contact: Lisa Chapman
Is your organization looking to augment its GHG reduction strategy but is not sure where to start? Utilizing carbon offsets, a market tool that allows companies to invest in emissions reduction initiatives underway in other businesses, is an option for organizations looking to complement their present GHG reduction strategies. Not all offsets are equal though, and careful selection of offset types and providers is essential.
This Technical Workshop includes presentations and Q&A with carbon market experts, offsets providers and fellow member organizations, including Dan Fraleigh, COO of Carbonzero, and Stephen Boles, President of Kuzuka Ltd.
Attendees will learn:
- The differences between offsets and actual reductions
- How the carbon market works
- The pros and cons of voluntary offsets
- Where and when to purchase quality offsets
Organizations will also have the opportunity to share their own experiences with carbon trading and contribute to the formation of a Regional Carbon Initiative offset policy.
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4th Annual Evening of Recognition
Recognition
Location: Waterloo Inn
Date: April 18, 2013
Time: 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Cost: Complimentary appetizers and a cash bar will be available
Contact: Lisa Chapman
Join us at our 4th annual Evening of Recognition as we celebrate the release of our 2012 Report and the sustainability accomplishments of an expanding network of organizations in Waterloo Region. Learn about the growing impacts of this sustainability network by connecting with hundreds of representatives from local businesses and the community, while hearing from Regional Carbon Initiative organizations that are making ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction commitments and collaborating to achieve these targets
P2P: Green Teams – Gaining Momentum
Member Only
Location: Atlas & Matrix Room, Communitech Hub
Date: March 28, 2013
Time: 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Cost: Free
Website: Visit website
You're interested in reducing your organization's environmental impact and are set to make change happen, but how? Selecting realistic and communicable goals will keep your Green Team focused and allow you to celebrate achievements. Learning how to embrace your organization’s unique characteristics will assist in embedding your team’s goals with the core competencies of your organization.
In this meeting of a three part series, two representatives will share their organizations’ experiences in the development stages of implementing projects by leading the group through discussions of strategies they used and challenges they faced.
ClimateActionWR Community Forums
On March 19th, 21st & 25th, a series of Community Forums will be held across Waterloo Region to gather your input towards creating a plan and setting a target for reducing community greenhouse gas emissions over the next 10 years. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the ClimateActionWR initiative, hear from a panel of community leaders, and contribute to an interactive discussion. Each event will offer registration, information open house and snacks for the first half hour, with presentations starting at 2 and 5pm, respectively, followed by roundtable discussion
Tuesday, March 19th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Knox Church, Waterloo (map)
Thursday, March 21st, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, THEMUSEUM, Kitchener (map)
Monday, March 25th, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Cambridge City Hall (map)
* All locations are wheelchair and stroller accessible
Agenda for each Community Forum:
1:30 & 4:30 – 30 minutes - registration, information open house, networking and snacks
2:00 & 5:00 – 50 minutes - presentation and panel of community leaders
2:50 & 5:50 – 70 minutes - roundtable discussion and opportunity for input
Peer-2-Peer: Green Teams 1- Getting Started
Member Only
Location: Jellybean Room, Communitech Hub, 151 Charles St. W., Suite 100 Kitchener
Date: January 31, 2013
Time: 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Cost: Free (for RCI and Communitech members)
Website: Visit website
You're interested in reducing your organization's environmental impact and are set to make change happen, but what's your first step? A good place to start is organizing a team of passionate and knowledgeable people eager to lead your organization to a low-impact, environmentally friendly future. We call them green teams.
In this first meeting of a three part series, Martin Geleynse (Northern Digital Inc.) and Anita Whiteley (Crawford & Company) will share their organizations’ experiences in the initial stages of developing a green team by leading the group through discussions of strategies they used and challenges they faced.
Educational Forum: Credibly Communicating Sustainability Initiatives
Educational Forum
Location: University of Waterloo, Festival Room, South Campus Hall
Date: January 17, 2013
Time: 7:30 am to 9:30 am
Cost: $40.00 (plus HST)
Does your organization successfully communicate its sustainability initiatives? Effective external communication strategies are essential to providing a credible and engaging description of your organization’s sustainability accomplishments. Implementing strategies such as avoiding greenwashing, or selecting the best mediums for your communications, are key to presenting a positive, sustainability-focused image of your organization.
This event will:
- Inspire you to share your organization’s sustainability initiatives with stakeholders and the public
- Provide you with knowledge on how to communicate your organization’s sustainability initiatives in a credible and transparent manner
- Provide you with an understanding of the communication strategies that MEC has used to share its environmental impact
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Scott McDougall Sustainability and Environmental Leader, Brentwood SRI Inc. Scott is an advisor, writer, and speaker in the environmental, sustainability, social investment, and business communities. In recent years, he completed a 60+ stop speaking circuit including two tours in Australia and has been featured as an expert commentator in mass media including TV appearances such as CBC and Business Week, as well as print coverage such as The New York Times and The Economist. Through his firm Brentwood SRI Inc., Scott helps social entrepreneurs deliver business solutions to pressing environmental, sustainability, and social challenges. Until 2010 when he sold the company, Scott was President and CEO of TerraChoice Group Inc., a firm specializing in sustainability certification and marketing, as well as being the creators of The Sins of Greenwashing. |
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David Robinson Regional Sustainability and Community Co-ordinator, MEC David has been with Mountain Equipment Co-op for 16 years, 12 of those as the Sustainability Co-ordinator, and most recently as the Regional Sustainability and Community Co-ordinator for Ontario – Quebec and Atlantic Canada Regions. David is responsible for all of the donation programs for the eastern MEC stores (currently at 10), which includes the grant program for two categories, Access and Activity and Advocacy and Awareness. He is also responsible for regional partnerships. David was one of the founding members of the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation which began in 2002. He was also on the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation Advisory Committee in 2009-2010. |
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Technical Workshop: Effectively Reporting GHG Inventories
Technical Workshop
Location: Holiday Inn K-W
Date: December 11, 2012
Time: 7:30 am to 10:00 am
Cost: Regional Carbon Initiative Members: no fee (with promotional code). Non-members: $35.00 (plus HST)
Your organization has worked hard on its sustainability initiatives this year: it’s now time to share what it has accomplished. How can you best communicate these measured actions to be recognized in Sustainable Waterloo Region’s 2012 Report?
At this technical workshop, you will receive hands-on training on Sustainable Waterloo Region’s new carbon accounting solution – the Regional Carbon Initiative’s key to measuring success. Guidance will also be provided to ensure successful communication of your organization’s data and sustainability initiatives in the 2012 Report.
This event is strongly recommended for all Regional Carbon Initiative (RCI) member organizations and will also be of interest to those organizations that are considering RCI membership in the near future.
Note: Your laptop will be required for you to fully engage in the session, given the hands-on nature of exploring the new software.