WWF-Canada celebrates campus conservation achievements with new certification

WWF Canada

Nine Canadian post-secondary institutions are the first to be recognized as WWF-Canada Living Campuses

TORONTO, September 12, 2024  – WWF-Canada is proud to announce the first cohort of post-secondary schools receiving its new Living Campus certification in recognition of their outstanding commitment to sustainability, conservation and the environment.

The campuses receiving the WWF-Canada Living Campus certification in September 2024 are:

  • Brock University — St. Catharines, Ont.
  • Carleton University — Ottawa, Ont.
  • Concordia University — Montreal, Que.
  • HEC Montréal — Montreal, Que.
  • Niagara College — Welland, Ont. and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
  • Seneca Polytechnic — Toronto, Ont.
  • University of Waterloo — Waterloo, Ont.
  • Vanier College — Montreal, Que.
  • York University — Toronto, Ont.

WWF-Canada introduced its Living Campus certification in 2023 to recognize the efforts of educational institutions in fostering sustainability and environmental stewardship on campus. The nine newly certified campuses implemented a range of conservation and engagement activities throughout the 2023 – 2024 academic year to successfully meet the rigorous criteria set by WWF-Canada.

Requirements included creating, restoring or stewarding habitat for wildlife on campus and increasing awareness of biodiversity, conservation or sustainability issues among students, staff and faculty.

Elizabeth Hendriks, WWF-Canada’s VP of Restoration and Regeneration, says:

“It’s a pleasure to be acknowledging the accomplishments of college, polytechnic and university partners with our new certification. We’re proud to recognize their successes in engaging campus communities in conservation action and education, which have benefits for wildlife today and are helping create a future where nature and people thrive.”

Katherine Collin, Sustainability Major Coordinator, Campus Biodiversity Network Project Lead and Teacher at Vanier College, says:

“The wonderful news that Vanier College has been named a WWF-Canada Living Campus for the 2023 – 2024 academic year gives us further strength and momentum to continue our efforts on campus and in the community to help reverse biodiversity loss. Our engagement and conservation activities have already had a demonstrable impact, increasing our habitat protections on campus for endangered species and giving hundreds of students the chance to document the biodiversity around them, making a tangible difference in the community. We are excited to continue this work in coming years, bolstered by WWF-Canada’s inspiring community of practice.”

To earn the WWF-Canada Living Campus certification, campuses must partner with WWF-Canada through their Living Planet @ Campus program, implement an annual action plan, and report annually on their activities and achievements that engage students, faculty and staff in conservation and sustainability.

About World Wildlife Fund Canada 

WWF-Canada is committed to equitable and effective conservation actions that restore nature, reverse wildlife loss and fight climate change. We draw on scientific analysis and Indigenous guidance to ensure all our efforts connect to a single goal: a future where wildlife, nature and people thrive. For more information visit wwf.ca.

For more information, please contact: Ellen Jakubowski, communications specialist, WWF-Canada, [email protected]