University of Calgary earns three Calgary awards
The University of Calgary’s commitment to becoming more environmentally sustainable is being recognized by the City of Calgary’s annual outstanding civic achievement awards. The university will be awarded with the Environmental Achievement Award – Educational Institution at the Calgary Awards this evening (June 15, 2011).
“Winning a Calgary Award for our campus-wide sustainability program is truly an honour,” said University of Calgary President Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, who will accept the award on behalf of the university. “I would like to acknowledge the collective contributions of the many staff, students and faculty members who are helping the University of Calgary fulfill its commitment to excellence and leadership to improving our environmental footprint.”
Two University of Calgary Faculty of Arts professors will also receive Calgary Awards. Department of English professor and renowned Alberta author Aritha van Herk will receive the Community Achievement Award for the Arts. Department of Drama professor Clem Martini will share this year’s City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize with his brother Olivier Martini for their book Bitter Medicine, which chronicles their family’s 30-year struggle with schizophrenia.
“I would also like to extend my congratulations to Aritha van Herk and Clem Martini for their awards. These awards are a fitting recognition of both of these writers’ enormous contributions to Alberta’s literary and cultural heritage,” Dr. Cannon said.
Environmental Achievement Awards are given to Calgary educational institutions or school programs that exhibits exemplary environmental conduct.
The University of Calgary established its Office of Sustainability in 2007 to integrate sustainability into all aspects of university life. This encompasses efforts in institutional planning and administration, learning and research, campus operations as well as community engagement and partnerships with other organizations. The University of Calgary has adopted a comprehensive Institutional Sustainability Plan and a Climate Action Plan that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2015, and 80% by 2050. The Calgary Award recognizes tangible progress on a range of environmental sustainability indicators including waste reduction, water and energy efficiency, responsible purchasing as well as a campus wide engagement programs
“We are striving to utilize our campus as a living laboratory for applied research in sustainability and to model sustainability for our students and for the broader community,” said Joanne Perdue, the university’s director of sustainability. “A Calgary Award recognizes our progress to date and is a fitting tribute to the institutional goal of becoming a North American leader in sustainability in higher education.”
For more information about sustainability at University of Calgary, please visit:
www.ucalgary.ca/sustainability
For more information about the Calgary Awards, visit:
www.calgary.ca/calgaryawards
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