Hidden Gem Bishop's University Viewbook Fall 2023

We Bleed Purple… and Green!

For nearly 180 years, the Bishop’s community has been fortunate in having an incredible 550-acre natural and built environment to call home. As part of our latest Strategic Plan, the University has cemented its commitment to “Preserve and enhance the natural and built environment”, so that we continue to be “…responsible stewards of this land… [en suring] that our campus remains a home for wildlife and a haven for recreation. We will protect our natural areas so that subsequent generations of Bishop’s students and the wider community of the Eastern Townships will be able to enjoy them.” Here are just a few of the commitments and ways that we are building our sustainable development plan that will sustain our natural environment:

Did you know that in 2008, Bishop’s University developed the first geothermal district heating system in Canada?

• Participants in “No Mow May” to aid pollinators and natural plant growth • BU Community Fridge/Community Cupboard initiative that helps tackle food insecurity and prevent excess food waste • Development of an on-campus green event checklist • Green Levy fund to encourage and support green initiatives on campus • Replacing campus owned and operated vehicles with electric/hybrid options • Annual Eco-Week activities and events to promote sustainability • Signatories of the Talloires Declaration (2010), Climate Emergency Declaration (2019), Sustainable Development Action Plan (2021) • Aim to become carbon neutral by 2030 at the latest How will you contribute to the sustainability of our campus and community?

• Development of an Educational Farm on campus • Sustainable Development Action Group • Various student led clubs to join: SAFS, AgroBishops, BU Environmental Club • Recognized as a FairTrade campus • Carbon Care Certified Campus • Peter Curry Wetland Conservation Project • Planting of over 10,000 trees as part of the Tree Care and Biodiversity working groups • Electric charging stations added on campus • Creation of a Pedestrian Friendly campus to encourage the development of a non-motorized campus • Tray-less Dining Hall that encourages students to make thoughtful food choices, reduce food waste, water and energy consumption • Recycled the “old” artificial turf on Coulter Field and used portions of it to create recycled furniture for campus

• One of the first universities in Canada to ban the sale of plastic water bottles on campus • Installed a geothermal heating system that has saved over 1 million liters of water and 2,300 tons of CO2 per year on campus and provides over 75% of our campus power • The Trans-Canada Trail and Provincial Cycle Paths intersects our campus offering sustainable transportation and recreation for faculty, staff and students • La Tasse project which provides reusable and consignable mugs on campus • Composting, recycling and waste management services • Bishop’s Bees apiary and the development of our very own Bishop’s branded honey • Offering of multiple sustainability-related courses and programs such as Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS), Biodiversity and Ecology, Environment and Geography, Micro-program in Climate Change, and multiple courses related to sustainable development

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