Grow Smart, Grow Green

The Environmental Affairs Office at the University of Toronto at Mississauga was formed in May of 2004 and was the first of its type at the University of Toronto. The office is charged with promoting sustainability on campus through education, partnership and management. The Mississauga campus is located on 225 acres of largely undeveloped land overlooking the Credit River Valley. Thoughtful stewardship of this inheritance is a fundamental part of the campus Master Plan of 2000. Large areas of the campus have been designated "Protected, Naturalized Research Space" and are protected against development.   If you are looking for information on campus energy, alternative energies, or green building, visit the Facilities Management and Planning website.

UTM's commitment - to Grow Smart, Grow Green: U of T Mississauga’s banner for growth — Grow Smart, Grow Green — balances campus development with environmental sensitivity and responsibility. As a microcosm for the pressures of urban growth, U of T Mississauga is determined to prove that rapid expansion and development can be accomplished in an environmentally sensitive and responsible manner. Grow Smart, Grow Green is the banner under which U of T Mississauga's comprehensive, multi-faceted initiative was launched and provides a framework to guide all our decisions that may impact upon our environment.

Primary focus areas for the office: Transportation Alternatives Ecosystem Regeneration Student Engagement - The Green Team

Download the most recent annual environmental report HERE

Awards and Recognition:

The Riverwood Conservancy Charlie Brown Distinctive Service Award, 2008  This award recognizes the significant service, volunteerism and partnership with the Riverwood Park and The Riverwood Conservancy. Campus members have participated in hands-on roles, leading interpretive walks, participation on the Stewardship Committee, and leading corporate stewardship events on site. Professors and students perform research on the property, including researching the white-footed mouse and invasive species control.

City of Mississauga Partnerships Award, 2008 Awarded to City employees and partners who engage in a joint project or event with an external organization, association, service group or level of government where the outcome has demonstrated mutual benefit. The U-Pass Transit Implementation Team (comprised of staff from Transportation & Works Department and Corporate Services Department) and members of the Mississauga campus community received this award.

Green Ribbon Award Winners, 2008 - 2009 The University of Toronto is committed to being a positive and creative force in the protection and enhancement of the local and global environment, through its teaching, research and administrative operations. This is the first year that the tri-campus Sustainability Board is officially celebrating the great work done by students, faculty, staff, and external partners or vendors. To recognize these efforts, each campus has identified Green Ribbon Award recipients.

Student: Tooba Shakeel  has been working with Environmental Affairs at UTM since her first year. This past year she developed the new ‘Campus Roots’ club. This club focuses on renaturalization efforts on the campus through activities and grant exploration. Tooba was also the first Sustainability Coordinator for the UTM Student Union.

Faculty: Nathan Basiliko has been contributing to the campus through research on the Oldfield project, as a member of Resources, Planning, and Priorities Committee reporting to College Council and serves as the faculty representative for the Transit Advisory Committee.

Staff: Joan McCurdy-Myers of the Career Centre shows environmental commitment on campus through her personal and departmental practice. The Career Centre achieved outstanding results in the 2007 Summer Energy Challenge. Joan is also an example of ‘green thinking’ behind the scenes, such as saving 151,200 grams of green house gas emissions in one week for the Clean Air Commute.

External: Kim McNeilly of Evergreen has gone above and beyond her contracted requirements as the Mississauga Program Manager by volunteering her time to help with campus tours and workshops. Kim is very creative when recruiting students to ecosystem activities and directly influenced the generation of our new club, Campus Roots.