The Waste Free Ontario Act was passed on June 1st and so it is time to start thinking about how the University of Ottawa is going to become a waste free campus. For the faithful followers of the Office of Campus Sustainability you will know that we have been plotting a waste-free campus for years now. Over the past decade, the campus has increased its recycling programs to the tune of a 20% increase in the diversion rate. Lots of cool programs and some pretty decent results across the board. But lately, our campus diversion rate has stagnated. There are a couple of good reasons why the needle hasn't moved on the diversion rate recently. Let's look at a couple of these reasons so that we can figure out a path to becoming a zero waste campus. REDUCING The University of Ottawa is reducing more; instead of purchasing things, we are reusing more stuff or simply not buying it in the first place. This is exactly what happened in the 2014-15 fiscal year whereby the overall s...

uOttawa is one of 10 groups in Ontario being recognized by the Province for Environmental Excellence . In particular, uOttawa is being acknowledged for the Clean Air Community Initiative which works towards: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions Improve air quality and climate change resilience Showcase leadership and best management practices in climate change work Yeah I know, you're asking yourself "So what is a Clean Air Community?" Well let me tell you... a clean air community is a place that values the quality of the air in its space, especially as it related to the health and environmental impacts it can have for those breathing that air. So I am not just talking about greenhouse gas emissions, I am also talking about all the other stuff that gets pumped into the air that can make it less healthy.  This is important for a whole bunch of reasons, not the least of include that idea that dirty air can trigger allergic reactions, can induce asthmatic attacks, an...

Last week, I was grabbing beers with an old friend and her friend that was passing through Ottawa. Matthew explained to us that he was on his way to university in a less than conventional way. He is undertaking his journey to Halifax by bike—a method which obviously interested me due to its sustainable nature. I have never been on any sort of lengthy bike ride and I asked if he would write to me about his experiences. The following describes part one of his travels. About a week ago, I left on my bike from my parents' farm in Northumberland County, Ontario, with one goal in mind: get to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 23 days. That number includes off-days in Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. So far, after 700 km of biking, I have made it to Montreal. Although that seems like a large distance, it is barely more than a 1/4 of my journey east. I guess a logical question would be "why did I decide to do this?"  The short answer is that last fall I traveled to Europe and in...

Photo credit: 4.bp.blogspot.com Avec le tout premier matin frais de l’été, arrive ma saison préférée de l’année… Le temps des pommes! (Bien sûr suit l’automne, la plus majestueuse et confortable de toutes les saisons) Voici 5 délicieuses recettes de pommes telles que suggérées par Terre Nouricière Ontario . Voyez quels aliments sont en saison à l’année longue. With the first crisp morning comes my very favorite time of the year… Apple season! (followed by fall, the most beautiful and comfortable time of the year. Yay.) Here are the 5 most delicious recipes containing apples found on Foodland Ontario. See their site for what is in season all year round. 5 S oupe au cheddar et aux pommes Nippy Apple Cheddar Soup 4 Pommes au Brandy en pâte Brandied Apples in Pastry 3 Roulé de poitrine de dindon farcie aux pommes Rolled Apple-Stuffed Turkey Breasts 2 Poulet à la marocaine avec pommes Moroccan Chicken with Apples 1 Tarte aux pommes traditionnelle de l’Ontario Traditional Ontario...