Eco-Week: A successful environmental event

Feb. 6, 2023 marked the beginning of Eco-Week here at Bishop’s. The five-day event, planned by the Environmental Club, consisted of a multitude of environment-focused activities with the intent of sensitising BU students to environmentally-friendly and sustainable choices.

The different events around campus included a thrift store at the Gait with clothes donated from students and staff, a plant sale, a nature walk in collaboration with the Outdoors Club (BUO), a trivia night, as well as a ban on the sale of disposable cups for a day. The Environmental Club’s Instagram account highlights the goal of the week-long event as to “promote, encourage or enhance the sustainability practices on campus” which was successfully achieved. The remarkable events were wellappreciated by students and staff members who participated in the enjoyable and educational activities organized during the week. The large variety of activities were made possible in partnership with other green-minded groups such as the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Club (SAFS), the Community Fridge Organisation and the Indigenous Cultural Alliance (ICA).

The first day of Eco-Week brought together different artists, groups, and organizations participating in the sustainability movement. The Community Fridge, located at the entrance of the SUB building, was promoted as a no-waste option, along with a biweekly locally grown vegetable basket available for BU students to purchase and get delivered on campus. The second day of the events consisted of a cupfree day, in which everyone was encouraged to bring their own mugs on campus since most food and drink services were not handing out their usual single-use cups. The rest of the week was filled with outdoor activities, organised by the ICA, the SAFS Club, and BUO, as well as a presentation of green initiatives on campus and an environmental conference on the topic of hurricanes by Bishop’s professor Dr. Matthew Peros. Students who participated in Eco-Week activities were entered into a draw to win a weekend pass to

Winterfest.

The Environmental Club has helped the BU campus in becoming more sustainable in a number of ways. The growing group of BU students with the environment at heart has had a considerable impact in the creation of a more sustainable, ecological and greener campus for all to enjoy.