RCE honours 41 local initiatives at 2024 event

On Wednesday, May 15th, over 40 projects across Saskatchewan were recognized for their efforts of Achievement in Education for Sustainable Development. The 16th annual event was organized by the Saskatchewan Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE SK) on Education for Sustainable Development, a provincial initiative who advocates and acknowledges groups whose work achieves one or more of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
 
The projects all educate, encourage and engage others in local action that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.  Recipients included homegrown projects and programs from such diverse groups as the Universities of Regina and Saskatchewan, SaskOutdoors, Ahtahkahkoop First Nation, Yorkton Community Fridge, Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation, and others. All dimensions of ecological, economic, social, and cultural sustainability are represented. Students from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy were recognized for their projects, as was Luther College's UN SDG Summit, and the University of Regina's Office of Sustainability's website!

St. Pius X elementary school was awarded for their Wellness Days in which involved students rotating through stations that promoted topics such as sustainability, healthy eating, medicine wheel teachings, meditation, breathwork, Indigenous storytelling, drumming, and mental health. Activities were also led by the Office of Sustainability that drew connections between the SDGs, and the role of youth and the impact they can make to become agents of change in their communities.
 
Amanda Ruschiensky (right) and Theresa Millette (left) were recipients of a Saskatchewan Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) award.

We are also pleased to congratulate students Rumpa Chowdhury, Sharmin Jahan Mi, Sagar Ra, Farzin Naghibalsadat, and Anika Tahsin Abha for their projects under the supervision of Dr. Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng, as well as students Sepideh Hashemi Safaei, Yi He, Samuel Gebreselassie, Lanzer Ej Cruz, Trisha Mae, Ruth Samara Mamani, Marianne Cadenas Manaois, Nada Hosni, Alora Ebrele, Areeg Ahmed, and Caitlin Gillis for their coursework under the supervision of Dr. Stephanie Young.

Project title: Environmental sustainability of Canadian agri-food systems
Project team: Rumpa Chowdhury and Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng

Project title: Sustainability and resilience of Canadian waste management sectors
Project team: Sharmin Jahan Mim and Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng

Project title: The use of satellite imagery to quanitfy construction and demolition waste
Project team: Sagar Ray and Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng

Project title: The role of BIM technologies in sustainable construction and demolition waste management
Project team: Farzin Naghibalsadati and Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng

Project title: E-waste collection and stewardship programs in Canada
Project team: Anika Tahsin Abha and Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng

Project title: Carbon Capture Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
Project team: Sepideh Hashemi Safaei

Project title: Source nutrients identification and management for Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals
Project team: Yi He, Samuel Gebreselassie, and Sepideh Hashemi Safaei

Project title: Alternative to Septic/Holding Systems for Ochapowace Nation
Project team: Lanzer Ej Cruz, Trisha Mae, Ruth Samara Mamani, and Marianne Cadenas Manaois

Project title: Proposed Upgrade Alternatives and Facility Upgrades for Okanese Cree Nation Drinking Water
Project team: Nada Hosni, Alora Ebrele, Areeg Ahmed, and Caitlin Gillis

Engineering students Farzin Naghibalsadati (top left), Sharmin Jahan Mim (top right), Rumpa Chowdhury (bottom left), and Anika Tahsin Abha (bottom right), being presented with award by RCE and His Honor the Honorable Russ Mirasty Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan. Rumpa Chowdhury, Sharmin Jahan Mi, Sagar Ra, Farzin Naghibalsadat, and Anika Tahsin Abha are the recipients of the Saskatchewan Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) award.

Additionally, JSGS student Anna Gabriela was recognized for her project called Youth Action for UN Climate Conference (COP28).

This is the 16^th year for the event, with more than 300 awards being presented since it was started in 2007.  RCE Saskatchewan created the awards to honour Saskatchewan sustainable development leaders from businesses, towns and cities, educational institutions and community-based organizations. The RCE is a voluntary network (with founding partners including the University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic), and is one of more than 190 Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development around the world that are formally recognized by the United Nations University. The event is held in a different community every year, this year being co-hosted with the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society.