WoodroffeHighSchoolSustainabilityPlanInassociationwithOttawaBiosphereEco-CityInitiative&theUniversityofOttawa

WhatisSustainability?Sustainabilityistheabilityofthingstocontinuetoexist.Itappliestonaturalandhumanfeatures.Weusetheearth'sresourcestomeetourneeds,butwealsowanttoleaveenoughnaturalresourcesandbeautyforfuturegenerationstolivehealthyandhappylives.Whatwe do matters. You impact the environment—the environmentimpactsyou.WhatisthisSustainabilityPlan?Thissustainabilityplanisyouragendaforaction.ItlistsWoodroffestudents’ ideas on important issues in Ottawa and Britannia, andsuggestsactionsorprojects that couldaddress them.Asyou readthe plan, youmay get new ideas onwhat you can do to addresssustainability. Feel free toput yourown ideas into action.On thelast page, the plan asks you towrite an issue and the action youwouldliketotaketoaddressit.The table of Priority Issues and Actions/Projects for sustainabilitylist three kinds of projects the students have suggested,distinguishedbydifferentcoloursandprintstyles:

a) Individual&familyprojectsb) Schoolprojectsc) Community/largescaleprojects

The last page helps you to decide your personal priorities for

sustainability and to make a commitment for action. It thenbecomesyourpersonalsustainabilityplan.BiosphereEco-CityThe Biosphere Eco-City (BEC) is an urban-centred region wherepeopleandorganizationsdemonstratehowtomaketheircitymoresustainablethroughindividualinitiative,cooperationandsharingofinformation.Biospheremeans“sphereof life”and it is theEarth’soutershellofland,waterandatmospherethatsupportsalllife.Eco-City isan internationalmovementforsustainablecitiesthatbegan25yearsago.The BECmodel was pilot tested in Ottawa in 2009-2010 and thisexperimentdevelopedintotheOttawaBiosphereEco-Cityinitiative(OBEC),which is discussed next. A Biosphere Eco-City includes anurbancoreaswellasthesurroundingcountryside.Thisisimportantbecause the urban and rural areas affect each other, andcooperationbetweenthemcandoalotofgood.BEC is a bottom-up approach to sustainability. It involves peopleandorganizationsimplementingtheirownideas.Governmentplansareuseful,buttheactionsofyou,yourfriendsandneighbourswillmake themost difference in determiningwhetherOttawawill besustainable.OttawaBiosphereEco-CityToolsTheOttawaBiosphereEco-City(OBEC)Initiativeusessimpletoolstohelp people get involved in sustainability and to cooperate witheachother:

• Themes – These are the areas of action for sustainability.Think of sustainability in terms of your area of interest.

Whetheritisenergy,foodorwasteetc.,youcanshareideasand activities with people who have the same interests.BEC'sTenThemesofSustainabilityaredescribed inthe leftcolumnofthetableonpage3ofthisplan.IssuesmayrelatetomorethanoneTheme.

• Sustainability Plan – This plan was developed by your

studentsasanagendaonhowtoaddresssustainability.

• Database of Projects – The OBEC website (www.obec-evbo.ca) listssustainabilityprojects inOttawa.AnyonewithasustainabilityprojectcansendasummarytoOBECtoputon its database. There, viewers can read about them, getideas and contact the people responsible in order toparticipate.

• Demonstration Projects – These show new ways of

addressing sustainability. People can see how the projectsweredoneandevencopypartsthatinterestthem.

• Biosphere Eco-City Council – Stakeholders and volunteers

meet to share ideas and to provide direction to makeOttawasustainable.

WoodroffeHighSchoolWoodroffe High School is a vibrant secondary school with highacademicstandards,astrongathleticprogram,andawiderangeofextra-curricularactivities.Thestaffisenergetic,highlyqualifiedanddedicatedtoexcellence intheclassroom.Theyenjoyworkingwithadolescentsandgoouttheirwaytosupportthemthroughouttheiracademiccareers.WoodroffeHighSchooloffersavarietyofcoursesdesigned to prepare students for university, college or vocationalpursuits.Anumberofinnovativeprogramsarebeingdevelopedto

betterservetheneedsofstudents.Theseincludethedevelopmentofanumberofmulti-disciplinarycourses,anartscertificate,andaninternationalstudiescertificate(WoodroffeHighwebsite).WoodroffeandOBECPartnershipIn February 2014, volunteers from theOttawa Biosphere Eco-City(OBEC)incooperationwithUniversityofOttawastudentvolunteersarranged to assist in the development of a Sustainability Plan atWoodroffe High School. UOttawa students and OBEC volunteersgave a presentation on sustainability and conducted a workshopwithover80Woodroffestudents.Intheworkshopsstudentsweredividedinto10groupsfortheTenThemesofSustainability.Theybrainstormedissuesandactionsforeachtheme.Thisplanacknowledgescurrentactivitiesattheschool,and proposes new ones. The uOttawa students organized theinformationintoaSustainabilityPlan,todelivertotheschool.OBECisavailabletohelptheschoolwithfollow-upandimplementationoftheseactions.SustainabilityVisionforWoodroffeStudentsStudents and staff at Woodroffe High School will incorporatesustainabilityprinciplesandpracticesintotheirworkandlives.Insodoing, they will continue to enjoy a healthy, sustainableenvironment.Thissupportsahighqualityoflifenowandinfuturegenerations.

Ottawa&BritanniaOttawa,developedaround the junctionof theOttawaandRideaurivers, is the capital of Canada. Ottawa is a diverse city with apopulation of over 800 000 people. The beautiful landscape hasmultitudes of green spaceswithin the urban area, and includes agreen belt of farms around the urban core. Eighty percent ofOttawa is rural and contains someof the best agricultural land inCanada.OttawaisonethemosteducatedcitiesinCanadaaswellasoneofthemostbilingual.WoodroffeHighSchoolislocatedinBritannia–QueenswayTerrace– Lincoln Fields areaofwestOttawa. This is a diverse areawith amix of high and low-income housing, single-family and high-risebuildings. The area has excellent transportation connectionincludingpathways,roads,andpublictransit.TheOttawaRiverand

Pinecrest Creek Pathways are part of an extended bike andpedestrianroute,whichiswellconnectedtotherestoftheCity.Itprovides easy access to Parliament Hill, Algonquin College, andKanata. The Sir John AMacdonald Parkway is a scenic route thatruns from Lincoln Fields near theHigh School todowntownalongtheOttawaRiver.WoodroffeHighSchoolisalsoadjacenttoLincolnFieldsTransitwayStation,amajorbushub.LincolnFieldsShoppingCenter and CarlingwoodMall are themain commercial centers inthe area.Some of the natural features of the area include MudLakeandBritanniaParkwithapopularbeach.

PRIORITIES&STRATEGIESFORACTION

SustainabilityTheme PriorityIssues SustainabilityActions/Projects

Transportation(movementof

goodsandpeople)

- Toomuchtraffic- Carsarenoteco-friendly- Usingtoomuchgas- Emissionsinair(CO2)- Longbusrides- Difficulttocycletoschool- Noisepollution- Wastingenergy/gas- Spaceconsumptionforroads- Outoftuneauto-mobiles- Low-efficiencycars

- Bike/walk/carpooltoschool- Planttreestooff-setcarbon- Busingwheneverpossible- Buyelectriccars- Developbikerentalsystem/repairoldbikestodonate- Paidschoolparkingtoencouragetakingthebus- Buildmorewalking/cyclingpaths- Propermaintenanceofbikepaths- Stopinvestinginfossilfuels- Supportapassengerrailsystem- Limitingcaruse/amountofcars

Energy(forbuildings,transportation,manufacturingandagriculture)

- Useofnon-renewableenergysupplies- Energyuseforlighting- Energyuseforlargeappliances- Energyuseforclothesdryer- Energyuseforelectronicdevices- Energyuseforhomeheating- Energyuseforsnowblowers- Energyuseforairconditioning- Energyuseforwaterheating- Energyuseforcarmanufacture

- Useenergy-savingbulb/candleswhennotreading- Usesunlightforreadingwhenpossible- Useappropriatesizedvehicle(likesmartcar)- Dryclothesandsheetsoutside- Usefireplaceforlightandheatinwinter- Usemanual(non-motor)lawnmower- Shovelinsteadofusingasnowblower- Wearclothesthatreflecttemperature- Startschoolearliertousemorenaturallight- Useefficientheating/coolingsystems- Usewind-mills,windturbine

SustainabilityTheme PriorityIssues SustainabilityActions/Projects

Design(builtenvironment

e.g.buildings&roads)

- Lowairquality- Schoolistoohotinthesummer- Notenoughsidewalksonmystreet- Humidity- Bikerackgetsfull

- Planttreesaroundschoolandhome- High-techinsulatingpaintforschoolsandhomes- Buildagreenwall- Morebikeracksatschool- Shelterforbikeracks(protectionfromrainandsnow)- Greenhouseatschool- Oneplantineveryclassroom- Reduceheatduringhightemperaturemonths- Moresidewalksinresidentialcommunities

- Morebikelanes

Habitat(urbangreenspaces,rural

environmentandconnectionsbetweenthem)

- Needmoregreenspace- Pollutedenvironmentforanimals- Deforestation- Wastedestroyinghabitats- Beesendangered

- Takeaguidednaturewalk- Useclothbagsratherthanplasticbags- Buyproductsthatarerecyclable/biodegradable- Planttrees/bushes/flowersathome(garden)- Usebothsidesofpaperwhenprinting- Organizearecyclingcompetitionbetweenclasses- Organizeparkcleanupseveryfewmonths- Plantmoretreesthanwetakeaway- Makealawtoplantasmanytreesasyoucutdown- Createnaturereserves

- Createrestareasforbees(gardens)

SustainabilityTheme PriorityIssues SustainabilityActions/Projects

Food(farms&urbanmarkets,heritagecrops/animals,

urbangardens)

- Processedfoods- Overconsumption- Lossofagriculturalland- Lackofhealthyfood- Needtoprotectagriculturalbiodiversity- Relianceonlong-distancefood- Peoplenotunderstandingwheretherefood

comesfrom

- Reduceoverconsumptionoffood- Usecompostbin- Storefoodproperly- Eatfreshfood- Understandwhereyourfoodcomesfrom- Buyorganicfood- Buylocalfood- Growyourowngarden- Haveacompostbinineveryclassroom- Cafeteriashouldutilizeseasonalfood- Selllocalapplesincafeteria- Fieldtriptoalocalfarm- Developsustainablefoodeducationclass- Morelocalfarmer’smarkets- Sendsurplusfoodtonearbyfoodshelter- Developcommunitygarden- Keepmorelandforfarmsinsteadofdevelopment- Uselocalfoodforcommunityevents- Communitytripstolocalfarms

NaturalCapital(maintainingland,water,soil,

naturalmaterials)

- Toomuchbottledwater- Excessiveclear-cutting- Deforestation&flooding- Pollutionofwater(duetopesticides)- Ruiningsoil/landbymining- Ruininglandbywastedumping- Usingtoomuchpaper- Reducewater&chemicalsonplants

- Drinktap-water- Takeshortershowers- Uselesspaper,useelectronicsinstead- Betterdisposalofwaste- Collectrainwaterforgardens- Selectivetree-cuttingandre-planting- Turnofftaps,uselowflushtoiletsinstead- Switchtogreenerenergy

SustainabilityTheme PriorityIssues SustainabilityActions/Projects

Waste(processingofwastes,recycling,

design,andconversiontoenergy)

- Improperdisposalofwaste- OilSpillage- Toomuchgarbage(releasesmethane)- Burninggarbagepollutesair- Garbagedumpssmellbad- Limitedlandfillcapacity

- Plasticspolluteenvironment- Lackofawarenessofhouseholdwaste- Cheapconsumergoodsdonotlast- Unwanteditemsbecomewaste- Usedtextbooksarediscarded- Wegettoomuchthingthanweneed

- Usere-useablebags- Useball-pointpen/pencilwhichcanchangecartridgeor

pencillead- Usere-chargeablebatteries- Selloldclothes- Avoidpapercupsforcoffee

- Usingre-useablelunchbags- UsingTupperware- Usebothsidesofpaper- Recyclepaper,popcans,cardboard,andwaterbottles- Uselesspaper,usemoreelectronics- Avoidusingpapertowelsinschool- Collectfoodwasteforcomposting

Health(cleanairandwater,safety,tranquility,andneedsof

vulnerablegroups)

- Airpollution- Waterpollution- Processed/unhealthyfood- Inactivepeople- Useofpesticides/herbicides

- Walk/bikemore- Bus&carpool- Usenaturalcleaningproducts- Eatlocallyandorganically- Properlydisposeofwaste(recycling,compost,garbage)- Createabikerepairshop/Installmorebikeracks- Createafreerent-a-bikeprogramforthosewhocan’tafford

abikeoftheirown- Organizeafarmer’smarketattheschooleverymonth- Haveassembliestoteachstudentsaboutsustainability- Updategym’sworkoutequipment- Createmorebikelanesonbusyroads- Community“FunDay”- Organizeaparkcleanup- Buildmorerecreationalfacilities(likeskateparks)- Hireat-riskyouthtobuildcommunityfacilities

SustainabilityTheme PriorityIssues SustainabilityActions/Projects

Recreation

(urbanandruralrecreation,includingfarmvisits)

- Toomuchtimespentindoors- Poorqualityoutdooricerinks- Lackofschoolactivities- Lackofcommunityactivities

- PlayrealsportsinsteadofWiisports- Fieldtrips/outdooractivities(Beachvolleyball,canoetrips)- Outdoorbookclub- Morepeprallies/Schooldances- Weeklyafter-schooldropinsports- Schoolcarnivals- Canadadayparties- Takebettercareoftheoutdoorrinks- Communityhikes

SenseofPlace(feelingofbelonging,senseof

community)

- Lackofneighborhoodinvolvement- Lackofschoolspirit

- Encouragecommunityinvolvement- Encourageschoolspirit- Attendlocalfairs- TraveltofavoriteplacewithinOttawa- Schoolgardeningforschoolcredits- Plantingtreesforlegacy- Peprallies- CommunityBBQcharityfundraising- Breakfastclub- ShovelingdrivewaysforElders- Communitypotluckonceamonth- Movienight- Cleanupparks- Organizenaturetour

GetInvolved-YourPlanforActionThisWoodroffeSustainabilityPlanwillnowbecomeyourplan.Itwasmeant togiveyou ideasonhow to takeactionwithinyourschool at home, or in your neighbourhood. In the space below,youareinvitedtomakeyourcommitmenttosustainability.

What issuesfromabovemost interestyou? Whatactionscouldyoutaketoaddresstheseissues?Trytopickissuesinwhichyouknowyoucanmakeadifference.TheProjectDatabaseontheOBECwebsiteisagreattooltofindoutwhatotherindividualsandorganizationsinOttawaaredoingtocontributetosustainabilityinOttawa.Ifyoudeveloporjoinin

asustainabilityproject,pleaseconsidersharingitwithothersontheOttawaBiosphereEco-CityDatabaseat:http://obec-evbo.ca Yourprioritysustainabilityissue(s): Proposedaction(s)thatyoucantake:

Thankyouforcontributingtothesustainabilityofyourschoolandyourcommunity.WoodroffeHighSchoolandOttawaBiosphereEco-CityCouncilReportby:UniversityofOttawaVolunteers,CommunicationandOutreach,OBEC