First Annual Leadership in Sustainability Awards

On April 21, 2022, Green Economy Peterborough hosted the first annual Leadership in Sustainability awards. Timed to coincide with Earth Week and Earth Day (April 22), this event celebrated local business members’ efforts to reduce their impact on the environment.

Award winners represented numerous sectors in both the city and county of Peterborough, including retail, engineering, architecture, and recreation. They were honoured by business and community leaders for their commitment to complete Green Economy Peterborough’s comprehensive process to reduce workplace greenhouse gas emissions.

“We congratulate all members of Green Economy Peterborough for taking these bold steps to reduce their impact and improve their bottom line,” shared Natalie Stephenson, coordinator of Green Economy Peterborough. “You are all working hard to achieve success. This year, we are very proud to recognize six of our founding members for their exceptional leadership and mentorship in the local business community: Cambium Consulting & Engineering, Lett Architects, Otonabee Conservation, Peterborough Golf & Country Club, Swell Made Co., and Wild Rock Outfitters.”

“It will take leaders of many different types to help us achieve our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets,” said Tegan Moss, Executive Director of GreenUP, the host organization for Green Economy Peterborough. “This decade is our last best chance to take climate action. I am sincerely grateful that each of these member organizations in Green Economy Peterborough is demonstrating the climate leadership we need as a community.”

Participating in the event with congratulatory words for the award recipients and all members of Green Economy Peterborough were Diane Therrien, Mayor of the City of Peterborough, and Andy Mitchell, Deputy Warden of Peterborough County. Emma Murphy, Network Director of Green Economy Canada, also shared her congratulations.

Consultant Lisa Oelke offered an inspirational keynote speech about her experiences both locally and around the world working with small and medium-sized organizations to work together to take climate action as part of a network like Green Economy Peterborough.

“I would always encourage others to get out there,” shared Lisa Oelke. “You don’t really become a champion in any way by doing it in an insular capacity. Find the people who align with you.”

Cambium

As a multi-service engineering and consulting business, Cambium assists a broad range of clients – governments, businesses, and community organizations – to investigate, analyze, and implement environmental, geotechnical, and construction projects.

While they’ve renovated their new building to meet their sustainability vision, Cambium also wanted to reduce their emissions footprint both locally and beyond. They are working with Green Economy Peterborough to evaluate all of their facilities across the province. For this, and for digging deep towards understanding greenhouse gas sources, they have been awarded the Leading with Vision award.

Lett Architects

Lett Architects has designed some of the most beautiful buildings in the greater Peterborough area, including the soon-to-be built Canadian Canoe Museum, Hospice Peterborough, the soon-to-be built Fire Station #2 (the City’s first net zero carbon building), and the Agricultural Heritage Building at Lang Pioneer Village.

The team at Lett believes fiercely in sustainability and is working hard to ensure their values are expressed in everything they do: in how their buildings are constructed, their work with suppliers, through educating peers on social procurement, and most recently announcing – with the help of carbon offsets – that they are operating at net zero. For this, they have been recognized with the Leading with Ambition award.

“We know it’s ambitious”, says Mike Stock of Lett, “but we encourage all Peterborough businesses to become more resilient and climate-friendly.”

Otonabee Conservation

Tasked by the province with protecting, restoring, and managing the Otonabee Region watershed, Otonabee Conservation oversees numerous properties and campgrounds, monitors our region for flood risk and watershed health, organizes tree planting events, and offers many opportunities to learn about our environment.

Otonabee Conservation has a new action plan through which they will help our region mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. As part of this commitment, this small organization has worked to evaluate their many facilities. For this great effort, Otonabee Conservation was awarded the Leading with Tenacity award.

Peterborough Golf & Country Club

As the first golf club in the country to become a Green Economy Canadamember, Peterborough Golf and Country Club also happens to have the keenest green team around which explains their Leading with Teamworkaward!

In addition to tracking their greenhouse gas emissions, this enthusiastic group has overhauled their waste system and are working towards an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certification, an initiative that helps golf courses protect their natural areas and wildlife habitats.

Swell Made Co.

Owned and operated by Lesley Robb, Swell Made Co. is a local home decor, gift, and stationary company that sells its products to over 300 shops across North America and online.

Swell Made Co. is recognized with the Leading with Momentum award for working hard to tackle issues related to transport. Robb is streamlining her operations by introducing eco-friendly containers and a carbon credits program to offset necessary shipping emissions.

Wild Rock Outfitters

For almost 30 years, Wild Rock Outfitters has guided members of our community to fulfil their adventures, big and small. Much more than a retail store, Wild Rock has been a huge part of our development as a healthy and active community through their support and sponsorship of numerous community-focused events, groups, and initiatives.

Wild Rock is also a role model to retailers through their work with eco-friendly suppliers and for working hard to implement sustainability in all levels of their operations. This is why they have received the Leading Outside the Box award.

“One of the most important things we can do is lead by example,” says Scott Murison of Wild Rock Outfitters. “While it can be costly in the first year, over the next decade it pays off. And it pays off in our relationship with our community.”

Congratulations to all of the winners, whose leadership, passion and creativity set an incredible example for businesses in our region. A special thank you to TD for supporting this event.

Green Economy Peterborough (GEP) is GreenUP program that helps local businesses to become more sustainable. With membership, businesses receive one-to-one coaching to set and achieve goals that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While they work through this process, members learn together, share experiences, and celebrate successes.

Contact:
Natalie Stephenson, Coordinator of Green Economy Peterborough
natalie.stephenson@greenup.on.ca