Sustainability / Climate Action

In 2021, the Balsillie School published its Net Zero Plan, joined the Race to Zero, and became a member of Sustainable Waterloo Region. The BSIA has committed to reporting its annual greenhouse gas emissions, to reducing building-related emissions by 10% and travel-related emissions by 30% by 2026, and to reaching net zero emissions by 2040. Our climate action and sustainability work is coordinated by the Global Climate Action Committee, which was founded in 2020.

The Community Garden

Founded in 2022, the community garden in the CIGI Campus courtyard is an initiative to provide healthy and sustainable food to Balsillie School students, faculty, and staff, and to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the School. It is managed by a committee of student volunteers who oversee planning, preparation, planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting.

The garden focuses on using concepts from regenerative agriculture, including using natural fertilizers, non-GMO seeds, seed saving, natural pollination (using native pollinators), symbiotic planting, and avoiding the use of herbicides and pesticides. The garden has experimented with strategies such as planting the ‘three sisters’ (a traditional mix of corn, beans, and squash) and incorporating heirloom seeds provided by students from their travels and from familial stores. Varieties planted evolve based on soil, weather and climate conditions, and student, faculty and staff requests.

The community garden is an initiative paid for by the Balsillie School’s Global Climate Action Committee budget, and was established with funding from the University of Waterloo’s Graduate Student Endowment Fund and the Waterloo Sustainability Action Fund. If you are interested in being involved in the garden, please contact the Global Climate Action Committee.