Mohawk College selected as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 10th consecutive year
Mohawk College has been selected as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the 10th consecutive year.
The only Hamilton employer on this year’s list, Mohawk is one of four Ontario colleges receiving this recognition, joining Durham College, Fleming College and Humber College.
“We are grateful that for a decade Mohawk College has been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers,” said Mohawk President and CEO Ron J. McKerlie. “The college continues to intensify its climate action efforts, focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and waste on our campuses and on inspiring students to be the sustainability leaders of tomorrow.
“Our net zero certified building, The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation, provides space for students to live and learn while continuing to produce more energy than it requires. We have also proudly partnered with colleges and polytechnics across Canada through Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery in an effort to support a more sustainable future for industries and communities across Canada.”
Mohawk College has a stated commitment to making a measurable impact on climate change. (Learn more details about this aspiration and the entire strategic plan.)
Now in its 16th year, Canada’s Greenest Employers is an editorial competition organized by the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. This special designation recognizes the employers that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness in their organizations. These employers have developed exceptional sustainability initiatives – and are attracting people to their organizations because of their environmental leadership. Prior to 2009, this award was called “Canada’s Most Earth-Friendly Employers”. Each employer is evaluated by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers in terms of: (1) the unique environmental initiatives and programs they have developed; (2) the extent to which they have been successful in reducing the organization’s own environmental footprint; (3) the degree to which their employees are involved in these programs and whether they contribute any unique skills; and (4) the extent to which these initiatives have become linked to the employer's public identity, attracting new employees and clients to the organization.
The full list of Canada’s Greenest Employers (2023) was announced today in a special magazine co-published with the Globe and Mail. Detailed reasons for selection for each of this year’s winners, as well as additional stories and photos, were released today by the editors and are accessible via the competition homepage.
Here are some of the reasons why Mohawk was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2023):
- Mohawk College maintains a 50-plot community garden with over 300 members and a fruit orchard with 36 trees - and as part of the harvest, the college manages a campus farm stand that features produce from July to November, including "Bounty Bags" and "Eat Better Bags" along with annual food donations to local community organizations
- Mohawk College continues to green its own fleet of vehicles with ongoing programs to improve fleet fuel efficiency and work towards ensuring that 75 per cent of replacement fleet vehicles are hybrid or electric
- Mohawk College has introduced numerous environmental programs across the campus, including community gardens, honeybee apiaries, pollinator gardens, water bottle filling stations (in support of a disposable water bottle ban), a cafeteria recycling station with rinsing stations to wash reusable mugs, containers and cutlery