By Diane Drak Alsibai — Contributor

From Feb. 6 to 10, Bishop’s annual Eco-Week will return with many exciting surprises! Eco-Week is a week to appreciate and raise awareness of environmental threats and sustainable development, whether on campus or globally. There are a number of current issues that need to be tackled. This includes food security, natural hazard pattern fluctuations, land degradation, pollution and sea level rise, all of which are tied to climate change, which is becoming a more prominent threat in the world today.

Last year, Eco-Week was marked by the virtual launch of the Sustainable Development Plan, which holds many objectives such as reducing waste, becoming carbon neutral by 2030, improving sustainable performance through projects and awareness, increasing food security, supporting social and cultural inclusion, and increasing academic programs and research related to sustainable development on campus. Last year’s Eco-Week also featured a mini market which was quite a success and will happen again this year. 

For this year, we are aiming to increase participation and attendance from the Bishop’s community so that students can understand the importance of having an eco-friendly campus and be influenced to start their own sustainable initiative. As such, the Environmental Club, in collaboration with the SRC and the Sustainable Development Office, is organizing a week full of activities and events on campus to welcome all community members. Other student unions such as BUnited and BU Outdoors will also hold events and activities within the environmental theme. While the planning of the events has not been finalized, a tentative schedule will feature the following events.

On Monday, we will kick off the week with a forum in the SUB to explain what Eco-Week is about, along with promoting ecological resources. Throughout the day, there will be an indoor mini market and thrift store in the SUB where students can sell or buy clothes and other goods, and free coffee will be provided by the Fair Trade Committee. The leftover clothes will be donated to a thrift store in Sherbrooke. Many clubs and student associations will have booths in order to promote their groups and advertise more green lifestyles. This event will involve the Environmental Club, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Club, BU Outdoors, Indigenous Cultural Alliance, Model United Nations, Sustainable Development Action Group, and the SRC.

On Tuesday, the day will start with a Bring Your Own Mug opportunity in the Quad where coffee will be served, and this will be continued every morning for the rest of the week. Later on, there will be an art workshop as well as a trivia night in the Gait. On Wednesday, all students are welcome to attend the eco-tour in order to visit places on campus with sustainable initiatives as well as the beautiful natural landscapes nearby. The day will end with an insightful presentation by Dr. Matthew Peros, the co-chair of the Department of Environment, Agriculture, and Geography. On Thursday, BU Outdoors will host a hike, but this event is still to be confirmed. Friday will be International Winter Bike Day, which will be celebrated with a bike ride in collaboration with Vélo Québec. Finally, there will be a greenhouse tour in the Johnson building and a movie night to end the week.

It is important to keep in mind that the dates for these events are prone to change. If you are interested in keeping up and attending these events, be sure to follow the Environmental Club and the SRC Instagram page @buenvironmentalclub and @bu_src.