Sheridan College (Ontario)
IN-5: Green Event Certification

RIBFEST

Sheridan’s Conference & Events department and other various departments that run events, keep sustainability in mind when planning and executing events.

The majority of Sheridan-run events, such as Open House and Orientation, all are run with sustainability in mind. These events provide vegan and vegetarian food options, limit the use of printed materials by providing information online (and anything that is printed is on FSC-certified paper), provide a reusable bag as a gift, utilize Sheridan’s Zero Waste bins (organics, recycling, and landfill collection), and are held in Sheridan’s energy efficient buildings with no additional lighting or equipment brought in. In addition, The Open House event, which is held on the weekend, only utilizes the parts of campus where the event takes place, reducing energy use in unoccupied parts of the campus over the weekend.

Also, Sheridan College participates in, promotes, and is the site of the Oakville Ribfest every year at its Trafalgar Campus. The event is a charitable fundraiser organized and hosted by the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar (RCOT).

The event exemplifies green event practices. The website promotes the use of alternative transportation including bike, skateboard, and bus. A shuttle is provided to bring people from their car to the site as well as a free shuttle from Town Hall to the Ribfest gate. The website also promotes staying on-site at Sheridan or camping at a nearby Provincial Park.

The rib vendors are required to use a local supplier for their ribs. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available. In addition to ribs, the following food options are also available: chicken (including Halal), grilled shrimp, salads, coleslaw, baked beans, pizza (including vegetarian pizza), veggie burgers, corn-on-the-cob, French fries, blooming onions, doughnuts, funnel cakes, Beaver Tails, popcorn, ice cream, candies and more.

The entire event is paperless and the RCOT does not allow vendors to hand out brochures. There is a central waste sorting station where attendees can drop off their waste, which is sorted by volunteers. The 2016 diversion report showed a 100% year-to-date diversion rate from landfill, or 21.25 metric tonnes of material. The event itself had a diversion rate of 84%.

Finally, all of the proceeds from the event go to “support projects such as our Annual Strawberry Social for elderly shut-ins and their caregivers, Kerr Street Ministries Food Bank and community dinners, Oakville Fare Share Food Bank, Oakville high school student bursaries, Big Brothers/Big Sisters homework clubs, and international projects such as Sleeping Children around the World, Haiti Containers for Hope Fund, Stephen Lewis Foundation for Aids, Polio Plus to eradicate polio in the world - and so much more.”

https://oakvillefamilyribfest.com/

Shelley Barr
Special Event Services Coordinator
Ancillary Services
T 905 845 9430 x2333
shelley.barr@sheridancollege.ca

STUDENT UNION

The Sheridan Student Union Inc. (SSUI) runs various events throughout the year such as hosting concerts, guest speakers, workshops, gaming nights, and open mic nights.

The majority of events are held on-campus in energy efficient buildings. All the AV equipment is owned by the SSUI, which is energy efficient and uses LED lights.

SSUI utilizes compostable cups, straws, cutlery, and plates and plans for 100% of these items to be compostable as of September 1st, 2018.

As of July 2017, the SSUI only provides straws on a need-basis. All drinks are served without straws, but customers have the option to request straws. Eventually, the SSUI will move toward compostable straws or other environmentally-friendly options. For more information visit https://www.thessu.ca/blog/astrawfreemarquee.

The food at events is supplied through Flanagan Food Service, a local food service provider. All the meat and proteins they supply is sourced locally within Ontario, within 200 km of their facility in Kitchener, Ontario. Flanagan’s also owns Roseland Produce, which supplies local produce in the summer. Currently vegetarian and vegan options are designated on the menu, but in the near future SSUI will provide a separate vegetarian and vegan menu to more obviously highlight these options.

The SSUI uses many local vendors for supplies including linens (a company in Etobicoke) and beer (Cameron’s and Collective Arts).

As a matter of practice, the SSUI staff use Webex teleconferencing software to limit travel between campuses. Staff work at one campus per day to also minimize travel during the work day. In addition, the annual Student Handbook is created using recycled paper and waterless printing. The printer has been recognized by The Environmental Choice Program, Ontario Environmental Leaders, and The Forest Stewardship Council. They are also Bullfrog powered, using sustainable, renewable energy to power their printing facilities.

Finally, although some small posters are put up around campus to advertise events, all other event ads and ticket sales are online to reduce paper use.

https://www.thessu.ca/events-1/

Dan Casey
Senior Manager, Operations & Hospitality
Sheridan Student Union Inc.
905-845-9430 ext. 2050
daniel.casey1@sheridancollege.ca