Every day is Earth Day for Bonnie Dong and her small-but-mighty team of staff and dozens of volunteers who make up MacEwan’s sustainability team.

“Seeing what we’ve been able to accomplish over the past year has been an inspiration,” says the manager of sustainability in the university’s facilities department. “We focus beyond what we can do physically with the university’s buildings and look at how we can embed sustainability efforts across campus.”

From projects you can witness year round – a new giant mural, hydroponic gardens bursting with plants and waste audit demos – to initiatives that heat up during the summer months – an outdoor community garden and bee colony – you can see sustainability efforts continuing to grow. 

“Even with the very heavy and serious things happening in the world, I hope people will feel optimistic this Earth Day,” says Dong. “We can all take action – even right here on campus – to get engaged and participate in both small and big ways.”

There’s lots to look forward to, says Dong, including Think Global, Act Local: Sustainability in Action, a panel discussion on April 24 that will look at how everyday actions can lead to a healthier planet. 

Check out this gallery of images of sustainability in action on campus – from the sustainability office and beyond – and watch for more exciting initiatives to come, including a new array of solar panels to be installed over the summer on the south face of Buildings 6 and 7.