Racing to Zero is proud to have concluded its mentorship program for the group of Environmental Program Coordinators (EPCs) working with Athletics Ontario this past summer. Over the past three months, the EPCs have worked on a series of initiatives and projects to help Athletics Ontario to improve its capacity for sustainability across its own operations and its members.
The intention of this initiative was for the five Environmental Program Coordinators, who were hired under the Canada Summer Jobs program and were all students or recent graduates, to receive guidance from experienced sport and sustainability experts while working on impactful projects that integrate environmental best practices into Athletics Ontario’s programming.
Over the course of the summer, some highlights of the outcomes of the program include:
- Conducting a detailed analysis of potential host venues for the annual Provincial Championships to account for environmental impacts.
- Developing a communications plan to integrate sustainability messaging, resources, and news into Athletics Ontario’s monthly newsletter and social media platforms.
- Created a dedicated webpage for sustainability on their website.
- Administering a survey to members regarding their experiences, opinions, and opportunities for sustainability.
- Developing a pledge for members and individuals to sign and adopt.
- Creating new partnerships to help facilitate the donation and reuse of old equipment and running shoes.
“I’m very proud to have been a part of the start of AO’s sustainability journey” said Jasmine Bigaouette, one of the Environmental Program Coordinators. “The teams at both Athletics Ontario and Racing to Zero made this experience of my first role in sports sustainability incredibly rewarding, giving me valuable tools I will take with me.”
More information
Racing to Zero is a full-suite sustainability consultancy led by Canadian Olympians and Paralympians, supports sports organizations in taking meaningful climate action. For more information about Racing to Zero, visit racingtozero.ca or contact info@racingtozero.ca.
Athletics Ontario, the provincial governing body for athletics, is dedicated to fostering growth and excellence in the sport through partnerships and community engagement. For more information about Athletics Ontario, visit athleticsontario.ca.
