Post-secondary Students in Ontario Recognized for Their Efforts to Build a Greener World
MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 14, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Working with local potters in Gujarat and Delhi India, Ryerson University students developed a reusable water filter using local materials that eliminates bacteria, organic compounds, and can filter 20 litres of water a day.
In northern food-insecure communities, students from the University of Ottawa are manufacturing commercial grade hydroponic systems housed in shipping containers enabling communities to grow their own food locally.
Thanks to these initiatives, Enactus Ryerson University and Enactus University of Ottawa have been named 2018 Scotiabank EcoLiving Green Challenge Regional Champions. The teams were picked by Canada’s largest experiential learning platform, Enactus Canada, and program supporter Scotiabank.
“The innovation our students showcase through their environmental initiatives is incredibly inspiring,” said Nicole Almond, President of Enactus Canada. “They’re proof that when organizations and communities collaborate, we have the power to drive sustainable change.”
Through Enactus Ryerson University’s Project Pura, over 31,000 people now have access to clean drinking water. Local ‘waterpreneurs’ have also been empowered to improve their profit margins by 75%, earning an additional $1,800 each annually.
Enactus University of Ottawa’s Growcer system has yielded 2,700 pounds of product in just 11 weeks. Two additional systems have been sold and the team expects to confirm seven additional sales in the next year, which will generate over $2M in revenue and over 96,000 pounds in produce.
“Scotiabank aims to support organizations that are committed to helping young people reach their infinite potential,” said Ajay Mundkur, Senior Vice President, Toronto Region, Scotiabank. “We know that it’s crucial that we help to provide them with the skills and resources they need to succeed. It’s incredible to see young people display the passion and commitment to reduce our impact on the environment, and help create a better future. Congratulations to Enactus Ryerson and Enactus uOttawa on winning the Regional Scotiabank EcoLiving Green Challenge Championships this year!”
The Scotiabank EcoLiving Green Challenge empowers post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that teach viable solutions to relevant environmental issues. Since 2009, 7,864 Enactus students have helped conserve 35,604,157 litres of water, divert 534,920,168 pounds of waste, and introduce 9,488 organizations to green business practices.
On March 9, student teams demonstrated the impact of their environmental initiatives to panels of business executives as part of the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition – Central Canada, held in Mississauga.
Enactus Ryerson and Enactus uOttawa will now move on to the national level of competition taking place May 14-16 at the 2018 Enactus Canada National Exposition, taking place in Toronto.
ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA
Enactus Canada, a national charity and the country’s largest post-secondary experiential learning platform, is shaping entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 3,300 post-secondary students led 275 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, positively impacting over 26,000 lives.
As a global network of 36 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.
ABOUT SCOTIABANK
Scotiabank believes that every customer has the right to become better off. When customers succeed, businesses, communities, and entire societies benefit as well. Through our CSR strategy, Better Future, Better Off, we seek to create economic, social and environmental value that benefits every customer. Through our five commitments to Customers, Employees, Communities, the Environment and strong Corporate Governance practices, we aim to create a better future for both society and Scotiabank. For more information on our priorities and the impact we have made, please visit www.scotiabank.com/csr.
Scotiabank is Canada’s international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia-Pacific. We are dedicated to helping our 24 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 89,000 employees and assets of over $923 billion (as at January 31, 2018), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @Scotiabank.
Media Inquiries
Jennifer Falzon
Director, Marketing & Strategic Growth, Enactus Canada
jen@enactus.ca |416.304.1566 x222
