KATE DICKSON for SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR

Hey DeGroote! I hope this isnt our first interaction but if it is, its a pleasure to meet you! My name is Kate Dickson and I am running for the position of Sustainability Director. Sustainability has become quite the buzzword in business over the past few years and Id like to take this opportunity to explain what the term sustainability means to me, why I am so passionate about creating a more sustainable DeGroote and how I intend to do so. For me sustainability encompasses a variety of concepts, with my platform focusing on two specific areas environmental sustainability and social sustainability. The environment is what comes to mind when most people hear the word sustainability. While I believe that DeGroote does an outstanding job with shuttle transportation, I see opportunity in the area of coordinating students who drive to school in the form of a carpooling program. With students commuting from Toronto, the Niagara region and further, Id like to create a forum where students can easily find individuals commuting to the same class or social/extracurricular events. With associations ranging from finance to marketing, there is no shortage of ways to get involved in what you are passionate about at DeGroote, however what about those of us passionate about the environment? Another focus of my platform is to create a Sustainability Association where like-minded individuals can come together to promote a more sustainable DeGroote. One of the main goals of this association would be to raise capital to fund long-term sustainability initiatives around RJC. A long-term goal of mine is to decrease the amount of waste RJC produces, particularly through the coffee cups, paper plates and utensils we use daily by introducing reusable options.

Social well-being is often overlooked when we talk about sustainability. It is, however, one of the pillars of sustainability and the second area of focus in my platform. As students we are all accustomed to the stresses of school from exams to job applications to interviews. RJC Yoga has been an excellent step in promoting the social sustainability of students. Id like to keep up with this momentum by improving mental well-being through exam and interview de-stressors as well as promoting physical well-being by setting up flu shot clinics and diet and exercise programs.
This is where I leave it up to you! Vote for a more sustainable DeGroote. Vote for a more sustainable you. Vote for Kate Dickson for Sustainability Director.