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Planting seeds and growing ideas

Submitted by Our Storyteller on May 25, 2016 - 9:30am


The following blog post was written by Abigail Hann, an IMPACT! Youth Sustainability Training alumna.

I didn’t know how much one weekend could change my life until I attended the 2014 IMPACT! Training in Guelph. Being surrounded by so many passionate young people left me feeling inspired, but also a little inadequate. They were already accomplishing so much in and beyond their own communities, and what was I doing?

The Natural Step Canada appoints David Hughes as President & CEO

Submitted by Chad Park on May 17, 2016 - 1:35pm

I am writing you today along with Board Chair Peter Ladner to announce a new important milestone for The Natural Step Canada. And we wanted to let you know first.

For the past fourteen years I have committed to developing The Natural Step programs across Canada - the last five years in the role of Executive Director. We’ve come along way from a small group of volunteers with a commitment to accelerate the transition to a sustainable society to an organization that has developed a host of programs and partnerships working on some of the most important issues facing our country.

Meeting in the Radical Middle: Shaping a New Energy Futures Narrative

Submitted by Delyse Sylvester on April 12, 2016 - 7:25am

I have a big family - sixteen aunts and uncles and many, many cousins. Thanks to our grandparents we all seem to share a passion for debate.

One of the more heated and reoccurring discussions is on the topic of climate change. This is not surprising given I have generations of family members working in the Alberta oil sands as engineers, marketing executives, and environmental assessments experts. I also have family members who lead environmental organizations and who have been on the front lines of pipeline protests and the divestment movement.

Backcasting: Starting with the End in Mind

Submitted by Pong Leung on March 7, 2016 - 12:51pm

Sustainability expert, Pong Leung introduces backcasting, a key tool for the Energy Futures Lab

We are all familiar with the idea of starting with the end in mind. In fact, it is likely that you have seen the benefits of applying it individually or with your family, for example when exploring your career path or planning a family vacation. You likely started thinking about what a successful career or vacation would mean and then used that as a guide to make decisions in the near-term to help you get there.

What’s happening in Ukraine? Capturing stories of sustainability

Submitted by Our Storyteller on March 3, 2016 - 8:37am

The following blog post was written by Oksana Anasko, an IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training alumni.

Have you ever wondered what will happen if we run out of oil or if the poles melt, drowning cities, states, and entire countries?
We live in a world filled with challenges, including global warming, the refugee crisis, poverty, economic instability, disease, etc. Activists, select news outlets, and even Pope Francis remind us everyday that we´ll soon see the consequences of our actions.

“We need to change.” “We need to do something.”

Taking IMPACT! Inspiration Abroad

Submitted by Our Storyteller on February 1, 2016 - 10:04am

I never thought of business as an avenue for advancing sustainability, but participating in IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training last year showed me what a powerful means this is to transforming our world. Since my participation in the program, I’ve seen my peers start green companies and raise awareness about environmentally friendly practices through sustainable products. (Shout out to the awesome Balance Project and Britannia Backyard Edibles--two amazing projects that found their roots in my Ottawa IMPACT! cohort.)

This was all inspiring to me, but it also left me wondering, “what can I contribute?”

Announcing The Natural Capital Lab!

Submitted by Nancy Cruz on January 25, 2016 - 7:59am

The Natural Step is embarking on a new Sustainability Transition Lab—this Lab aims to improve the way we measure, manage and make decisions about Canada’s natural capital.

Sustainability on Your Skin

Submitted by Our Storyteller on December 9, 2015 - 1:11pm

The following blog post was written by Kimiko Foster, an IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training alumni.

Two years ago, I started a business called Seeds of Change Workshops, which was an idea I developed at IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training. I’m an entrepreneur and an educator on toxic and non-toxic ingredients. Earlier this month I launched my second business, Miiko Skin Co., a natural skincare product line based on my knowledge of safe ingredients and principles of sustainability I learned from IMPACT!

Naturally Stepping Into Sustainability

Submitted by Our Storyteller on November 30, 2015 - 9:40am

This weekend I was lucky enough to take part in this year’s IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training in Vancouver. This program is offered throughout Canada by the Natural Step and the Co-operators, which help develop youth leaders in sustainable development. Centering around a 3-day intensive workshop series; the program is designed to deepen existing knowledge on sustainability, while empowering participants to take direct action and champion positive change. It was an amazing experience to be able to connect with some 50+ new and familiar faces who are all bringing their enthusiasm for a better world.

IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training Awarded $361,000 through Ontario Trillium Foundation

Submitted by The Natural Ste... on November 17, 2015 - 9:28am

The Natural Step Canada and The Co-operators are proud to announce that the IMPACT!  Sustainability Champions Training Program was a successful recipient of an Ontario Trillium Foundation Province-Wide Community Grant, a generous award of $361,000 for 2015-2017. This award was granted on the heels of an agreement to jointly deliver this program for at least four more years.

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