Pearson College
From ClimateNetworkWiki
Lester B. Pearson World College is an IB-based World College which implemented the first Sustainability Assessment adaptation in 2004. Pearson student leader Nico Hawley-Weld dropped in to learn more at the SHS Youth Action gathering in 2007, and since then has worked with SHS staff mentorship to re-energize and coordinate initiatives at his school. Though not represented by an active member on the SHS Youth Steering Committee, especially now that Nico just graduated, the types of projects Pearson has successfully taken on act as an inspiring example to the rest of the SHS Network.
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Contact:
Staff Contact: admin@pearsoncollege.ca: Project Manager: Chris Blondeau, Director of Operations; Co-coordinators: Virginie Lavallee-Picard, Alex Fletcher and Steph Levy
Student Contact:
School Address: 650 Pearson College Dr., Victoria, BC V9C 4H7. Phone: 250 391-2411 (Main College line) 250 391-2412 (Fax)
Check out our school's website
Sustainability Advisory Committee
Pearson student Leader Niko Hawley-Weld brought together other students, the Director, maintenance, cafeteria and teaching staff in spring 2006 to meet with SHS staff and discuss how to model inclusive decision-making and use the results of their sustainability assessment to better coordinate and expand their existing sustainability initiatives. They have since created a SAC called “Estar Bien” which includes student representatives from each house, teachers, administration, and cafeteria and maintenance staff, and have hired two alumni to coordinate the school’s once separate sustainability efforts. This effort spearheaded what has become Pearson's Oikos Project
Sustainability Assessment
Pearson College was actually the first school with high school aged students to adapt the Sierra Youth Coalition's Campus Sustainability Assessment Framework.With the help of former SYC staff and Royal Roads university students, Pearson completed a much larger assessment than the HSSAF now recommended by SYC and the Sierra Club BC in 2004. Unfortunately, as is often the case in schools, staff retired, students graduated, and the 100-odd page report sat on a shelf in a closet. Since reconnecting with the SHS Network however, Pearson is welll on its way to using and updating the recommendations developed through its sustainability assessment.
Sustainability Initiatives
Among many sustainability projects, a few highlights: Pearson has secured an agreement with all world colleges to not increase and where possible, decrease per-student consumption of paper, water, energy and waste production. They upgraded their fleet of bicycles, shower heads and now compost paper towels from bathrooms. Pearson renovated their greenhouse and composter, designed a bio-diesel plant to convert waste to fuel and created partnerships with farmers to buy local and organic produce. They held a consensus-based discussion on the drug policy, and created a new faculty position focussed on students’ well-being and set a monthly time specifically for community building. check here for more details about Pearson's awesome projects!
Engaging Classes with the Sierra Club's Education Program
Pearson invited SHS staff to facilitate several workshops at the CISTA conference they hosted in 2007, which Pearson students could attend alongside delegates from other World Colleges instead of regular coursework.
