Sustainable Workplace Ambassadors Program (SWAP)
Getting in touch with your greener side just got a little easier!
Whether it's converting to reusable water bottles and cutlery, growing native plants, or opting for active and sustainable transportation choices, embedding sustainability and environmental stewardship into your life is often a simple matter of swapping habits.
Western's Sustainable Workplace Ambassadors Program (SWAP) will help you learn about a variety of sustainability topics, engage with other employees across campus, and take action at Western and in your broader community. We will discuss difficult topics and challenging changes as a group, and celebrate our successes.
SWAP is a campus-wide initiative created to engage staff and faculty members with various sustainability-related topics such as waste, energy, food, and much more.
SWAP's Goals:
- Connect with members of the campus community
- Encourage sustainable behaviour through education and engagement
- Build confidence around sustainability-related topics
Building on the previous Green Office Program, SWAP focuses on the individual impact participants can have when it comes to sustainable behaviours, as well as community impact we can have as a network of employees. We are interested in hearing what you (Western employees) want from the Office of Sustainability in terms of opportunities to learn and engage. SWAP will be an iterative program, building on its successes and incorporating participant feedback as we go.
All Western staff and faculty employees are eligible to join SWAP, at any point through the year. If you are interested in signing up, please email sustainability@uwo.ca and you will be added to the OWL group site.
SWAP Events
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 @ 11:00am-12:00pm - Green Campus Tour
Western's campus has many different sustainability features from beautiful gardens and green space, to an Old Growth Forest patch, a community garden producing food and native plants, LEED® -certified buildings, and so much more! Join us on a walking tour to explore some of these wonderful spaces. Open to all staff and faculty at Western.
Friday, April 28, 2023 @ 9:00am-10:30am - City Nature Challenge
As part of the City Nature Challenge, join the Biodiversity Inventory at Western for a guided biodiversity hike through the Medway Valley Heritage Forest Environmentally Significant Area on the west end of Western University's campus. Using the iNaturalist app, you'll be able to include your observations and contribute towards community science.
Thursday, March 9, 2023 @ 11:00am - 12:00pm - Beeswax Wrap Workshop
In collaboration with Hospitality Services, take part in a hands-on workshop to create your own beeswax wrap! Plant-based food snacks will be available for participants to enjoy as well. All supplies for the workshop will be provided, and spaces are limited so please register in advance. Open to all staff and faculty at Western.
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 @ 12:00-1:00pm - SWAP Meet and Green
Join us for a 'meet and green' with fellow SWAP members! Everyone is invited to share a bit about the work they do personally and at Western and how it relates to sustainability. Open to all staff and faculty at Western.
Wednesday, November 16, 2022 @ 12:00-1:00pm - Green Spaces at Western, Lunch & Learn
Take some time over the lunch hour to learn about the beautiful natural spaces campus has to offer! This event will be held virtually over Zoom.
