Attendees gathered to reflect on a decade of impacts from the TD Environmental Leaders Program (2013–2023) and to ask themselves, “What’s next?”
Through open conversations, they tackled key challenges such as making volunteering more accessible, amplifying student voices and fostering real reciprocity between universities and community partners. A key part of this discussion was on how to build a strong support system for youth engagement in promoting sustainability. This work will ensure students stay connected and remain actively involved in long-term initiatives.
Among those engaged in the discussions was Maximilian Benda, who shared his perspective:
"The environmental workshop was a day filled with constructive conversation surrounding conservation."
“It was also a day where meaningful connections were made that will further strengthen the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability.”
Maximilian Benda, a third-year finance student and founder of the Upcycling Club at uOttawa
The workshop was more than just a one-off session — it was a step toward rethinking how we collaborate. This critical event encouraged participants to reflect on specific “problem orpriority spaces” that we need to focus on to design meaningful solutions.
A key aspect of the discussion was identifying specific, feasible changes participants wantedto achieve together, helping to clarify their shared goals. One of the central tools introduced was the critical shift statement, which consists of two parts:
Participants were invited to brainstorm critical shifts they believe need to happen in the next five years to advance community-led environmental and climate action in Ottawa.
This process opened conversations on key topics around community environmental action. The insights shared will help make a meaningful, sustainable, impactful difference in how students and partners get involved in the issue.