Canadore's solar-powered grow pod project, a Living Labs initiative (September 2022–April 2023), showcased a climate-resilient, fossil fuel-free solution for sustainable food production by researching opportunities to improve food security for rural and Indigenous communities.

Key outcomes included consultations with Indigenous groups, nutritive testing of soil- and hydroponically grown produce, and reducing embodied carbon for Canadore’s Culinary Arts programs. Achievements featured the creation of “pod pesto,” a nationally streamed tour, and recognition in CTV News, the Globe and Mail, and Colleges and Institutes Canada’s Campus Living Labs report. With 800,000+ social media impressions, the project raised awareness and supported SDG innovation.

The project successfully prevented over 1,800 kg of CO2e from entering the atmosphere—equivalent to driving a passenger vehicle for 4,570 miles (EPA, 2023). Watch Video ↓

Canadore College was proud to be selected as one of ten national living labs for its innovative forest management project. The initiative focused on 460 forested acres at the College Drive Campus to enhance biodiversity, promote sustainability, and support carbon sequestration efforts. Key activities included conducting forest inventories, mapping forest health and composition, and calculating carbon sequestration rates. These efforts contributed to the development of a comprehensive 10-year forest management plan.

Community engagement was a cornerstone of the project. Events included tree planting sessions that introduced over 130 new trees, including maple, bur oak, elderberries, and butternut. The project’s National Tree Day planting event earned the National Tree Day Celebration Contest award from Tree Canada, granting a fully funded planting event in 2024. These trees were planted in September 2024 at the new location daycare location in partnership with The Lindsay Weld Centre for Children.

Canadore College became the first Ontario college to join the Campus Biodiversity Network, a collaborative initiative dedicated to preserving and enhancing natural ecosystems on post-secondary campuses. As part of this effort, Canadore launched a Campus Biodiversity Walk, providing students, staff, and community members with an interactive way to explore and learn about local flora and fauna while highlighting the college’s commitment to conservation and sustainable land stewardship.

In addition to engaging students, employees, and the community, the project achieved measurable environmental impact, diverting 1,000 tons of CO2e from the atmosphere through an innovative insetting initiative.

Canadore College is proud to be the first Canadian post-secondary institution to achieve both Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certifications, setting a national benchmark in sustainable forest management.

Watch the project video below and read the featured Globe and Mail article here.