The costs of the current food system to the environment and human health are unsustainable on planet earth.

We fund
Climate and Sustainability Leadership initiatives in order to:

  • Inspire future leaders by demonstrating sustainability in action

  • Raise awareness by incorporating sustainability into public spaces and infrastructure

  • Integrate sustainability into the education system to inform next generation advocacy and decision-making

  • Create positive change in individual behaviour such as buying habits and voting preferences

  • Encourage support for and adoption of impactful public policy

  • Provide relevant skills and knowledge equipping future leaders to make a difference

In 2016, we began providing multi-year funding to help organizations to establish significant Climate and Sustainability Leadership initiatives.

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  • We are funding this investment in support of students, to enhance academic programming, and to build a new landmark building, which is currently under construction.

    The building is the creation of a ‘living lab’ that showcases the importance of sustainability and demonstrates what is possible. It will offer student residence space, classrooms, indoor and outdoor communal areas, dining areas and urban gardens. Lawson Centre for Sustainability’s ambitious targets include internationally recognized LEED Platinum Certification and certification under the Canadian Green Building Council Zero Carbon Building Standard.

    The Integrated Sustainability Initiative will integrate fluency in sustainability into academic programs and enable students to take advantage of new learning opportunities focused on sustainability both inside the classroom and through research and internships. A new Director of Sustainability will support these activities and will oversee the development of academic and co-curricular sustainability programming including internships and community outreach.

  • ClearWater Farm is located on a 180-year old farm situated on the shores of Lake Simcoe and has four strategic objectives:

    1. Place-based Education: Engaging children and youth in experiences that lead to a future where good things happen when people care about food, water, the land, and each other.


    2. Educational Farming: Showcasing organic and regenerative approaches to food security through providing innovative experiences in growing, cooking, enjoying and celebrating food.


    3. Water Conservation: Using interactivity to increase our understanding of how wise land use can improve the health of the lake, and mitigate changing climate and extreme weather effects.


    4. Economic Development: Anchoring community efforts to help Georgina be a place with vitality that is deeply connected to Lake Simcoe and boasts a local food economy.


    Our funding has supported the construction of greenhouses to extend the growing season, restoration of the historic barn and programming to train aspiring farmers.