The Co-operators believes that achieving sustainability requires a multi-disciplinary approach, a broad social commitment and the energy and passion of youth. That’s why IMPACT!  The Co-operators Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership will continue to run the comprehensive program focused on young sustainability leaders that will include an in-person conference to be held in September 2011.

The first program, held in 2009, excited, empowered & equipped 180 young sustainability leaders to launch sustainability initiatives across Canada. Alumni from the inaugural program have campaigned to ban plastic bags, created “Green – jobs” workshops, held speaker series, lobbied provincial government to include sustainability in educational curriculum, successfully advocated City Council to charge more for water usage and more.  

As one IMPACT alumnus told us, “this conference changed my life. It gave me inspiration and motivation to pursue my dreams for a better world. Through the workshops, presentations, discussions, and meeting like minded youth I have been transformed into a lean green impact machine that will stop at nothing to change this unsustainable world we live in.”  Another IMPACT! Alumnus spoke at The Co-operators Annual General Meeting – visit page 4 of the Gallery for video of her thoughts on the conference. 

Program design, speakers and other details for the 2011 program are still being developed. Visit us regularly for updates on the 2011 program and to keep track of what IMPACT! 2009 alumni have already accomplished.

Wendy Carruthers, Selection Committee Chair with chart of provincial breakdown

In just two days, 180 students from 50 Canadian universities and 10 colleges will arrive in Guelph to be inspired by David Suzuki and Peter Schiefke, to collaborate with academics and sector leaders; to learn from various experts and to develop sustainability solutions to impact our homes, workplaces and communities.

Stay tuned…

Here are some of the sustainability practices implemented for the conference September 24th-27th.

• Paperless promotion and application processes
• Reduction of paper use and use of 100% recycled paper where electronic communication is not possible
• Reduction of waste in food, hard goods and packaging by meticulous pre-ordering
• Sourcing of products from co-operative, fair trade, local and ethical companies. For example, conference t-shirts are bamboo and purchased from Me to We
• More sustainable travel choices, like rail, bus and ridesharing where possible
• Primarily vegetarian options at all meals and no disposable plates or cutlery
• Providing stainless steel water bottles and water stations to all participants
• Purchasing offsets for the carbon generated by the conference

The conference will bring together an extremely diverse group. Participants have been chosen from disciplines ranging from Agriculture to Women’s Studies, Mechanical Engineering , Environmental Anthropology, Marketing, Human Kinetics, Law, Political Science, Chemistry, Journalism, Environmental Science, Interior Design, Indigeneous Environmental Philosophy, Biopsychology, Mechatronics Engineering, and more …it will be fascinating to see how this intersection of passion and experience will impact sustainability!

Successful candidates will then have to register before April 11th and begin conference pre-work by April 17th.

Good luck to everyone and thank you for your commitment to sustainability.

In the words of our kick-off speaker, Dr. David Suzuki, “this conference will not only help those young emerging leaders connect, develop and mobilize, it will also harness their energy and ideas to generate real solutions today.”

Since conference activities commence before the event itself, selected participants will begin their pre-work in the coming months under the guidance of the Research Network for Business Sustainability. Dr. Tima Bansal, Executive Director and professor at the Richard Ivey School of Business says: “we’re shaping leaders who not only understand critical sustainability issues, but who can apply innovative solutions to address them.”

So while applicants are wait to hear from us at the end of March, our conference team is in high gear reviewing hundreds of applications, planning logistics and confirming more speakers. You’ll find updates here or you can visit us on Facebook.

If you’re not familiar with Impact! The Co-operators Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership it will be the inaugural gathering of 180 college and university students from across Canada to develop timely solutions to pressing sustainability issues. Inspired by sustainability leaders, guided by sectoral experts, and developing vast and diverse networks, they will develop solutions that will effect change long after the conference has ended.

Hundreds of applications have already been received. If you haven’t sent us yours, you have until Monday, March 2nd at midnight.

Not familiar with Impact! The Co-operators Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership?

• 180 Canadian university and college students working together and with national sustainability and sectoral leaders
• Building lasting networks and developing practical sustainability solutions
• September 24th-27th, 2009 at the University of Guelph
• All expenses paid for successful applicants

If you are between 19 and 25 at the time of the conference and are committed to sustainability, this may be the conference for you. All travel, accomodation, meal and conference expenses will be fully covered. Yours will be a contribution in time and commitment.

If you are between 19-25 and attending a Canadian university or college in any discipline, apply now for this extraordinary opportunity. All conference, transportation, accommodation and meal expenses will be fully covered. Your contribution is one of time and commitment – time to prepare and collaborate prior to the conference and the commitment to initiate change going forward.

• Download the poster
• Apply now!