SK RCE Education for Sustainable Development Award (2016)

Last May 4, 2016, I had the privilege to accompany Councillor Rebecca Otitoju to the Saskatchewan Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development recognition event or SK RCE on ESD.

Every year, SK RCE recognizes excellence in efforts to promote education for sustainable development in Saskatchewan. This year was the 8th recognition event and was held at the Treaty Four Governance Centre in Fort Qu’Appelle, which deserves an award itself for innovation and commitment to the promotion and protection of indigenous language and culture. I encourage you to visit the Centre if you haven’t had already.

The awards recognize the achievements of individuals, organizations and groups as they pursue ways to help make our province a more sustainable place. Through the years, SK RCE awards have included recipients such as Wings over Wascana Nature Festival, Craik Sustainable Living Project Solar Fair, Town Planning Day 2010, Oil Recycling Day St. Catherine School, Twin Lakes Community Planning Association, SaskPower’s Energy Efficient In-Store Lighting Education and many many more.

This year’s event included an introduction by Dr. Roger Petry, RCE Saskatchewan Coordinator and welcome remarks and congratulations by Her Honour Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield and Dr. Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Teacher Education for Sustainability.

Councillor Otitoju proudly accepted an RCE Saskatchewan’s Education for Sustainable Development Award on behalf of The White Butte Ecomuseum-Luther College at the University of Regina-Royal Saskatchewan Museum as an innovative project that has helped to increase the capacity for sustainable development in Saskatchewan.

For those of you who are not familiar with this project, Councillor Otitoju has been working closely with the University of Regina’s Ecomuseums course instructor, Dr. Mary Vetter and Dr. Glenn Sutter, Curator of Human Ecology at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, developing the White Butte Ecomuseumto explore, interpret and preserve heritage of the White Butte Ecoregion in a multifaceted and dynamic way, and to promote sustainable development within the communities.

On behalf of the Town of White City, Administration and Council we would like to congratulate Councillor Otitoju and The White Butte Ecomuseum-Luther College at the University of Regina-Royal Saskatchewan Museum for this great achievement

Mauricio Jiménez
Town of White City