PHSA employees in costume for an environmental sustainability campaign
Chosen as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2013:
By Richard Yerema and Julien Gagnier, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors
(Apr 21, 2013)
Some of the reasons why Provincial Health Services Authority was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2013):
- recently launched the "Green+Leaders" program promoting environmentally conscious behaviour in the workplace with employee "Leaders" and volunteers addressing a range of issues, including energy reduction, sustainable transportation, paper use reduction, expanded recycling programs and a variety of waste reduction initiatives -- the unique program continues to expand to include 90 departments and host 10 educational and networking events last year
- also has an in-house "Energy and Environmental Sustainability" team that consists of 11 full-time employees, including senior managers and executives who operate within the authority's formal Environmental Sustainability policy that was passed in 2010
- has developed a unique "Food Action Framework" that supports healthy eating combined with promoting a local and sustainable food supply, the framework is available to other health authorities, educational institutions, and local governments -- and also hosts a series of small farmer's markets and seminars to showcase local, nutritious and healthy eating initiatives
- employees are eligible for prizes including gift certificates as well as various bicycle gear such as reflectors and bells when they join the "Green Commuters Club" and commit to commuting to work using alternative modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling, public transit, carpooling and even telecommuting at least four times a week
- in addition to having a full-time "Reduction and Recycling Coordinator" position, the Authority recently established a "Reduction and Recycling Program" at all acute care sites for the recycling of batteries, used electronic equipment and printer cartridges
- has implemented a series of environmental initiatives in response to employee feedback, from the decommissioning of multiple, high energy-consuming (but underused) equipment at its BC Cancer Labs location to the installation of solar-powered LED lighting for pathways as well as equipment retrofits to help reduce energy consumed
- at many of its locations, the Authority has also introduced a number of green projects, including a composting program at its BC Cancer Victoria café and employee kitchen; an auction for used office and medical equipment held at its BC Cancer Vancouver location; and aggressive paper saving initiatives at its Children's and Women's Health Centre
- the Authority has made a commitment to incorporate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards into all new constructions -- its BC Cancer Research Centre has achieved LEED Gold certification, BC Centre of the North constructed to Gold standards and features rooftop garden for employees to use, and its Mental Health building at Children's and Women's Health Centre is LEED Silver certified
Background Information
Major Canadian hiring locations: Vancouver BC, Abbotsford BC, Kelowna BC, Kamloops BC, Prince George BC, Victoria BC, Nanaimo BC.
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