HALIFAX, NS, April 22, 2013 /CNW/ - Dalhousie University today announced
a $1.5 million commitment from the RBC Foundation to Dalhousie
University's College of Sustainability to support the new
Sustainability Leadership Certificate (SLC) program.
The donation is part of RBC's recognition of Earth Day, which takes
place every year on April 22. The funds raised through the Bold Ambitions: The Campaign for Dalhousie, will support the new SLC program, which enables students to work
directly on building skills to lead change towards a sustainable
future. Sustainability is the concept of using our planet's resources
in a manner that ensures future generations can also enjoy the same
benefits that we are privileged to enjoy today.
"Protecting our planet is a shared responsibility and an effort that
must involve everyone - communities, government, business leaders and
educators," says Kim Mason, Regional President, Atlantic Canada, RBC.
"We're committed to supporting innovative programs like the
Sustainability Leadership Certificate program that engage and encourage
future leaders of tomorrow to incorporate environmental and social
considerations into their work, regardless of which fields they're in."
The SLC brings together students, community groups and businesses to
encourage and foster creative sustainability solutions. The program
complements the College's popular Environment, Sustainability and
Society undergraduate major, but is open to students of other subjects
from all parts of Dalhousie, providing a truly diverse forum for
sharing ideas and energy.
"The SLC program recognizes that leadership for social, economic and
environmental sustainability is rooted in students' confidence in their
personal values, their service to communities and in their engagement
with the world," says Dr. Susan Tirone, Associate Director for the
College of Sustainability. "We very much appreciate RBC Foundation's
donation and applaud their commitment to a sustainable future for
everyone."
The SLC offers a collaborative engaged-learning program built around a
series of weekend modules, interspersed with action projects in the
community, written reflections and creative assignments all woven
together by the metaphor of stories - personal stories, leadership
stories and community stories.
RBC Foundation's funding now ensures:
-
financial sustainability of the SLC program for at least 10 years
-
increased program reach and impact
-
minimal program cost to students
-
continued community collaboration
-
evaluation and continuous improvement of sustainability education
For decades, RBC and Dalhousie University have enjoyed a mutually
beneficial relationship best exemplified through RBC's partnership with
Dalhousie's Faculty of Management which has seen the placement or
hiring of 71 Dalhousie students since 2007. Over 100 RBC employees have
completed a MBA at Dalhousie and there are currently others enrolled in
the financial services MBA.
About Dalhousie's College of Sustainability
The College of Sustainability acts as a focal point for Dalhousie's
scholars and students and members of the broader community, creating
opportunities for synergies in learning, teaching, scholarship and
community engagement. Its innovative Environment, Sustainability and
Society (ESS) interdisciplinary undergraduate program is a Canadian
first and has been recognized internationally for its contribution to
sustainability education.
About Bold Ambitions: The Campaign for Dalhousie
The $250-million Bold Ambitions campaign is the largest and most comprehensive in Dalhousie's history;
focusing on student success and enrichment, interdisciplinary programs,
and innovation and design. Its impact will deepen Dalhousie's capacity
for excellence, pushing us further to achieve our vision of becoming
the very best university in Canada.
About RBC's Commitment to Community and Sustainability
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate
under the master brand name RBC. We employ approximately 80,000 full-
and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal,
business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in
Canada, the U.S. and 49 other countries. RBC is recognized among the
world's financial, social and environmental leaders and is listed on
the 2012 - 2013 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the DJSI North
American Index, the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. RBC is
one of Canada's Greenest Employers, one of Canada's 50 Most Socially
Responsible Corporations and among the Global 100 Most Sustainable
Corporations in the World. Learn more at www.rbc.com/community-sustainability.
RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations,
sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2012, we contributed
more than $95 million to causes worldwide, including donations and
community investments of more than $64 million and $31 million in
sponsorships.
SOURCE: RBC
