Ontario EcoCentres

Ontario EcoCentres is a standards and certification program in development to acknowledges the unique nature of education centres and to provide a framework for carbon neutrality.
 
Ontario EcoCentres provides a tool for evaluating and certifying education centres using these critical components including:

• 
  Occupancy Behaviour and


• 
   Performance Management


• 
  Resource Conservation


• 
  Environmental Quality


• 
  Curriculum Learning Programs and Resources


• 
  Procurement


• 
  Professional Development & Training


• 
  Biodiversity & Sustainable Sites


• 
  Infrastructure Renewal & New Construction


• 
  Transportation


• 
  Social Equity


• 
  Carbon Neutral Strategy

 Environmental education centres, zoos, museums, school board outdoor education centres and other learning centres serve the student population of Ontario and possess a significant ability to influence student understanding on sustainability issues.
  
 By establishing a program that quantifies operational performance, identifies capital deficiencies and addresses emissions through behaviour, adaptation and mitigation, Ontario EcoCentres has the potential to improve the resilience of the education system while transforming the way these education centres are operated.
 
Participating organizations include EASO, TRCA, Metro Toronto Zoo, Downsview Park, Humber Arboreum, Conservation Halton, Peel and York Region District School Boards.  For more information contact Darryl Gray, TRCA at DGray@trca.on.ca