Canadian Educators Met at Vanier College

In terms of accreditation, delegates looked at the formal process whereby the Standards Council of Canada and similar bodies, verify and recognize a school’s competency to train people to work in the environmental sector. Such accreditation is crucial since some environmental jobs, such as waste management, involve toxic substances and are dangerous. Hence, the schools and the environmental programs they teach must follow internationally recognized criteria and procedures to ensure that specialists perform their work safely. Following standards and receiving accreditation ensure that Canadian-trained technologists will be accepted not only everywhere in Canada, but outside the country as well. Furthermore, close links between accreditation bodies and industry aim to make sure that students learn the techniques and competencies companies need in their workforce.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Tony Tilly, President of Sir Sanford Fleming College in Ontario, challenged the group to look at the value of accreditation for post-secondary institutions in Canada. As well, luncheon speaker, Thomas Mulcair, former Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, called on participants to think about the significant impact their educational programming could have on the environmental agenda of the nation. Industry representatives presented the viewpoint of employers on the accreditation of environmental programs while a group of accrediting bodies including Engineers Canada, the Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board and the British Columbia College of Applied Biologists gave an update on how programs get accredited and the nature of accrediting bodies. As a result both universities and colleges will be looking at the impact of accreditation on their graduates. Colleges also discussed how to offer their graduates further specialized training or upgrading beyond the college diploma.

“This conference was a wake-up call for our department on the issue of accreditation,” indicated Patti Duffy of Environmental and Wildlife Management. “The lack of accreditation hasn’t had an effect in Quebec yet, but if you want your graduates to be mobile, accreditation is important. In the future it might be necessary if people want to work outside the province or the country.”

During their stay in Montreal, the delegates were given a tour of the St. Michel Environmental Complex where ultra-modern waste management strategies are reclaiming the Miron quarry, a large landfill site. They saw how decomposing garbage buried beneath a park drives a biofuel to energy plant, toured the extensive safety monitoring systems, and heard how the Complex is revitalizing local neighbourhoods. “We had an amazing tour. It was a highlight for everyone. It made us proud to be Montrealers because the technology is so advanced,” commented Patti Duffy.

“We hope that all Quebec Cegeps will participate in the meeting next year in Halifax,” added Quentin Van Ginhoven, Coordinator of Vanier’s Environmental and Wildlife Management Program.

(Source: Vanier College)