Background
Camosun College Students for Environmental Awareness (CSEA) was started in September 2005, taking the name of a previous environmental group at the college (SEA) that had gone defunct. A group of like-minded students began meeting to discuss their ideas of what environmental initiatives were possible at Camosun College. While the main campaign of the year was the initiative to switch the school to 100% post-consumer recycled paper, individuals and small groups worked on many other projects.
In the winter of 2006, CSEA began to receive CCSS funding, and hired a part-time employee. Within the first two semesters of its existence CSEA had many successes , such as:
- Converting the college’s printers and copiers to 100% post-consumer recycled paper
- Hosting the first annual Sustainability Day
- Screening several movies, facilitating many workshops and hosting a variety of lectures
- Establishing a column in Nexus, Camosun's student newspaper
In its second year, CSEA benefited from having established members and structure. In the fall 2006 semester the group
- Established a weekly organic produce stand through Share Organics (LifeCycles)
- Brought Recyclistas to the campus for two free bike tune-up booths
- Hosted two "Sustainable Barbeques" featuring local, organic meats along with vegetarian and vegan options
- Ran a coffee stand that sold fair-trade, organic coffee. This stand gave a discount to those who brought their own cups, and provided lent everyone else ceramic coffee mugs. No disposable cups were used!