IMPACT NETWORK: HOW TO HOST A SUSTAINABLE EVENT
APRIL 9, 2026
We recently hosted a panel discussion, “How to Host a Sustainable Event,” featuring industry leaders from the hospitality and events sector. Panelists Stephanie Soulis from Little Mushroom Catering, Kelly Fields from Fields Trips, Guy Exley from Impact Events Group, and Vivian Vargas from DoubleTree by Hilton shared valuable insights on how they integrate sustainability into their events and projects. They discussed practical tips, useful resources, and the challenges they face.
The event also created a great opportunity for hospitality and event professionals to connect and exchange ideas around sustainability.
IMPACT NETWORK: SETTING A TARGET WITHIN THE IMPACT NETWORK
March 31, 2026
Impact Network Program Manager, Adeola Akinsola, walked us through the process and benefits of setting a target within the Impact Network, as well as sharing other valuable insights and tips for members.
FRAMEWORKS: HARNESSING HEAT PUMP TECHNOLOGY FOR DECARBONIZATION
March 24, 2026
This March we had the privilege of hosting Patrick Darby, Director of Energy & Carbon Solutions at WalterFedy, who lent his expertise on Heat Pumps to one of our largest webinar audiences to date.
Patrick gave our attendees a detailed explanation of Heat Pump technology and applications, and answered some thoughtful and relevant questions from viewers, beginning conversations that would continue beyond the presentation.
This level of engagement reflects exactly what the Frameworks program sets out to facilitate, and by that metric the second installment of our MET (Materials, Energy, Technology) series was a huge success.
FRAMEWORKS: A BUSINESS CASE FOR PASSIVE HOUSE
March 5, 2026
Recently, we hosted “A Business Case for Passive House” through our Frameworks program in partnership with Passive House Canada, featuring speakers from Schilthuis Construction Inc., Cynthia Zahoruk Architects, and Peel Passive House Consulting.
The session explored how Passive House design can support sustainability goals while delivering long-term business value, with highlights from a real-world example – a high-performance affordable housing building.
FRAMEWORKS: THE BUSINESS CASE FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS WEBINAR
February 25, 2026
Recently, we hosted a webinar on The Business Case for Sustainable Buildings, featuring insights from industry leaders across insurance, real estate, and tenant perspectives. Speakers included The Co-operators, sharing the insurance perspective; Colliers | Real Estate Services, providing insights from the real estate sector; and EY, highlighting the tenant experience with their Waterloo office building in Evolv1. Each speaker offered practical examples and strategies demonstrating the financial and operational benefits of sustainable building practices.
We thank our speakers for sharing their expertise and providing a well-rounded discussion on the value of sustainability in the built environment.
GUELPH SUSTY PROS – HOSTED BY RWDI
February 5, 2026
We were excited to host our first Susty Pros of the year in Guelph event at RWDI! Attendees enjoyed an incredible behind-the-scenes tour of RWDI’s facilities, including their impressive wind tunnel. It was a great afternoon of networking, learning, and sharing ideas. Thank you to everyone who came out, and a special thanks to RWDI for hosting us!
FRAMEWORKS: RENEWABLES 101 – WEBINAR
February 4, 2026
Recently, we hosted a Renewables 101 webinar through our Frameworks program, presented by John Rathbone, CEO of Rathco Eng. The session explored renewable energy systems, sharing real-world stories, successes, and challenges from around the globe. John also highlighted technical insights and relevant examples from Southern Ontario, making the discussion both practical and informative.
IMPACT NETWORK: LEADERSHIP IN PRACTICE – PANEL DISCUSSION
January 20, 2026
We recently hosted an intimate panel discussion on sustainability in action, bringing together experienced leaders to share real-world challenges and solutions in driving sustainable impact. The conversation went beyond highlighting successes, diving into obstacles, setbacks, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
Our sincere thanks go to the panelists and participants for their openness, insights, and thoughtful contributions. We left the afternoon feeling inspired, with plenty of practical insights to help turn sustainable ideas into action.
FRAMEWORKS: ONTARIO eDSM ROUNTABLE
January 14, 2026
We recently hosted a small group of industry representatives and experts for a dynamic roundtable discussion on Ontario’s electricity Demand Side Management. The conversation explored how provincial policy aligns with local energy planning and priorities.
A heartfelt thank you to our speakers and participants for sharing their insights, experience, and thoughtful contributions. It was a great morning filled with engaging conversation, new ideas, and meaningful connections. We appreciate everyone’s involvement and look forward to continuing the conversation.
IMPACT NETWORK: SAVE ON ENERGY
December 9, 2025
We were thrilled to host Andrew Bennett, Energy Management Supervisor at Enova Power, for an engaging webinar on getting the most from Save on Energy Programs. Andrew shared practical guidance on navigating incentives, identifying and implementing energy efficiency projects, and maximizing available support from start to finish.
Attendees gained actionable strategies to enhance project value, reduce operating and maintenance costs, and streamline the application and follow-up process. The webinar provided a clear roadmap for organizations looking to accelerate their energy efficiency goals.
FRAMEWORKS: KEFFER MEMORIAL CHAPEL BUILDING TOUR & PANEL DISUCSSION
November 17, 2025
We hosted our first-ever Frameworks Building Tour & Panel Discussion at the Keffer Memorial Chapel, showcasing how heritage buildings can be thoughtfully renewed for the future. We’re grateful to Martin Luther University College for opening their doors to our community.
The event featured a building tour, followed by an inspiring panel Brett Miller, Enda McDonagh, Rev. Dr. Mark W. Harris, moderated by Alistair Vaz, who shared insights on leadership, collaboration, stewardship, and sustainable design. Attendees h
EXPLOREWR PEER TO PEER
November 14, 2025
Our Peer-to-Peer Explore Waterloo Region member-exclusive event at Den 1880 brought hospitality industry professionals together for a relaxed evening of networking, conversation, and connection.
Attendees had the chance to share industry challenges and successes, exchange ideas, and celebrate wins with peers in a supportive, informal setting. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from one another, vent a little, and build meaningful connections within the local hospitality community.
IMPACT NETWORK: OFFICE BUILDING UPGRADES
November 13, 2025
We hosted an engaging webinar focused on implementing sustainability in office buildings and navigating effective conversations with landlords to drive meaningful improvements.
The session was led by Bruce Taylor, President of Enviro-Stewards, who shared practical tools, strategies, and real-world examples to help tenants advocate for more sustainable office spaces. Participants gained insights into how to approach negotiations, identify opportunities for collaboration, and implement impactful sustainability practices within leased buildings.
FRAMEWORKS: BUILDING CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP
October 24, 2025
We hosted our first Frameworks Workshop; Building Certifications, bringing together industry professionals to explore sustainable building certifications and their application across different project types.
The workshop featured a clear, practical overview of North America’s leading green building certifications, led by Faye Wood, Project Manager, Building Science & Sustainability at AET Group. Attendees engaged in thoughtful discussion and learned how to choose the right certification based on project goals, with support from our partner AET Group and our host venue, the SDG Idea Factory.
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this workshop a success.
SWR 2025 OPEN HOUSE
October 1, 2025
On October 1st, we hosted our Annual 2025 Open House, and it was a huge success! It was such a joy to welcome both familiar and new faces and share more about the work we do at Sustainable Waterloo Region.
The event was a great opportunity to talk about our programs, spark new conversations around sustainability, and build connections within the community. A special highlight was the amazing building tour led by Tova, giving attendees a closer look at the innovative net-positive office building evolv1. It was inspiring to see so much interest in sustainable spaces and practices!
Thank you to everyone who joined us. And thank you to our supporters who make events like this possible.
MICROFOREST: COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING EVENT
September 20th, 2025
We hosted an amazing community tree planting event at Mausser Park, with the generous support of The Kitchener Kitchen and AeT Group Inc.
It was a beautiful day filled with sunshine, smiles, and a strong sense of community. We were honoured to welcome Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and MP Tim Louis, who stopped by to see the incredible work being done as part of the 2025 Community Canopy Program.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out and contributed to the success of this event, we couldn’t have done it without you!
IMPACT NETWORK: HAPPY HOUR – NETWORKING SOCIAL
August 19th, 2025
We were thrilled to host a vibrant and engaging Happy Hour Networking Social at The Walper Hotel. The evening brought together our Impact Network members and broader community for a relaxed atmosphere filled with delicious food, drinks and meaningful conversations.
IMPACT NETWORK: Envrio-Stewards Affordable Smart Blue Roof Tour
August 13th, 2025
Hosted by our Impact Network member Enviro-Stewards in Elmira, attendees learnt about the innovative and valuable work that has been pioneered by Enviro-Stewards over the past 25 years. We had the opportunity to tour the Affordable Smart Blue Roof, which sits atop the company’s office space.
We extend our appreciation to the Enviro-Stewards team for welcoming us, and our hosts, Julia Baribeau, Christy Hipel, Lloyd Hipel, Andreas Mertes, and Founder and President Bruce Taylor, for his informative and insightful presentation. We are also grateful to our attendees for their contributions, facilitating the opportunity for networking and information exchange across industries.
Co-operators HQ Building tour
July 18th, 2025
We were grateful to be hosted by the Co-operators on a tour of their new building in Guelph. It was a wonderful session filled with learning and information exchange. Appreciation to our hosts at the Co-operators, Celeste Donkersgoed, and Jonathan De La Durantaye, as well as our guests for their time and valuable insights.
Impact Tool Training Session
June 24th, 2025
The Impact Tool is able to help companies and organizations track and calculate their carbon emissions from a variety of different sources. Emissions tracking identifies inefficiencies and wasteful practices that increase an organization’s carbon footprint. Tracking Emissions is the first step on the path to net-zero and carbon neutrality.
Hosted by our friends who provide the technology that fuels the Impact Tool, we are happy to be supported by Climate Action Associate, Raisa Islam, and Climate Action Manager, Vanessa Pereira.
Through the Impact Tool, key emission sources can be identified and mapped. Users can navigate global operations, download and fill out data templates, and assign different roles to ensure secure, efficient collaboration.