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Webinar - Sustainable Investing Trends for Canadian Hospital Foundations: Addressing Barriers and Seizing Opportunities
Date: April 10th, 2025
Time: 9am PST/12pm EST
Join us for a review of key findings from the Canadian Hospital Foundation Survey on Sustainable Investing, conducted by the Coalition in partnership with the Trottier Family Foundation, PEACH Health Ontario, the Canada Climate Law Initiative, and Quinn+Partners.
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NEW Networking Hub - Introduction to Clinical Circular Care: A National Campaign to Reduce Single-Use Plastics in Health Care
Join us for our newest Networking Hub. This hub aims to connect clinic-based health professionals, enabling collaboration to lower costs, improve health outcomes, and reduce environmental impacts through energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable practices.
The first hub meeting will be held April 29th, 2025.
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Media Release - Laying the Foundation for a Net-Zero Future in Health Care
The Coalition proudly marks the successful completion of the first year of the ‘Preparing Canada’s Health Care Buildings for Net-Zero’ project. Supported by the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Implementation Readiness Fund, this initiative is equipping health care organisations with the required tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across hospitals, health centres, clinics, and long-term care homes.
Read our media release to explore the various initiatives and opportunities available.
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Missed one of our recent webinars? No problem! The Coalition posts all webinar recordings on our YouTube channel. Our latest webinars are now available:
Low-tech, High-impact Solutions to Heatwaves in Long-Term Care, Acute Care, Clinics, and Home Care Settings Across Canada - Watch the vital discussion on protecting vulnerable populations from extreme indoor heat in health care and community settings HERE.
Introduction to Circular Clinical Care: A National Campaign to Reduce Single-Use Plastics in Health Care - Learn about the work being done at the pilot site, Hamilton Health Sciences, and explore how individuals/organisations can participate in the national campaign to reduce single-use plastics. Watch the recording HERE.
Low Carbon Resilience Roadmapping - Learn about two successful examples of a holistic and collaborative approach to Low Carbon Resilience Roadmapping. Watch the recording HERE.
| | CHES - Call for 2026 Webinar Series Topics | | |
The CHES Webinar Sub-committee is seeking proposals for webinar topics for 2026. Presentations must be an educational benefit to all attendees, not an endorsement of products or services for which the presenter is a representative.
Please use the 2026 Webinar Call for Abstracts form below to see what topics will be given priority, and to submit a topic for consideration for the CHES 2026 Webinar Series.
Deadline to Submit: April 21st, 2025
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New report highlights wins — and opportunities — for climate action and sustainability in health care
University of Toronto
Health organisations across the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) are taking action to improve sustainability in health care — and better prepare for the health impacts of climate change. To pinpoint sustainability goals shared among TAHSN institutions and track progress, Miller and the centre’s managing director Brittany Maguire co-developed a sustainability balanced scorecard with TAHSN’s Sustainable Health System Community of Practice.
A new report, authored by Maguire and Miller, reveals that this initiative, led by the Collaborative Centre, is already helping health organisations build towards a brighter, more sustainable future.
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Building climate-resilient and low-carbon health care systems in Canada: A need for policy shift for a path to net zero
Sage Journals
Climate change is straining Canada’s health system. Canada pledged to develop climate-resilient and low-carbon sustainable health systems, with a net zero target. Despite this commitment, progress remains slow and fragmented, with many regions lacking cohesive, evidence-based strategies.
While some provinces and health authorities have taken the lead, their efforts are hindered by inadequate investment. Limited data on low-carbon resilient strategies led to a comparative policy analysis of similar health systems to identify solutions.
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Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Hospital Pharmacies
CASCADES
The Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Hospital Pharmacies playbook contains background information, resources, and environmental considerations to guide health care clinicians, teams and institutions to improve environmental sustainability of pharmacies in Canadian health care institutions. Developed in collaboration with the Canadian Society of Healthcare-Systems Pharmacy (CSHP), it is intended for Canadian health care providers and administrators working in pharmacies of bed-based health care settings who provide patient care, contribute to institutional policies, and make institutional changes.
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Climate Change and Health in B.C.: From Risk to Resilience
ClimateReadyBC
This report reflects the collective efforts of many contributors across the provincial government, the health sector, and Indigenous and community service organisations—including the important work of our team and facilities collaborators.
The goal of this project was to deepen understanding of how climate change is impacting people, communities, and the health system in B.C.—and to identify effective and equitable strategies for resilience.
The report brings together extensive research and input from across the health system and partners.
| | Social Prescribing Day 2025 | |
On March 19th, 2025 we celebrated Social Prescribing Day, check out the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing website to explore toolkits, events, and resources that highlight the impact of this innovative approach across Canada. Join the movement and see how social prescribing connects people to the support they need for better health.
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Gardening for Biodiversity
Nature Canada
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Gardening for Biodiversity is a series of four comprehensive fact sheets focusing on key aspects of biodiversity gardening.
Led by the Ecological Design lab as part of their national Bylaws for Biodiversity research, the Gardening for Biodiversity component project, has been developed in partnership with the National Environmental Treasure, Nature Canada and FLAP Canada. Together, they have collaboratively created a series of free resources that are supported by fact, building upon our shared knowledge. This initiative is intended to serve as a collaborative repository, uniting credited links and resources across our organisations into one accessible collection. By curating these valuable tools in a single place, we aim to support and simplify the journey for individuals and communities seeking to learn about gardening for habitat and biodiversity.
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Circular economy action plan for Canada
Canadian Circular Economy Summit
Recalibrating Canada’s economy to align its goals for prosperity, while delivering on environmental commitments and social values, necessitates the collective actions of all stakeholders, including government, business, and civil society. The circular economy offers that opportunity.
This first-of-its-kind Circular Economy Action Plan for Canada is intended to chart an implementation framework to accelerate Canada towards circularity in several important areas simultaneously.
The CE Summit's co-leads, Circular Economy Leadership Canada (CELC) and the Circular Innovation Council (CIC), have designed this strategic CE Action Plan to be a ‘working blueprint’, organized under five key enablers which include a number of longer-term outcome statements and more specific near-term tactics or priority actions for each.
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Preventing waste from packaging outside the home
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
The British Columbia (B.C.) Ministry of Environment and Parks has released summary information from the engagement on the prevention of non-residential packaging waste.
The following documents have been released:
For further information on B.C.’s work on plastic and waste reduction please visit gov.bc.ca/reuse.
| | NEW! RETScreen® Expert Version 9.2 now offers direct connection to ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager | |
The RETScreen® Clean Energy Management Software Version 9.2 now features RETScreen Connect, enabling automated data import and integration with ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. Developed with Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. EPA, this tool streamlines clean energy project analysis by linking data sources and simplifying updates.
Version 9.2 of the RETScreen® Clean Energy Management Software platform is now available for download from the RETScreen website.
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Climate Rounds: Sustainable Surgery
Choosing Wisely
Date: April 23rd, 2025
Time: 9:00am PST/ 12:00pm EST
Operating rooms (ORs) use three to six times more energy per occupied space than other hospital areas and generate approximately one-third of its waste. But simple changes in surgical practice can cut waste, reduce energy-intensive sterilization, and lower greenhouse gas emissions without compromising patient care.
Join Choosing Wisely Canada and the Canadian Medical Association for this event to hear experts share how to lead sustainability efforts in the OR and practical strategies to drive meaningful environmental change in surgical care.
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Embedding Sustainability into Organisations' Strategic Frameworks
CASCADES
Date: April 24th, 2025
Time: 9:00 am PST/ 12:00pm EST
On Thursday, April 24, join CASCADES Director Fiona Miller in conversation with Amanda Mckenzie, Karen Reutlinger, and Mary Lynn VanTassel as they discuss the significant opportunities that exist in many organisations to advance the sustainability agenda.
This webinar in the Leadership and strategy for sustainable health systems series is the second of seven events highlighting seven organisational practices to advance strategic planning for sustainable health care.
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A Primer on Renewable and Recoverable Energy from Waste in British Columbia
Coast Waste Management Association
Date: April 17th, 2025
Time: 10:00am PST/ 1:00pm EST
This 90-minute event will help attendees learn the fundamentals of the technology, economics, and environmental pros and cons of methods currently being used in British Columbia to generate or recover renewable energy from waste.
Speakers will include an inventory of facilities and then break down the basics of each method with presentations from experts in their specific methods.
Topics include:
- Landfill gas recovery basics
- Wastewater energy recover
- Waste-to-Energy with highlights of the Metro Vancouver facility
- Surrey Biofuel Facility that converts organic waste into renewable natural gas and high-quality compost
- Basics of biomass gasification systems and the landscape across BC.
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Unpacking the Report: Polluting Education
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
Date: April 8th, 2025
Time: 4:30 pm PST/ 7:30pm EST
A new report from CAPE and For Our Kids, “Polluting Education: The Influence of Fossil Fuels on Children’s Education in Canada,” reveals that oil and gas companies are funding or developing K-12 environmental and climate-related materials in our schools. These resources downplay the fossil fuel industry's role in climate change, exaggerate oil and gas' pro-environmental actions, emphasize individual responsibility over systemic solutions, and shift responsibility away from fossil fuel polluters.
Join CAPE for a live webinar and panel discussion featuring beloved children's entertainer Raffi, climate and mental health expert Britt Wray, and the report’s authors. Together, they'll unpack the report’s findings, explore how fossil fuel influence is undermining climate education, and discuss how we can take action and demand fossil fuel free education for our kids.
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7th Annual Passive House Canada Conference
Canadian Institute
Date: May 5 - 7th, 2025
The highly anticipated Passive House Canada Conference is set to take place in Ottawa for the first time, marking the 7th annual gathering of industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators. This premier green building event is a must-attend for those passionate about advancing low-carbon, high-performance, sustainable building practices.
With Passive House projects gaining momentum in Eastern Canada, this year’s conference is poised to amplify that growth, offering an unparalleled platform to explore how “low-carbon” aligns with the Passive House
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2nd Forum on Healthcare Infrastructure, Atlantic Canada
Canadian Institute
Date: July 14 - 15th, 2025
Location: Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax, NS
Seize the opportunity to connect with leaders in health care facilities planning, construction, design, and clinical operations at the Canadian Institute’s Forum on Healthcare Infrastructure, Atlantic Canada. This essential event will provide critical insights into project delivery best practices, national and regional trends, and the status of major developments across Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
With an aging population driving urgent facility upgrades, this event fosters collaboration on innovative solutions for health care design, construction, and delivery across the East Coast.
Save 10% with the CCGHC promo code: D10-999-CCGHC25
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8th Annual Forum on Healthcare Infrastructure, Western Canada
Canadian Institute
Date: June 19th – 20th, 2025
The 8th Annual Forum on Healthcare Infrastructure, Western Canada, will be held in Vancouver, offering an opportunity to network with industry leaders and explore strategies for health care infrastructure design and construction.
Attendees will examine procurement models, learn about evolving standards, and meet with key decision-makers to stay at the forefront of cutting-edge health care facility delivery.
Register now to save 10% with promo code: D10-999-CCGHC25.
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PEACH Health Conference 2025
PEACH Health Ontario
Date: May 21st, 2025
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens Rock Garden, Hamilton, ON
Join PEACH Health Ontario for the first PEACH Health Conference 2025, an exciting in-person event where you can connect with and learn from experts in sustainability, planetary health, family medicine, and knowledge translation.
This year's theme is Environmental Sustainability in Primary Health Care. Don't miss this opportunity to network, learn, and grow with students and professionals in the field!
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Dates and Topics:
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April 23rd, 2025 - Structural Upgrade of Pre-Code Hospital Building to Meet Modern Safety and Operational Standards
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May 21st, 2025 - CSA Z462 2024 Edition Significant Impacts for Hospitals
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June 18th, 2025 - Flooring & CSA Z8000 Canadian Health Care Facilities Planning, Design and Construction
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October 15th, 2025 - Infection Prevention and Control
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November 19th, 2025 - Improving Energy Efficiency While Saving Precious Real Estate and Reducing Operational Costs: How Wastewater Heat Recovery Helped Toronto Western Hospital Achieve All Three
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Have you registered as an organ donor?
Contact your local organ donation agency and speak to your family about your wishes. You have the power to save and transform lives. Learn more and register to donate HERE.
| | The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care is Canada’s premier green health care resource network, leading the evolution of green in Canada’s health sector as a national voice and catalyst for environmental change. www.greenhealthcare.ca | |
Some articles referred to in the Digest make reference to services and/or product offerings from specific suppliers. The CCGHC recommends that readers research the service and product offerings available through a wider range of suppliers for comparison purposes and in keeping with public sector purchasing guidelines. These articles should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any product or service. | | | | |
