Environmental education and research in the province will soon reach a new level, thanks to an important designation announced in Regina today by representatives of the United Nations University.

At a ceremony held at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Charles Hopkins, United Nations University Chair for Education for Sustainable Development at York University, and David Walden, Secretary-General of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, designated the Regina-Craik-Saskatoon corridor as a Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development.

Known as RCE Saskatchewan, the corridor is now recognized by the United Nations as a region within which different Saskatchewan organizations will work together to research, develop and deliver educational programs related to environment and sustainable development. RCE Saskatchewan will also allow these organizations to collaborate with other RCEs worldwide that are on the cutting edge of research in sustainability education.

“RCE Saskatchewan now joins more than 30 other RCEs around the world, forming one of the largest and indeed most crucial education, public awareness and training experiments ever undertaken,” Hopkins said. “What we learn in these Centres on how to successfully engage the public in this enormous learning undertaking may shape our very existence and will certainly have an impact on our quality of life for generations to come.”

RCE Saskatchewan involves a diverse cross-section of governmental and educational organizations in the province, including the cities of Regina and Saskatoon, the Town of Craik, Saskatchewan Environment and Environment Canada. The University of Regina, the University of Saskatchewan and SIAST are also partners.

“The University of Regina has worked closely with and supported those who have embraced the idea of bringing a United Nations sponsored RCE to Saskatchewan,” said professor Jon Gillies, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Communities at the University of Regina. “RCE Saskatchewan will create a unique opportunity to move the province along the path towards sustainability, and in so doing provide an example for the rest of the country and for the rest of the world.”

City of Regina Councillor Fred Clipsham, who emceed today’s announcement, acknowledged that the United Nations designation is both an honour and a responsibility.

“My colleagues on City Council are pleased that Regina is being recognized for its many efforts at educating the public and the world on how to achieve and maintain sustainable communities, and we thank the United Nations University and UNESCO for this great honour,” Clipsham said. “As part of RCE Saskatchewan, we will continue working to help ensure the sustainability of Regina’s social, economic and physical environments.”

RCE Saskatchewan has identified six key regionally relevant issues on which to focus research and educational activities:
• Climate change;
• Health;
• Farming and local food production, consumption and waste minimization;
• Reconnecting to natural prairie ecosystems;
• Supporting and bridging cultures for sustainable living and community building; and
• Sustainable infrastructure including water and energy.

These issues fall under two cross-cutting themes that will guide RCE participants as they develop and promote their initiatives: sustaining rural communities, and approaches to regional education for sustainable development.

RCE Saskatchewan is one of only four RCEs recognized in North America by the United Nations University, along with Toronto, Sudbury and Grand Rapids, Michigan. There are approximately 35 RCEs worldwide, all of which have been designated by the United Nations University as part of its contribution to advancing the United Nations’ “Decade of Education for Sustainable Development” (2005-2014).

Interested individuals and organizations may visit the RCE Saskatchewan website at www.saskrce.ca

Further information about the United Nations University’s RCE program can be found at: http://www.ias.unu.edu/research/regionalcentres.cfm