Smart Commute Award Winners

On November 29, 2012 the Sustainability Office staff hopped on a GO Bus to Toronto to attend the 2012 Smart Commute Awards with Mohawk College President Rob MacIsaac.

Each year, Smart Commute honours the top regional employers who successfully implement Smart Commute programs in the workplace (ie. Carpool, Transit, and Bike). Smart Commute Employers of the Year are selected for outstanding achievement in areas of commitment, leadership, innovation and results.

This year Mohawk College was awarded the inaugural Parsons Brinckerhoff Employee Engagement Award, which recognizes a Smart Commute employer that has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and success in getting employees to re-think their daily commute.

Mohawk is recognized for our Smart Commute programs that cover a full-time student population of about 12,000 as well as 1,100 staff distributed over four campuses. The success of our program is attributed to the following:

·         Budget is allocated to Smart Commute initiatives and supporting infrastructure

·         Focus groups are used to gather opinions about the program

·         Smart Commute info is included in new-hire orientation (kits and presentation)

·         Innovative Transit Pass program for staff offers 50% discounts for peer referrals

·         Students’ input is sought and the program is adjusted based on their ideas

·         Tracking system measures social, financial and environmental as well as participation rates

This year’s award builds on our success in 2011, when Mohawk College was named the Hamilton Region Employer of the Year for establishing a weather-protected, members-only, monitored bike facility that accommodates 44 bicycles. We were also recognized in 2011 for our bike loan program, geared to providing students and staff with temporary access to bicycles, thereby reducing their reliance on single-occupancy vehicles.

Thank you to the Awards Review Panel Members who evaluated all of the nominations, and who recognized our efforts to protect the environment, conserve resources, promote healthy lifestyles and support vitality and safety in the workplace. Congratulations to the other award winners: York University, Loblaw Companies Limited, York Region, City of Pickering, Tim Hortons, McMaster University, GENIVAR Inc., McCormick Rankin, Enbridge Gas Distribution, Transat A.T. Inc. and Top Drawer Creative Inc.