A number of funded studies by the Environmental Committee in various aspects of the environment have taken place with Georgian College. In 2001, there were salaries provided to students to complete a flora and fauna study in the Minesing Wetlands (2 year project). Georgian College students were contracted to complete an assessment of the environmental status of the Rotary Islands in 2003. A section of Willow Creek between Little Lake and St. Vincent Street was cleared by students from the Georgian Environmental Program under the supervision of the NVCA staff with funding from this Committee and hands-on work by Rotarians. The Environmental Committee began a $500.00 awards bursary with the Georgian College to financially assist a first year student who was selected by the College as one in need of such assistance.
The most recent joint project is a Business Sustainability Study where 10 local companies volunteered their premises to have an environmental assessment completed by Georgian Environmental students. The first phase was to audit the existing environmental practices, make recommendations to these companies and then return in the following term to measure improvements where the companies are “doing better” by saving money through energy-saving initiatives, recycling and re-use programs. New businesses will be added each year. The plan is to make this program a part of the Georgian College curriculum with Rotary providing resources to assist.