In an effort to encourage sustainability amongst the Waterloo community, a not-for-profit international development agency, World Accord, hosted a day-long event called “Sustainability in the Park” on Sept. 30.
Local Kitchener-Waterloo businesses and organizations from around Waterloo Region gathered together in Waterloo Park to demonstrate their strategies for working towards sustainability.
All proceeds went to World Accord. Broadcast journalist Hayley Zimak helped to host the event.
The vendors at the event included Good Life Fitness, Soul Awakenings and various organic vegetables stands.
Local Waterloo resident Samantha Stewart said that the event and vendors inspired her to change her lifestyle choices and look at the “bigger picture.”
“I kind of forgot why it was so important to be sustainable because I get so caught up with things going on in my own life that I don’t have time to really think about it,” Stewart admitted.
“As it turns out, it’s really not that much work to do,” he said. I’m actually shocked at how easy it is to achieve. I want to make these changes in my everyday life after being here.”
Rebecca Grant, a sales consultant for The Pampered Chef, agrees that having a sustainable home is not difficult to acquire.
Grant shared that her company’s kitchen products are a simple and easy step for one to acquire a sustainable life without having to spend much.
“We feature a bamboo product line as one of our main sustainability key points,” Grant said.
“Anything that is bamboo is easy to replenish. It grows back quickly and it’s great for cooking tools because it doesn’t have that bacteria or mold build-up because it repels moisture,” she shared.
Grant also claimed that it is products like bamboo that help to contribute to the achievement of sustainability that World Accord has been trying to teach its local supporters.
Alan Wigood, a representative for World Accord, has worked with the organization for seventeen years and has dedicated his life to helping others who are in need of a home.
Wigood put a large emphasis on personal involvement when asked about how to further endorse sustainability.
“We can promote sustainable living by supporting the organizations that are promoting this not only around the world, but right here in our own area,” Wigood said.
“There are many organic farms and people who are interested in supporting our area.”
Wigood praised the Waterloo community for their involvement and desire to help World Accord get their message across to its residents.
Wigood also acknowledged that involvement, especially from youth, would increase with better education about the many different ways that they can get involved and support the causes they believe in.
“I believe that it is all through education, I think I’m convinced that giving charity is not the answer,” Wigood said.
