University of Regina and Federated Colleges Shine at RCE SK 2025
The spirit of sustainability was alive and thriving at the 2025 RCE Saskatchewan Recognition Event, where projects from across the province were honoured for advancing education for sustainable development. Among the projects were several innovative initiatives led by students, staff, and faculty from the University of Regina and the federated colleges, highlighting the university community’s deep and growing commitment to building a more sustainable future.
Hosted annually, the RCE (Regional Centre of Expertise) Saskatchewan awards recognize outstanding contributions that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s celebration highlighted the role of education, inclusion, and community engagement in tackling global challenges.
A standout project from First Nations University of Canada celebrated the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems and language revitalization with mathematics education through a bilingual Cree Dictionary of Mathematical Terms with Sound. This initiative not only supports SDG 4 but also embodies reconciliation through cultural empowerment.
The University of Regina was recognized for multiple projects, including the Breastfeeding Advocacy Knowledge Hub by Associate professor Dr Shela Hirani, which won two awards: the main ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) Award and the Dr. Garth Pickard Award for Post-Secondary Excellence in Education for Sustainable Development. The project raises awareness on maternal and child health, food security and equitable healthcare through digital platforms, advancing SDGs 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10.
At Luther College, Ryan Tessier received an ESD award on behalf of the Data Acceleration Program. The program is designed to bridge the growing gap between complex data and AI models and the capacity of nonprofit organizations. The program promotes SDGs 4, 8, and 9 by supporting skills development, enhancing workforce readiness and fostering innovative data driven solutions to real world social problems.
Congratulations to all of the award recipients on their achievements and we encourage others to develop new initiatives to work toward a more sustainable future. For a full list of the projects recognized by RCE SK, visit the news release.