by Alice Lin (Net Impact Guelph Executive: Co-President 2012-2013)

There has been a growing number of complex challenges and issues with our environment, political systems, and our communities in the past half century or so. These challenges have occurred alongside the shift in the role of major key players in governance such as our state, the market, and civil society. Furthermore, globalization also changed the trade and free market system, which has also resulted in the exploitation and degradation of our natural environment. This subsequently posed some very serious impacts leading to issues pertaining to pollution, adverse health effects, loss of biodiversity, worldwide epidemics, and more. By now, we know that these global crisis cannot be attributed to a particular group of people, in fact, they are a result of our entire population. However, the apparent trend is certainly emphasized on the importance of of collaborative governance. Although this is certainly not new, it is indeed gaining prominence. For example, non-governmental organizations, and even businesses are breaking their traditional structures and creating new partnerships with one another in order to redesign the system to address these complex challenges and issues we face today. No single group or affiliation can be responsible for the issues and challenges we are faced now, in fact, this it is impossible. We all live and depend on the same planet, so it is without a doubt that we cannot work alone by ourselves to create this change.

by Ben Paquette-Struger (Net Impact Guelph Executive: External Liaison 2009-2010)

With the advent of the twenty-first Winter Olympics taking place in February, the majority of the world’s media is preparing to focus its attention on a Canadian coastal city wedged between the Straight of Georgia and the majestic Rocky Mountains. In continuing with the relatively self-serving tradition of attempting to “one-up” the preceding Olympics event, many wondered how Vancouver would set itself apart from all the past locations of the games. It there-fore shocked few when Vancouver’s young and relatively outspoken mayor, George Robertson, already known for her-alding Vancouver as the “greenest city in North America”, postulated that the upcoming Games would be the most environmentally sensitive to date.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee’s (VANOC) agenda included a vast spectrum of supposed projects such as the Sea-to-Sky “Hydrogen Highway” - which will showcase more environmentally sensitive hydro-gen and fuel cell technologies, the tracking and offsetting of all carbon emissions expended throughout the games, and perhaps the most ambitious project of all: the “sustainable neighborhood” idea that has influenced virtually all of the construction in Vancouver. Furthermore, VANOC also made sure social responsibility was well represented in their plans as indicated by the fact that with the close of the olympics, many of the Village units will be sold on the private market as affordable housing for both low-income and senior tenants.

by Alex Castellani (Net Impact Guelph Executive: Communications Coordinator 2009-2010)

So you’re a business student. Now what?

Before you comfortably slip into “first year indo-lence”, take a glimpse into the wider world of your possibilities as an undergraduate student here at the University of Guelph.

You see, the problem with first year indolence (and its concomitant “oh no worries, I’ll try/get involved next year” rationalization) is that there is always the possibility that it continues past first year. Every student runs the risk of becoming passively receptive opposed to actively inquisitive, but it is this active inquiry—directed both externally and introspectively—which enriches the university experience and your person as part of the university community.

Confused? Lost? Well don’t fret yet because this article will focus on three key areas to bust the trend and kick-start your active edification.