| University of Winnipeg Bans Bottled Water | 21 April 09 |
 The University of Winnipeg is the first university in Canada to ban bottled water on campus. In a student initiated referendum 74.8 percent of students voted against sale of bottled water, which will be phased out by the fall 2009 semester. The ban was a result of an ongoing national student campaign organized by the Polaris Institute, the Canadian Federation of Students, and Sierra Youth Coalition. To date, 21 universities and colleges have established over 50 bottled water free zones. "Our campuses need to lead the way on sustainability initiatives" said David Jacks, Manitoba Chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students, "it is our hope that other institutions across Canada will take similar action, and enshrine public drinking water as a Right by refusing to accept water as a commodity". In a 2008 national online survey of universities and colleges - respondents indicated a lack of access to clean, potable water and rapidly decaying water fountains. The University of Winnipeg will now be upgrading water infrastructure on campus and installing new water fountains. View March 23, 2009 Polaris Institute articleView Polaris Institute report, Corporate Initiatives on Campus: A 2008 Snapshot View March 23, 2009 University of Winnipeg press release View March 30, 2009 Solid Waste Management article Sources: Polaris Institute, University of Winnipeg, Solid Waste Management |
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