Hillfield Strathallan College

Member Profile.

Member Profile
Located in Hamilton, Ont., Hillfield Strathallan College (HSC) is an independent, co-educational day school with an academic program that runs from Montessori Toddler and Pre-K through to Grade 12. HSC understands the importance of environmentally friendly practices, and supports sustainability throughout its four schools (students, programs and operations) through the creation and development of sustainable partnerships.
Sustainability Leadership Program Updates

Annual Impact Report 2022

Sustainability in the context of school operations is the College-wide practices and policies that helps us to minimize the use of energy, water, and other resources as well as the production of waste while supporting and improving the long-term viability of the College. For the 2022 year, we made many enhancements to our overall Sustainability Plan. We completed our HSC Campus Master Plan that includes a large strategic focus on the carbon reduction. We also implemented a Climate Action Survey to measure and ensure we are moving the needle as it relates to curriculum, education and overall reduction. We implemented a new purchasing policy with sustainability elements, we have investigated and have an approval for a green roof which will be installed in June 2023. We have increased our gardening curriculum and successfully moved most of our grounds equipment to electric. We also secured and have added an electric school bus to our fleet of buses. Finally we have conducted a waste audit to measure current waste and looking to reduce overall waste at the College.

Annual Impact Report 2021

Hillfield Strathallan College (HSC) has continued to focus on sustainability under a new Strategic Plan. The College has joined over a dozen other Independent Schools in a Climate Action Accelerator Program (CAAP). In 2021, we introduced a new bus fleet with the most fuel-efficient engine available, we also began investigating electric buses for the 2022 year. We ensured our purchases were done through the lens of sustainability, examples include our green lawnmower, sourcing local food sources and 100% sustainable classroom furniture we have purchased for our early education program. 

HSC also engaged in a campus master site and facility planning exercise which was completed through a sustainable lens. The plan addresses sustainable and efficient site servicing and programmatic use in alignment with building concept design, exterior educational learning landscapes and connected green spaces.

Annual Impact Report 2020

Hillfield Strathallan College (HSC) has continued its focus on the assessment and collection of data in generating a more reflective baseline particularly as it relates to local and extended student activity travel. HSC has been successful in capturing both internal and external activity charters as well as international travel with associated air transit through third party operators. 

HSC has begun assessment and investigation into its school bus fleet renewals in keeping with its continued carbon footprint analysis, offsets and reductions. HSC has engaged in the process and forward development of the CAIS [Canadian Accredited Independent Schools] green school initiative to include the creation of a new national accreditation standard. The standard will inform member schools regarding organizational expectations, stewardship and movement toward carbon neutrality. 

HSC has investigated significant offset potential through solar PV systems for its existing building stock. In alignment with our site and built environment, HSC is engaging in a master site and facility planning exercise to begin spring 2020 through early summer 2021. The process and final plan will be completed through a sustainable lens. The plan will look to address sustainable and efficient site servicing and programmatic use in alignment with building concept design, exterior educational learning landscapes and connected green spaces.

(This text originally appeared in the 2019 Annual Impact Report)

Annual Impact Report 2019

Hillfield Strathallan College (HSC) has continued its focus on the assessment and collection of data in generating a more reflective baseline particularly as it relates to local and extended student activity travel. HSC has been successful in capturing both internal and external activity charters as well as international travel with associated air transit through third party operators. 

HSC has begun assessment and investigation into its school bus fleet renewals in keeping with its continued carbon footprint analysis, offsets and reductions. HSC has engaged in the process and forward development of the CAIS [Canadian Accredited Independent Schools] green school initiative to include the creation of a new national accreditation standard. The standard will inform member schools regarding organizational expectations, stewardship and movement toward carbon neutrality. 

HSC has investigated significant offset potential through solar PV systems for its existing building stock. In alignment with our site and built environment, HSC is engaging in a master site and facility planning exercise to begin spring 2020 through early summer 2021. The process and final plan will be completed through a sustainable lens. The plan will look to address sustainable and efficient site servicing and programmatic use in alignment with building concept design, exterior educational learning landscapes and connected green spaces.

Annual Business Report 2018-2019

New on the scene to the SBI, Hillfield Strathallan College (HSC) has focused on the assessment and collection of data in generating its baseline. Operationally, school bus route and activity travel is a significant contributor to HSC’s carbon footprint. HSC is working to assess and implement enhanced school bus idling practice and policy throughout its fleet service. A large part of activity travel is provided through third party operators. HSC is engaging with its selected partners to capture this data through 2019 in an effort to better quantify its baseline for setting longer term goals and targets and identifying areas for improvement. Additionally, HSC has engaged in the replacement of 14000 fluorescent tube bulbs with LED to include exterior wall packs and security lighting.