Mohawk College Newsroom

Smart Commute names Mohawk College regional employer of the year in GTHA

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 11:33:46 -0500

Mohawk College has been named the Regional Employer of the Year by Smart Commute, a program of Metrolinx and the municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) that helps employers and commuters explore different commuting choices like carpooling, cycling and transit.

Since 2007, Smart Commute has recognized the top employer in each region of the GTHA that has implemented Smart Commute programs. Winners are selected for outstanding achievement in the areas of commitment, leadership, innovation and results and recognized as Smart Commute Employers of the Year. From these organizations, one employer from the GTHA is selected by the Smart Commute review panel to receive the top honour of Regional Employer of the Year Award.

In addition to expanding carpool parking and sheltered bike parking, Mohawk has made active transportation improvements a key element of the Fennell Campus Renewal Project. These improvements include a new multi-use pathway to connect the campus to local neighbourhoods, the rebuilding and expansion of sidewalks and crossings, and the development of a pedestrian plaza in a former parking lot. A bike loan program was implemented this year, allowing students to borrow a bike for up to 24 hours.

The Sustainability Office supports the use of transit by staff through the Discount Transit Pass program. On average, 60 passes are sold each month. Additionally, Mohawk continues to work with Hamilton Street Railway and GO Transit to advocate for improved and more frequent service to campus.

Mohawk consistently takes every opportunity to promote sustainable transportation options and encourage behaviour change. Following the closure of their Brantford campus, they developed commuter profiles for all 700 students facing relocation, identifying the best non-single occupancy vehicle methods of travelling to their new campus.

The Sustainability Office introduced the MoCoModal service for students, an online tool that lists tailored sustainable commute options from a range of starting destinations. It includes carpool options, bus routes, shuttle services and more.

In the news: McMaster and Mohawk win awards for improving Hamilton commutes

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:56:19 -0500

CBC Hamilton has this story about Mohawk College and McMaster University winning Smart Commute Awards at this year's sixth annual awards presentation in Toronto. The awards recognize each school's commitment to improving commutes for students and employees. Mohawk was awarded the Parsons Brinkerhoff Employee Engagement Award while McMaster received the Hamilton Employer of the Year award. The Smart Commute program aims to ease gridlock and improve transportation across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Mohawk College wins Smart Commute Award

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:28:32 -0500

Mohawk College has won the inaugural 2012 Parsons Brinckerhoff Employee Engagement Award from Smart Commute.

The new award recognizes a Smart Commute employer that has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and success in getting employees to re-think commuting. The winner is selected by the Smart Commute Awards Review Panel from four nominations.

Smart Commute, a program of Metrolinx and the municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, help local employers and commuters explore different commute choices like carpooling, cycling and transit.

In announcing the award, Smart Commute said "The team at Mohawk has gone beyond the standardized surveys to gather opinions and feedback, implementing focus groups to engage in meaningful dialogue their stakeholders that have led to significant program initiatives.

One student-led initiative resulted in the creation of a Secure Bike Parking Program to monitor students’ use of bicycles and to encourage more cycling by providing secure facilities. An innovative spin on their Discount Transit Pass program for staff offers a 50 per cent discount to anyone who refers a colleague to the Smart Commute program.

The team systematically measures the social, financial and environmental impacts of their involvement in Smart Commute, as well as participation rates."

Smart Commute Week starts Monday

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:48:05 -0400

Next week is Smart Commute Week at Mohawk.

From Monday, Sept. 17 to Friday, Sept. 21 everyone at
Mohawk is encouraged to use a sustainable mode of transportation for their
daily commute to and from campus. Ride your bike, take the bus, carpool, or
walk to Mohawk and you’ll be eligible for some great prizes, including a trip
to Montreal.

Each day will feature a different
Grand Prize related to Mohawk’s transportation theme of the day. There will
also be daily giveaways including free coffee vouchers, fresh local fruit,
wrist bands, and informational pamphlets, as well as some additional prizes
courtesy of Smart Commute Hamilton.

Smart Commute Week Events at Mohawk:

Tuesday, Sept. 18 – Carpool to Mohawk Day

Carpool to Mohawk, take a picture of
you and a friend carpooling, and register on carpoolzone.ca for the chance to
win!

Grand Prize: 1-Semester carpool
parking permit

Wednesday Sept. 19 – Cycle to Mohawk Day

Ride your bike to campus and stop by
our booth with your helmet for the chance to win

Grand Prize: $200 Mountain Equipment
Co-op gift card

Thursday, Sept. 20 – Totally Transit Thursday

Take the HSR to Mohawk and bring a
bus transfer to the Sustainability Office booth to be eligible for the grand
prize!

Grand Prize: $150 Grey Hound Bus
gift card

Contact alan.griffiths@mohawkcollege.ca
if you have any questions.

Monday is Bike to Work Day - register now to win

Sat, 26 May 2012 10:03:17 -0400

On Monday, May 28 Join the Mohawk College Sustainability Office and Smart Commute Hamilton for this year’s Annual Bike to Work Day.

Simply register here for your chance to win one of the following prizes:

VIA Rail trip for 2 to Quebec City,

Weekend Getaway to St. Catharines,

$100 Gift Certificate to Mountain Equipment Co-op

Stop by the main entrance of the C-Wing between 8 a.m. and 11a .m. on May 28, check in to receive your thank you gift and light breakfast refreshment provided by the Sustainability Office.

If you haven’t cycled to work or school yet, this is a great opportunity to start. Grab your bike and try an active, convenient, and cost-effective commute that is fun!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact: alan.griffiths@mohawkcollege.ca or visit http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/environmental-sustainability/transportation.html for more details.

In the news: The year that the Taughers built

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:25:45 -0400

Smart Commute’s Bike to Work Day is an annual event promoting active commuting to and from your workplace. On Monday, May 28, join Smart Commute Hamilton, the Mohawk College Sustainability Office, and several other employers in the GTHA for your chance to win a VIA Rail trip for 2 to Quebec City, a Cyclist’s Weekend Getaway to St. Catharines, or a $100 Gift Certificate to Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Stop by the main entrance of the C-Wing between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. to register and receive your thank you gift for cycling in. The Sustainability Office will be holding a draw for a $100 gift certificate to Mountain Equipment Co-op for one lucky cyclist.

Register now for Bike to Work Day on May 28^th at: www.smartcommutehamilton.ca

If you haven’t cycled to work yet, this is a great opportunity to start. Grab your bike and try an active, convenient, and cost-effective commute that is fun!

Get Connected:

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact alan.griffiths@mohawkcollege.ca

Mohawk College receives Employer of the Year award from Smart Commute Hamilton

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:15:15 -0500

Smart Commute Hamilton recognized Mohawk College's efforts to promote sustainable commuting by making the College the 2011 Employer of the Year for Hamilton. Mohawk received the recognition at Smart Commute's annual awards reception held in Toronto last week.

The Employer of Year Award recognizes organizations for outstanding achievement in the areas of commitment, leadership, innovation and results in the Smart Commute program.

Among its many accomplishments, Mohawk College has:

established the fastest-growing Carpool program in Hamilton, doubling the amount of registered carpoolers at the college;

constructed a new secure bike parking facility for more than 40 bikes;

established 12 new carpool parking spots;

organized an annual Residence Active Living Fair with Smart Commute as a central theme; and

supported a student-led initiative to launch a discounted transit pass program, which is now available to all students at the college for unlimited use of the HSR.

Mohawk has some of the highest participation rates in Hamilton and is a strong supporter of green commute initiatives such as Clean Air Commute, Bike to Work Day and Smart Commute Week.

Commenting on the award, Mohawk's sustainability initiatives coordinator Alan Griffiths says, “We’re absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been chosen for this award. As an innovative and community oriented College, it's important for us to be a leader in programs like this, and to set an example for others to follow. At Mohawk we work hard to walk-the-talk, and we’re truly thankful for the recognition.”

Mohawk College is committed to providing sustainable transportation solutions for students and employees, says Alan. The College works closely with Smart Commute Hamilton to promote environmental awareness and to reduce its carbon footprint.

Run by the City of Hamilton's Public Works department, Smart Commute Hamilton is part of Smart Commute, a program funded and supported by Metrolinx and the municipalities of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. More than 177 employers with a combined total of 430,000 employees participate in the Smart Commute program. Smart Commute Hamilton works with organizations in the City to promote more sustainable modes of commuting and help organizations manage their travel demand effectively.