For Clean Air Day (June 8)—a day to recognize the importance of good air quality—we wanted to share some approachable changes YOU can make in your daily life that can have a global impact.
As a PHC staff member, you have access to numerous resources that help make ‘going green’ a little bit easier (and more affordable!), here’s a few to consider:
Take transit — Launched in 2020, the Transit Incentive Program (TIP) offers permanent full- and part-time PHC employees a 15% discount on one regular monthly transit pass, which is applicable to Zones 1, 2 and 3.
Use a car share service — PHC employees are eligible for discounts with a few different car sharing companies including Evo and Zip car. Check out the Staff Discounts page for more information.
Ride a bike to work — If you’re in the market for a new bike, we have a PHC staff discount for that! Check out the discounts available with local company HIROCYCLE. If you already have a bike, don’t forget PHC staff have access to secure bike parking options, so you can feel confident parking your bike during your shift. And if you’re not quite ready to commit to bike ownership, PHC staff can save with Mobi by Shaw Go. All the details can be found on the Staff Discounts page.
Use the Hospital Shuttle Program — Are you travelling between sites? Tired of driving your car? Checkout the free shuttle available for staff (including contractors!), physicians, volunteers and medical students.
Switch to an electric vehicle — PHC recently installed eight electric car charging stations in the St. Paul’s Hospital parkade, and we’re looking to expand to other sites, including Mount Saint Joseph Hospital and St. Vincent’s: Langara, later this year. The chargers are free to use (once you’ve paid the usual parking fee).
Consider creating a carpool — Do you love driving your car to work? Want to make that drive a little less lonely? Consider creating a carpool! GreenCare has put together a guide to help you get started.
Go paperless in your meetings — Tired of always having to keep track of a stack of paperwork? Consider making your meetings paperless! GreenCare has once again come through with a toolkit to help PHC staff make the switch.
Up your recycling game — As you know, there are recycling bins all over PHC, but we get it, it can be confusing to remember what goes where. There are a lot of options to choose from! Refresh your memory and help your colleagues out by putting up these posters to remind everyone what goes where.
Staycation — Road trips and flights can be fun, but they also contribute to your carbon footprint. PHC staff are able to access discounts at local hotels, so maybe for your next vacation, consider sticking close to home?
Shop local — Did you know PHC staff have access to discounts at places like Kin’s Farm Market (Denman Street)? Places like Kin’s are committed to selling produce from local farms, and shopping local means a smaller carbon footprint.
And remember, these things aren’t ‘all-or-nothing’, every little change matters. Even if you switch to taking transit or riding your bike one day a week, you’re making a difference.
Do you have other ideas on how PHC staff could be a bit greener in their day-to-day? Comment them below!
Sustainability is one of the five foundational principles of Providence’s Mission: Forward Strategic Plan that guides our efforts and serves as a perpetual framework for our actions. This means a commitment to reducing our environmental footprint to achieve — and hopefully exceed — national benchmarks for sustainability, green initiatives, and minimal impact.
Providing the best care to the people we serve is dependent on our own health and wellness. We are working to deliver a comprehensive Staff and Medical Staff Wellness Action Plan, to help us create a healthy and safe work environment where everyone can flourish. If you have a wellness idea that could make a big difference to you and your colleagues, please send it to Ideas: Forward. If you have questions about this plan or feedback on wellness at PHC, please be in touch: missionforward@providencehealth.bc.ca.
