The UN’s SDGs are a set of 17 global goals that provide a shared blueprint for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring peace and prosperity for all by 2030.
The University of Regina is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of its faculty, staff, and students, whose work was recognized at the 17th Annual RCE Saskatchewan Education for Sustainable Development Awards. Thirteen U of R–led projects were honoured at the May 30th event, highlighting the University’s deep commitment to advancing the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The UN’s SDGs are a set of 17 global goals adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015. They provide a shared blueprint for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring peace and prosperity for all by 2030.
The goals cover a broad range of interconnected issues—including clean energy, quality education, gender equality, climate action, good health, and sustainable communities—and are designed to leave no one behind.
Among this year’s recipients of Saskatchewan's RCE awards, Dr. Shela Hirani, professor in the Faculty of Nursing, received two of the event’s most prestigious honours for her Breastfeeding Advocacy Knowledge Hub. Her project was awarded both the RCE Saskatchewan Education for Sustainable Development Award and the Dr. Garth Pickard Award for Post-Secondary Excellence in Education for Sustainable Development—a dual recognition presented by Her Honour the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Shela Hirani received two awards at the 2025 RCE Saskatchewan Awards Event. Both were presented by The Honorable Bernadette McIntyre, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Shela Hirani)
Hirani’s work demonstrates how education and advocacy can create real-world change. The Breastfeeding Advocacy Knowledge Hub offers more than 60 easy-to-understand, evidence-based resources tailored to mothers and their care providers. It has reached over 200,000 mothers globally and built the capacity of more than 5,000 professionals and service providers, helping to advance maternal and child health in Saskatchewan and beyond.
The Hub exemplifies the values of sustainability by promoting baby-friendly care practices, reducing stigma, and empowering families through accessible health information.
In addition to Hirani’s project, U of R initiatives recognized this year include a wetlands conservation festival, a youth mentorship café supporting newcomer and Indigenous youth, a climate change info session, and multiple engineering projects focused on sustainable infrastructure, agri-waste practices, water use, and textile-waste management.
Jocelyn Crivea, University of Regina director of the Sustainability Office, says these honours underscore the University’s cross-disciplinary impact in education for sustainable development, from classrooms to communities.
“Congratulations to all the recipients, who are creating change and leading the way in innovative sustainability across our province. And thank you to RCE Saskatchewan for highlighting the University’s successes,” says Crivea.
Learn more at: saskrce.ca/news_story/rce-sk-recognizes-45-initiatives-in-2025
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