My name is Ben Choy. From a young age I was exposed to the importance and value of Canadian ecosystems, waterways, fisheries, and natural spaces while I spent my childhood progressing through the Scouts Canada program. I grew passionate about protecting these spaces and educating others about how they benefit individuals and populations. Thus far, I’ve been fortunate enough to involve this interest with my employment as a canoe outfitter and guide in Algonquin Provincial Park. As I continue to learn and grow, I would love to keep finding new ways to explore this passion within my career.

What is your personal definition of sustainability? 

Through my work, I’ve seen the raw joys and deep connections that the outdoors creates for all sorts of people. Conversely, I’ve also seen at Ivey the vast impacts that corporations and cooperatives can have on both local and global environments based on seemingly minor decisions. To me, sustainability means balancing what Ivey has taught me about the benefits of strong economies with my belief in humanity's need for healthy natural spaces. Sustainability means expanding economic benefits in new and struggling economies, whilst ensuring the natural world and its crucial water bodies can thrive alongside humanity for generations to come.

What role do you see sustainability playing in your professional career?

As an Ivey Student continuing to deepen my understanding of ESG standards, environmental cooperatives, stakeholder theory, and degrowth I’m happy to say that opportunities combining business and environmentalism have potential to lead me in a variety of directions. As a relatively outspoken environmentalist in my classes, I’ve engaged regularly in pushing back against other students who nonchalantly support seemingly destructive business practices. While I continue to learn more about sustainable endeavours, my interest in pushing back against corporate norms that favour profit over renewable and regenerative models continues to grow. I’ve been thrilled to research the real differences that can be made by environmental consulting firms, and their growing power resulting from increasing governmental tenacity in new legislation. Contributing to this sort of industry impact is certainly something I’d like to achieve during my career. Additionally, Ivey has shown me the meaningful influence that nonprofits, environmentally-conscious businesses, and local initiatives have on protecting local communities and ecosystems. The direct and real change of these firms has been especially attractive. However I manage to work sustainability into my career, one area that I feel passionate towards is protecting waterways and fisheries, and promoting the importance of key indicator species.

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

Much of my experience with sustainability projects so far has been through hands-on local projects. I’ve yet to have the opportunity of working with an environmental consulting firm or small-business which holds sustainability as a core value. That being said, I’ve been fortunate enough through my experience with Scouts Canada to have plenty of experience with organising and taking part in large events such as shoreline cleanups, electronic recycling drives, and tree plants. Although I’ve yet to find formal employment in sustainability, each time I took part in one of these events I came face-to-face with the darker side of single-use product packaging, planned obsolescence, and general overconsumption. These events further allowed me to see the direct impact that even a small amount of directed purpose can have over local ecosystems and communities.

Further, although my work in Algonquin Provincial Park was not directly related to sustainability, it exposed me to important aspects of sustainable ecosystems. I was able to see both the deep connections people build with protected and wilderness environments, as well as the vast amount of work that goes into keeping those spaces protected yet accessible to the public simultaneously.

Please list any sustainability-related interests you want to explore during the certificate. 

One sustainability related interest of mine is protecting our fisheries by eliminating overfishing and finding new ways to reduce the amount of industrial and consumer waste that enters our lakes, rivers, and oceans.