“I have a 12-year-old son. He’ll face bigger and stronger challenges than we’re facing right now. So, the more that myself and others can do to help future generations ease that burden and make this world a bit better for them when they grow up…that’s not only?an honour, it’s a duty that we have.” — Dave Cano, director, Office of Sustainability
Dave Cano’s journey began in Mexico, where he studied engineering in telecommunications and electronics. But it was a shared curiosity about sustainability that led him and his wife to Canada.
“I wanted to learn from the experts,” Cano says. “And we knew Canada was where we could find those experts.”
After earning a master’s degree in Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo and working in municipal and academic sectors, Cano found his way to McMaster — a place he describes as “a small city with a big heart.”
At McMaster, Cano’s work touches nearly every corner of campus life — from waste management and energy efficiency to student engagement and strategic planning.
But what truly fuels him is the people.
“I don’t have to convince anyone here that sustainability matters,” he says. “It’s already part of our culture.”
He shares some insights about sustainability at McMaster and how everyone can contribute.
What’s something people might not know about your role?
It’s a new office, and we’re building from the ground up. I don’t have a large team, but I have strong support from leadership.
So far, a lot of our work has been behind the scenes, but is making a big impact. For instance, our performance in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and the STARS report.
These assessments required collaboration across campus, and we did really well.
It’s a testament to how committed McMaster is to sustainability. We’re laying the foundation for a robust sustainability program that will grow over time.
What’s unique about practising sustainability on a university campus?
McMaster is like a small city. We have residences, retail, food services, research labs… campus is complex.
I’d say because of the size and complexity in operations, it makes it a challenge and I like challenges.
I don’t like working just for the sake of working. I want to make a difference and I like solving problems.
What makes it exciting is the access to experts and students who can help us use McMaster as a living lab. We’re not just implementing solutions, we’re learning and innovating together.
October is Campus Sustainability Month – Follow the Office of Sustainability @SustainableMac to learn more about sustainability at Mac
What’s one challenge you’re tackling right now?
Waste management is something people often overlook. Once it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind, but it has huge environmental and societal impacts.
At McMaster, we have a diverse community coming from different municipalities, provinces and countries, where recycling and composting mean different things. Not everyone arrives knowing what’s expected.
Each year, about 6,000 new people join our campus community. If we don’t take the time to educate them early on, about what sustainability looks like here and how they can contribute, we miss a major opportunity to shape long-term habits.
That’s why we’re working on new strategies to engage and inform the community, especially around waste. If we can influence decisions before items end up in landfills, it’s a win for everyone.
Over the next year, you’ll see big changes in how we manage waste on campus and how we help people understand the impact of their everyday choices.
What does sustainability look like five years from now?
We want to give every member of the McMaster community the opportunity to engage in sustainability. Whether through a course, a project, or a campus initiative. We want sustainability to be woven into the experience of being at McMaster.
One of my favourite quotes is: “The power of one is to do something, anything.” You don’t need to make sweeping changes to have an impact.
Tackling sustainability challenges can seem overwhelming, but every small action matters.
We want the community to feel that connection and be empowered to make change.
But if you have the opportunity to do something and you don’t, that’s a missed chance to make a difference.