What started with a small call-out in late 2023 has grown into an active network of professionals working together to make sustainability a visible, achievable part of everyday work life. Supporting this work are Green+Leaders Tanis Wong, a Senior Project Manager-Clinical Lead and Katy Chandler, a Project Manager on the BC Cancer Redevelopment & PHSA Planning and Projects team. Beyond their formal roles, Tanis and Katy have become champions for sustainability, helping the BC Cancer Redevelopment & PHSA Planning and Projects Green Team evolve from an idea shared among a few colleagues into a thriving group inspiring meaningful change across departments.
The Green Team’s early months were focused on building a strong foundation – creating a Terms of Reference, setting a monthly meeting rhythm, and identifying practical areas where they could make a difference. By early 2024, they expanded to include members from PHSA’s Planning & Projects group and began aligning with other internal committees to embed sustainability into daily operations – right down to adopting “no single-use” practices at social events.
Among their most visible accomplishments was their July 2025 beach clean-up at Kitsilano Beach, funded through the Green+Leaders Sustainability Stream of PHSA’s Health Promotion Initiative Fund (HPIF). Each year, the Energy and Environmental Sustainability (EES) team collaborates with HPIF to support Green+Leader projects that advance energy and environmental sustainability. Following a successful educational Earth Week session, the Green Team members joined forces to collect 17 buckets of waste – from cigarette butts to discarded toys – while commuting by foot, bike, or carpool to minimize their own impact. The team also formalized their approach by creating a template to recommend green initiatives within project workflows and by continuing to build partnerships with health-care sustainability networks.
The Green Team’s success is reinforced by a commitment to team work and a passion for supporting healthy communities through healthy environments. As Tanis and Katy reflect, “even when challenges come up – like keeping momentum or aligning with busy project schedules – we’ve learned that creativity and collaboration make it possible.”
From their first four members in 2023 to a cross-departmental team today, the Green Team’s growth shows how staff-led leadership can evolve into sustained impact, aligning with the Ministry of Health’s Climate Change and Sustainability Plan. Their story is a reminder that small, steady steps – taken together – can lead to transformative change.
“It’s inspiring to see our staff thinking about planetary health not only in their workplaces but also in the wider community,” said Nina Akhtar, Green+Leaders Program Lead. “I’m so proud to support and empower teams like this one, who are finding meaningful ways to make sustainability a part of everyday work and life.”
