Operation Eyesight recognized at the 2nd Annual SDG Awards for its impact embedding the Sustainable

Canadian INGO Operation Eyesight Universal is a pioneer in adopting and embedding seven of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals into its sustainability strategy. The organization was awarded the Award in the small to medium organizations category. Hosted by the Global Compact Network Canada – the Canadian network of the UN Global Compact – other contestants included Teck Resources, Kinross Gold, Frontera Energy, Scotiabank, Plan International Canada and many others.

 Operation Eyesight was awarded today in Toronto by the Global Compact Network Canada for its outstanding efforts in helping advance action towards the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Her Honour the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, congratulated each winning organization during the award ceremony. Joining her in the congratulations were senior business leaders and representatives from the top echelons of the Canadian government.

Operation Eyesight was presented the SDG Award 2017 by Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development. Speaking about the awards, Helle Bank Jorgensen, President of the Global Compact Network Canada, says, ”Often, private sector organizations don’t know where to start, or how to explore options to embed the SDGs to their company’s sustainability strategy. The SDG Awards provides a great opportunity for those companies to join the discussion and be part of one of the largest SDGs-related initiative in Canada.”

The Calgary, Canada-based international development organization has embedded seven of the 17 United Nations-developed SDGs in its operational work, contributing to sustainable programming that’s positively impacted millions of people. With the help of many generous donors, the organization has established 100 vision centres in India, of which 93 percent have become financially self-sustainable, and declared more than 310 villages avoidable blindness-free. Last year, the organization helped screen more than 67,000 children for various eye health problems.

“Eighty percent of blindness is avoidable, and embedding these SDGs in our work has helped us achieve many sustainable programs,” says Brian Foster, Executive Director, Operation Eyesight.

About the SDG Awards 2017

The annual SDG Awards hosted by the Global Compact Network Canada (GCNC), the Canadian network of the United Nations Global Compact, aims to recognize and help foster existing efforts by organizations to help advance action towards the 17 SDGs. The Awards also highlights the business case for organizations to adopt and embed the SDGs throughout their work in Canada.

The GCNC promotes the Awards to spark interest among organizations who do not embed the SDGs in their work. By providing a platform for organizations to benchmark their initiatives and showcase best practices for others to follow.

The event is sponsored by Host Sponsor, Teck Resources; Bronze Sponsors Frontera Energy and Kinross Gold.

Details on the application and nomination process are available on the Global Compact Network Canada’s website. Online public voting began on July 28^th and adjourned on September 14^th.

There are two winning categories for the Awards – SME and large organizations. Winners in the Large Organizations category include: Frontera Energy, BASF, and University of Calgary. Winners in the SME category include: MScSM Program at University of Toronto, Operation Eyesight, and Enviro-Stewards.

Media Contact

Kerri Robins, Sr. Communications Specialist
M: 403-399-7509
robinsk@operationeyesight.com

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