McGill University in Montreal today established itself as Canada’s first institution of higher education to achieve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Chain of Custody certification, which underscores its long standing commitment to sustainability and determination to foster a culture of sustainability on behalf of its 38,000 students, 215,000 alumni and thousands of visitors.

Beginning immediately, McGill University students, faculty, staff and visitors will be able to support sustainably managed fisheries by choosing MSC certified seafood in four dining halls on campus, where students will enjoy MSC certified Alaska Pacific Cod from the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, MSC certified Northern shrimp from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, MSC certified Alaska flatfish from the Gulf of Alaska and MSC certified flatfish from the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands.

"We are thrilled to be the first university dining program in Canada to receive the Marine Stewardship Council certification," said Mathieu Laperle, Director, Food and Hospitality Services. "Today, only two years after creating our Strategic Plan on Sustainability, a new milestone has been reached in terms of sustainable purchases, reinforcing our position as a leader in the field among academic institutions."

“Over the last four years, McGill Food and Dining Services has bolstered its commitment to sustainability, which includes purchasing over 40,000 kilograms of vegetables from the Macdonald Campus Horticultural Centre for the residential dining halls, and hosting events such as Local Food Days and Meatless Mondays. The MSC certification is a natural extension of our commitment and we look forward to a long lasting collaboration between all those involved in the process,” continued Laperle.

The certification was led by McGill Food and Dining Services Executive Chef, Operations and Sustainability, Oliver De Volpi, who added: "The certification is a collaborative effort which stemmed from applied student research. We are thankful to our staff, our suppliers, the MSC organization, and all who have contributed in making this endeavor possible. Through the rigorous assessment of our operations and those of our food service provider, ARAMARK, and our suppliers, Sysco and GFS Canada, the McGill community now has guaranteed access to MSC certified sustainable seafood."

The MSC certification process includes an inspection conducted by a third party certifier as well as training of front line staff.  The MSC Chain of Custody certification assures that in every step of the chain – from the fishers, to the processor, to the distributor and the end user – MSC certified seafood is not mixed with or substituted for non-certified seafood.

Kerry Coughlin, MSC Americas Regional Director, said: "McGill University is known around the world for its academic excellence and thought leadership, and with students coming from 150 countries, adopting the global Marine Stewardship Council program will send a powerful message about the importance of seafood sustainability. Academic institutions have a unique ability to play a key role in increasing consumer engagement to make a positive contribution to the health of the world’s oceans and we welcome McGill University into the MSC program."

McGill Food and Dining Services completed the certification process quickly because the university, like many institutions, already has in place many of the systems and procedures required to ensure certified seafood is not co-mingled and can be traced back through the supply chain.

To achieve certification, McGill University Food and Dining Services partnered with its suppliers, Sysco and GFS Canada, and contract caterer ARAMARK, to ensure they were also MSC Chain of Custody certified.

Richard Senechal, President of GFS Montreal, commented: "As an industry leader, GFS supports seafood sustainability and recently achieved MSC certification in our Montreal distribution center. We congratulate McGill University on their MSC certification and are pleased to be a partner with them on this important initiative."

Tina Horsley, Director of Wellness & Sustainability, at ARAMARK Canada said: "The Marine Stewardship Council Chain of Custody certification reinforces ARAMARK’s commitment to sourcing sustainable seafood and promoting environmental sustainability across our locations at McGill. We look forward to expanding our partnership over the coming years."