Thompson Rivers University has been named the top “Cool School” of 2019 by the Sierra Club, the first time a Canadian university has been topped the annual rankings.

The university’s sustainability efforts were praised as they stood out among 283 other colleges and universities. The University of Calgary was the next best Canadian school, finishing 17th.

TRU was praised for diverting more than 70 per cent of its waste away from landfills and avoiding fossil fuels when it comes to heating the buildings.

Schools were ranked in six categories, and TRU placed second in energy, third in waste, and fourth in curriculum options. It was also 11th in transportation, 48th in food, and 58th in research.

The recognition comes a few days after TRU was recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for being the top master’s school in 2019.