F&S jams for reforestation at annual benefit rock concert

“Eco Jam allows me to combine two of my passions—embracing our shared environment and music. That’s powerful,” says Scott Hendershot, senior manager of the Sustainability Office at Facilities & Services.

On April 20, Sustainable Beats—a band made up of Facilities & Services and University Planning, Design & Construction staff—performed at Eco Jam, an annual benefit rock concert, where they joined industry leaders from the Greater Toronto Area who represented their organizations to raise money for reforestation. 

Since the first Eco Jam was held in 2013, donations and ticket sales have funded the planting of more than 15,000 trees through Forests Ontario. 

Sustainable Beats played songs like “All the Small Things” by Blink 182 to a sold-out house at The Phoenix Concert Theatre. 

The band helped the event raise $50,000 that will fund planting over 12,500 trees, which is more than double the trees planted in 2018—Eco Jam’s most successful year to date. 

“The reaction was amazing—it was great to see the crowd really having fun,” says Hendershot. “The timing could not have been better coming out of the pandemic—we all had steam to release!” 

Sustainable Beats band members are Carla Arnaiz, UPDC senior project manager as manager, Kavitha Jayakrishnan, UPDC senior planner on vocals, Kristina Toope, UPDC project manager on bass and keys, John Rand, UPDC project manager, Al Amin, UPDC mechanical designer on guitar, and Hendershot on drums. 

A mutual passion for music and sustainability bonded the group quickly. 

“Even though I’m the only member of the band with an official role in sustainability, we immediately came to a unanimous decision to name the group Sustainable Beats. Whether our interest is greenhouse gas reduction, watersheds, waste management, or environmental equity, we all have a personal connection to the cause,” says Hendershot. 

Jayakrishnan agrees, “Eco Jam is a great opportunity to bring together colleagues who might not otherwise meet or interact in a professional setting and share in the fun. Plus, we can live out our ‘rockstar’ alter egos!” 

Rocking out at Eco Jam also reinforces the University of Toronto’s role as a steward for sustainability, Hendershot points out. “By representing the university and performing in U of T colours, we make a statement. When people think of U of T, we want them to immediately think of sustainability, and we’ll get there—one tree at a time!