Mostofa Kamal is a Ph.D. student in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan and currently serves as a member of the Municipal Planning Commission for the City of Saskatoon, SK. With over 15 years of experience in community gardening—including 8 years in Waterloo, Ontario, and 7 years at the McEown Community Garden on the University of Saskatchewan campus—he has developed a deep commitment to sustainable food systems and community resilience. He has presented his research at major scientific gatherings such as the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting, and the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS) Congress. He recently presented his Ph.D. work at the 2025 CMOS Congress in Saskatoon.
Email: mostofa.kamal@usask.ca
Community gardens are increasingly recognized as vital tools in promoting environmental stewardship, social cohesion, and local food security, as urban communities strive to balance sustainability, inclusion, and livability. This research investigates the function and contribution of the McEown Community Garden—located within the University of Saskatchewan student residences—as a model for sustainable urban planning. The garden, largely maintained by graduate students from diverse cultural backgrounds, not only supports sustainable land use and local food production but also offers proven mental health benefits through physical activity, stress relief, and social connection.
