Innovation in Handling the Environmental Crisis – Ralph Torrie (BSC 1979)
“I can trace almost all my professional development work over the last 50 years back to that moment,” said Ralph Torrie, an expert in strategic planning and a pioneer in the promotion of sustainable energy in Canada. After being introduced to a fellow activist classmate during a Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) class at Conrad Grebel University College in the ’70s, Ralph began his vocation toward discovering innovative ways to deal with the climate change crisis. Through a mixture of independent consulting and partnering with various organizations in helping them reduce their energy usage, Ralph has persistently worked toward mitigating Canada’s carbon footprint. When reflecting on where his journey started, Ralph had one place in mind. “There are not too many aspects of my personal and professional life today where I can’t trace them back to my time at Grebel.”
While Ralph always knew that he wanted to study physics, he was also keenly interested in the interface between society and science. He began his undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo in 1970, majoring in Physics, but soon began searching for other courses to balance the mathematical technicalities of his program. "I was looking for interesting electives that would challenge my thinking,” he said. “I wanted a balance against the heavily science-orientated classes I was taking, and Grebel’s calendar of courses caught my eye.”
As a natural outside-the-box thinker, Ralph enrolled in classes with several Grebel professors, including Social Science and Peace and Conflict Studies Professor Donovan E. Smucker and Religious Studies and History Professor Walter Klaassen. “I found Grebel to be an extremely accepting and welcoming community, where I could surround myself with like-minded peers,” said Ralph. “The faculty at Grebel during the 1970s was a group of remarkable, strong-minded individuals.” It was during one of Donovan’s classes that Ralph met classmate Tony McQuail and stepped into the world of environmental sustainability.
"Donovan introduced me to Tony, who had bought a large area of farmland in Lucknow. There were plans by the government to build a nuclear station near his land. In those days, Ontario Hydro had proposed to build around 40 nuclear reactors across Ontario.” Ralph explained that Tony was a part of a citizens group fighting against the surge in Canadian nuclear power usage. Tony’s group had received a government grant that allowed them to write a brief that detailed their concerns with the development of nuclear energy in Ontario. “It was a concern that I shared with Tony,” said Ralph, “but he was too busy working on his farm to write the brief himself.” Yearning to create positive environmental change, Ralph began working with Tony’s group and received a contract to write the brief himself and submit it to the Royal Commission of Electric Power Planning.
Writing the government brief was time consuming work and the project extended Ralph’s undergraduate degree until 1979, when he graduated. By then, Ralph had garnered a significant interest in energy conservation and accumulated the scientific skills needed to implement change. Along with his wife Judy, Ralph founded a consulting firm that assisted companies manage their energy usage. Their company, Torrie Smith Associates, developed software to help local governments take strategic approaches to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Ralph worked with a small pool of clients, which included the Toronto Clean Air Partnership, the Ontario Public Health Association, and many other environmental groups, Indigenous communities, and local governments. “At the time, there was no history of local governments as significant players in the energy field, so we had to invent and innovate as we went along.”
Ralph continued consulting for about 20 years before shifting to projects with several other organizations, including the David Suzuki Foundation. Currently, Ralph is Director of Research with Corporate Knights and is building a database of global companies that evaluates their contributions in transitioning toward environmentally sustainable operations. “We are looking at how these companies make and spend their money and how their profit is aligned with what we need to be doing as a civilization in order to make a transition to a more sustainable way of life,” he said.
Despite living in residence for just one summer term, Ralph credits Grebel for shifting the course of his life in a positive direction. “I think of myself as a full-fledged member of the Grebel community. There, I learned how to shape my values in a positive and constructive way. With the help of my physics training, I carved out a place for myself that combined analytical approaches with advanced unconventional frameworks.” At Grebel, Ralph connected with other students who shared interests in peacemaking. Together, they founded a peace club that organized a large conference on nonviolent conflict resolution.
Ralph stressed the importance of treating the environmental crisis as an immediate threat that demands universal attention, comparing it to the COVID-19 pandemic. “That same urgency is what is required when dealing with this existential crisis,” he urged. "While monetary costs should be a consideration, they shouldn't be the primary concern.”
Using scientific creativity has allowed Ralph to tackle environmental problems in a unique manner. “People need to think about the future with a more open mind. They can’t imagine a future without fossil fuels or greenhouse gas emissions as a day-to-day component of our economic system. Our energy systems suffer mightily from a lack of creative thinking,” he advised. A future founded on creativity is what Ralph and his team have envisioned. “Physics taught me the importance of framing the question correctly. In order to solve a problem, it’s extremely important to frame it in a way that will help you see the solution,” he added. “We’re trying to imagine that future, show what it will cost, and highlight the benefits that would accompany it.”
To current Grebel students, Ralph urges them to not take their community for granted. “Relish the university experience,” he said. “This is a time in your life where you have the freedom and license to explore yourself. Find a mix of things that respond to your personal passions and pursue them.”
By Jiho Mercer
Ralph Torrie has over 40 years working as an analyst, communicator, and advocate for sustainability. He has been involved with several organizations to help create a greener future. After connecting with a classmate during a Peace and Conflict Studies class at Conrad Grebel University College, Ralph has continued to find innovative and creative means to handle the environmental crisis. His consulting firm, Torrie Smith Associates, developed software to help local governments, environmental groups and Indigenous organizations take strategic approaches to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. He was a candidate for the Green Party in the 2008 and 2011 federal elections. He lives with his partner Judy Smith in Cobourg, Ontario and has two grandsons who live nearby.
Ralph's story is part of Grebel's 60 Stories for 60 Years project. Check out our 60 Stories page for more articles in this series. If you would like to nominate a Grebel alumnus to share about their experiences at Grebel, please submit a nomination form.