Hometown Heroes - 2008 Finalist: Kerry McManus

2008 Finalist

Kerry McManus: Stratford, Ontario

Image courtesy of Roel Photography, Stratford

It’s a Fact

Kerry co-founded C.A.R.E. Stratford, Ontario. C.A.R.E. provides an opportunity for community members to get involved and cross-pollinate environmental awareness, initiatives and ideas.

Kerry McManus is the co-founder and chair of Common Action for the Restoration of the Environment Stratford (C.A.R.E. Stratford), a grassroots organization dedicated to restoring the local environment by thinking globally and acting locally. Kerry has served as the co-ordinator for the majority of the events and activities carried out by C.A.R.E.

Created in 2003 in conjunction with Stratford Central Secondary School’s (S.C.S.S.) Environment Club and alumni, C.A.R.E. has provided the city of Stratford with a volunteer group dedicated to environmental awareness and action. The exchange of ideas has long been an integral element in C.A.R.E. Stratford’s events. A key objective for Kerry was to provide an opportunity for a crosspollination of ideas and activities. Kerry has successfully united environmental groups, organizations, and businesses to facilitate a variety of environmental preservation and restoration initiatives.

C.A.R.E. Stratford is the cornerstone of environmental action and change in Stratford and Perth County. It provides opportunity for concerned community members to get involved in different environmental initiatives by volunteering at local events. Kerry has helped establish opportunities with the Farmer’s Market, Garden Festival and Home Show in order to educate and engage the community. She has planned events such as the annual Symposium on the Environment, the screening of environmentally related films, and has co-ordinated recycling pick-up at local events. Canvas bags, compact fluorescent light bulbs and travel mugs have been sold as a means of promoting awareness of environmentally-friendly alternatives.

Aside from chairing C.A.R.E. Stratford, Kerry has been the staff advisor of S.C.S.S.’s Environment Club since 1999; is a member of the Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation Environmental Committee and the Avon Maitland District School Board’s District Environmental Committee; and has co-ordinated Compassion International’s Fastbreak since 2002. Kerry received the Excellence in Education Award in 2007 and the Key Contributors Award in 2008 from the Avon Maitland District School Board.

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