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For Immediate Release Fund awards $205 453 to Ontario environment projects 14 organizations and schools to benefit from grants funded by Sobeys Ontario Toronto, ON (08/02/11) — Fourteen organizations and schools across Ontario have been awarded grants from the Earth Day Canada Community Environment Fund. Grants totalling $205 453, will support positive environmental action and education in twelve communities. Sobeys Ontario and Earth Day Canada launched the Fund in Spring 2009. “The projects developed by these community organizations and schools are simply fantastic” said Jed Goldberg, President of Earth Day Canada. “It’s great to see so many members of the community come together to create and deliver these projects. We’re thrilled to support their efforts.” Since its launch in June 2009, the Earth Day Canada Community Environment Fund has supported over 50 projects with grants totalling $824 107. Projects include: environmental education programs; community gardens; outdoor classrooms; water and energy conservation programs; and large scale stewardship projects. A complete list of fall 2010 recipients and their projects is available below. “At Sobeys, we take our commitment to ‘proudly serve our communities’ very seriously, and with over 340 stores across Ontario, we know how important it is to support each and every community we serve and live in,” said David Jeffs, President Operations, Sobeys Ontario. “Having the opportunity to help 14 organizations across Ontario achieve their environmental goals is very exciting for us, and the passion showed by each organization and community is contagious. We are looking forward to everyone achieving their goals.” The Earth Day Canada Community Environment Fund, financially supported by Sobeys Inc., was launched in June 2009 to provide financial support to community-based environmental initiatives and create opportunities for not-for-profit organizations, registered charities and local schools to develop sustainable projects that foster environmental education and action across Ontario. The Community Environment Fund is now accepting applications for the Spring 2011 grant period. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2011. For full details, visit www.earthday.ca. About Earth Day Canada About Sobeys Inc. |
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Fall 2010 Community Environment Fund Grant Recipients Association for Canadian Education Resources, Mississauga ON
Project: Integrated Community Response to Climate Change. Yes, We CAN! The Association for Canadian Education Resources will establish three schoolyard “Planting for Change” sites and two one-hector forest biodiversity plots. “Planting for Change” engages schools in the planting, care and study of trees and climate. The biodiversity plots will provide volunteer monitoring for changes in forest biodiversity. Activities will enhance community awareness and understanding of the consequences of climate change through hands-on training, maintenance and monitoring. Data and findings will be used to plan local adaptation measures in the future. Buckhorn Public School, Lakefield ON
Project: Project Green EARTH “Project Green EARTH” is the latest phase of a community-school gardening initiative to provide a publicly accessible instructional green space for rural school students, staff and the community. This phase will create seven distinct garden types on the school grounds and develop curriculum-based resources which will make these gardens accessible to teachers as extensions of their classrooms; engage students in environmental discovery; promote environmental stewardship practices among citizens.
Camp Kawartha, Lakefield ON
Project: “Be a Water Steward” “Be a Water Steward” is an educational program for elementary and high school students. Students will participate in watershed programs and witness, first hand, water conservation methods in action at the award winning Camp Kawartha Environment Centre. Students will then put their knowledge into action by visiting a local watershed and assisting in the collection of data and rehabilitation activities.
Durham Sustain Ability, Brougham ON
Project: Scugog Connections Scugog Connections is a local environmental action centre that provides information and client services to the public. It also plans and coordinates volunteer and youth activities, and organizes on-the ground demonstration projects. The Centre will deliver stewardship programs that enhance public awareness of water quality issues and best management practices. Activities include tree planting and buffer strip establishment along rural and urban watercourses; plantings to increase shade, and to clean and cool the air; and enhancing urban green spaces to create greater permeability.
EcoSource, Mississauga ON
Project: Habitat Garden Education Project The “Habitat Garden Education Project” will create new native plant, insect and wildlife habitat spaces at four community gardens. The project will involve the installation of an innovative water conservation structure at one of the habitat gardens. The initiative will increase awareness of how community stewardship and conservation play an important role in organic food gardening. Four workshops on the topics of native plants, beneficial insects, local wildlife and water conservation will be conducted at each site.
Kingston Sustainability Centre Project, Kingston ON
Project: Join the Journey — Youth Mentoring Youth Campaign (YMYC) The YMYC will engage multiple post–secondary school students to host and mentor K–12 level students. Using five display stations, the visiting class will split into equal groups and rotate around to each station. The goal is to foster behaviour change in the K–12 students. The students will then educate their families and peers to take action and practice sustainable practices in the management of energy, water, waste, transportation and food. Quantifiable benefits will be evaluated through a pledge system.
Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, Chatham ON
Project: Pollinator Enhancement Program The “Pollinator Enhancement Program” will help restore several sites within the Lower Thames Valley Watershed through the planting of prairie seeds and plugs. The program, following science curriculum, will set up seed collection events and plantings for the community and school groups. This hands-on experience will emphasize the importance of prairie restoration, factors that affect source water quality, and wildlife habitat corridors.
Scouts Canada White Pine Council, Oshawa ON
Project: Climate Change Action Program The “Climate Change Action Program” is designed to educate youth and their families about climate change through various activities geared to youth ages 5-14 (with age specific program content). Volunteers and staff will be trained to deliver the Climate Change Action Program as well as presentations and events so families and Scouting Groups can participate and experience the program. Youth will then be able to make a difference by taking the “at home audit” and logging their conservation results into an online calculator. Taking part in the program will earn youth a program crest.
Terry Fox Elementary School, Barrie ON
Project: Outdoor Classroom The “Outdoor Classroom” is a part of the school’s ongoing efforts to address schoolyard greening and naturalization. The project’s goals are to create shade and outdoor learning opportunities for students. The classroom includes raised beds with native mixed wood plains and will be used by all grade levels and in all subjects. Interpretive signage will enhance student understanding of environmental ecosystems and issues.
Toronto Green Community, Toronto ON
Project: Container Gardening — Train the Trainer Toronto Green Community will host a train-the-trainer program in four areas of Toronto, (north, south, east and west) to educate and support community leaders in facilitating container gardening workshops in their communities. The trainees will receive workshop supplies such as containers, soil and plants. Attendees from the community will receive a gardening kit to establish their own container garden at home.
Waterloo Region Green Solutions / REEP, Kitchener ON
Project: Urban/rural Watershed Protection Program The “Urban/rural Watershed Protection Program” encourages individual action in protecting common ground and surface water resources. The rural component will consist of a stewardship campaign that incorporates well check-up visits with neighbour-to-neighbour engagement to emphasize the family and health benefits of protecting shared ground water supplies. The urban storm runoff campaign combines public education with practical demonstrations and workshops to show the community how to reduce storm water flow and keep contaminants out of urban streams and creeks. The project will include a demonstration rain water garden at the organization’s highly recognized REEP House. Willow Park Ecology Centre, Georgetown ON
Project: Renewable Energy Education Station The addition of the Renewable Energy Education Station to Willow Park will provide a hands-on learning environment about renewable energy for students. The project includes the installation of a solar photovoltaic system and weather station; the development of curriculum-linked educational materials; and the expansion of current educational offerings. The system will be housed on the roof of an existing gazebo, with seating for proper education.
Windfall Ecology Centre, Aurora ON
Project: Green Spokes Windfall Ecology Centre will work with two schools to create a culture of cycling in the school community. The program will demonstrate to students the tools they can use to plan safe and convenient routes; work with schools and local partners to install secure bike facilities; track greenhouse gas emissions saved through an innovative website where students can set up profiles and log their kilometres biked; and educate students on how they can make more healthy and environmentally-friendly choices.
York Region Environmental Alliance, Richmond Hill ON
Project: Seeds for Change The “Seeds for Change” pilot project will facilitate the creation of one school and one community garden in York Region to be used as template for the development of a region-wide school and community gardening program. The project will engage students, teachers and community members in planning, construction and maintenance of gardens. Workshops on organic gardening and food preparation will also be provided. School gardens will become outdoor classrooms. Public spaces will become vibrant gardens creating opportunities for cross-cultural and intergenerational relationships.
-30- For media inquiries, please contact: Tracy Chisholm |
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