Going 'Green'
Sustainable Initiatives
in
Today's Communities
City of Pickering
Supports Sustainability
Pickering Wins Waste Challenge
Recently, the City of Pickering and the Town of Ajax held a friendly one-day Corporate Challenge to determine whose municipal hall and recreation complex could produce the least amount of garbage. This annual corporate challenge is held to promote awareness throughout the community regarding consumption and disposal of materials.
The event takes place as part of both municipalities' Waste Reduction Week program. The City of Pickering and the Town of Ajax joined the many communities across Canada proclaiming October 15 - 21 as Waste Reduction Week.
Waste generated from both municipal halls and recreation complexes was collected and weighed. Results were calculated based on the number of staff working in the building.
The municipal hall in the City of Pickering generated 6.16 kilograms, while the Town of Ajax facility produced slightly less at 4.04 kilograms; however, the recreation complex in Pickering produced 30.13 kilograms of waste while the Town of Ajax facility produced 43.54 kilograms of waste; making the City of Pickering the 2007 winner!
All in great fun ....as a result of losing the challenge, the Town of Ajax's Mayor and Council watched as the City of Pickering's Mayor and Members of Council hoisted their Pickering flag at the Town Hall in Ajax on Monday, October 29 at 10:30 am.
"While I am delighted to have Pickering's flag fly at Ajax Town Hall for a week, I want to stress that we are all winners," said Mayor Dave Ryan. "By holding this fun and friendly challenge, we are creating greater awareness of the need to reduce waste, and encouraging more sustainable behaviour."
For Further information please contact: Chantal Whitaker, Coordinator, Environmental Awareness Programs
City of Pickering
Sustainable Pickering Day,
a showcase of new sustainable development initiatives, projects and products was hosted by The City of Pickering at the Pickering Town Centre.
Sustainable Pickering Day, all about; Healthy Society, Healthy Environment, Healthy Economy, Responsible Development, Responsible Consumption.
On May 26, 2007 exhibitors large and small were present to show visitors various environmentally friendly and socially responsible products and development. More and more people are concerned with creating cleaner and more sustainable ways to live, without damaging our environment. Sustainability is all about making environmentally sound choices and at the same time creating a sustainable living environment for now, and the future.
New technologies and building practices as well as a little common sense and old fashioned values can go a long way towards building a bright and sustainable future.
The City of Pickering
The City of Pickering display featured ways to work together to establish balance and integrate social, economic and environmental opportunities now and into the future. Pickering views itself as a ‘City of Opportunity’ for businesses that practice environmental responsibility.
A large part of the City of Pickering display announced the Ontario, Communities in Bloom Program. The focus on plants is an important step in the journey towards any sustainability program. After all Mother Nature has her own amazing ways of purifying and cleansing the environment. With just a little help from us, environmental sustainability can be improved.
Forward thinking attitudes have resulted in Pickering being one of the first municipalities in the Province of Ontario to establish an Office of Sustainability.
The Office of Sustainability will oversee the City’s Sustainable Pickering program and work closely with its citizens in initiating a broad range of practices that will help make Pickering be a more sustainable City – environmentally, socially and economically. The City has established a sustainable Pickering website to answer questions and help people find new ways to create sustainability in their own environments.
The Pickering Hybrid vehicle and Veridian’s hybrid-electric-solar car were on display giving visitors something to drool over. Many drivers are anxious to buy environmentally friendly vehicles now.
This years graduating high school students have been taught to respect the environment since kindergarten and are a large new group of consumers who will be demanding environmental purchasing options. As a society we have now reached a point where doing business in an environmentally friendly way is good business.
Sustainable Pickering Day was well received by visitors from the community and the
multi-faceted event helped serve to educate the public about innitiatives The City of Pickering is taking in order to be progrssive in its approach and gain feedback from the community.
The event was successful in engaging the public to form a greater awareness of conservation in their home and businesses.
Participation from us all will make a big difference for our future. Its about volunteering our cooperation and support in our own homes and developing new awareness for the benefit of ourselves and future generations.
The City of Pickering in Ontario, Canada
-hosts Sustainable Pickering Day
Thomas Melymuk, Doug Dickerson, Renee Michaud, Lynda Goldmintz, and Shawna Mutton above at one of the displays.
Participants in
Sustainable Pickering Day and programs presented.
City of Pickering
•Culture & Recreation
•Environmental Awareness Programs
•Communities in Bloom
• Economic Development
•Planning & Development
Pine Ridge Secondary School
• Proud Of Pickering survey
• Nutrition
• Sustainable Pine Ridge
• I am the Change
• “Trash Fashion” exhibit
Toronto Region Conservation Authority TRCA - Healthy Yards Program
• Native Wildflower Seeds
• Books
• Plastic Bugs
• Banner
Dunbarton High School
• Environmental Initiatives
• Practical sustainable consumption tips
• Products display
Durham Sustain Ability
• Home weatherization demonstrations
• Products Displays (Nature Clean)
• We Have The Power
• Well Aware
Durham Region Food Charter
Canadian Tire
• Products Displays
• Information on Advance Green program
• Promotion of EKC products
Pickering Town Centre
• Plastic bag tower
Mattamy Homes
Evergreen
Indopak
Veridian: Hybrid Solar vehicle
Glen Major Forest & Walker Woods
Frenchman’s Bay Watershed Rehabilitation Project
Array International Architects
Community } ....you are here } Sustainable Pickering Day, Page Two }
