|
|
So, I’m blogging again. This is more or less a rant…two of them actually. I’m kind of hung up with which one I will write about first because they both REALLY annoy me a lot.
OK, here goes. Last night when I was arriving home from work, it was blazing hot. The temperature in my car said it was 36 degrees (a bit of an exaggeration) and the official temperature at the Ptbo airport was 31. In addition to the hot temperatures, the late afternoon sun was beating down. The time was around 4:45.
I pulled onto my north end street to see a gentlemen standing on his driveway proudly watching his LAWN SPRINKLER watering the lawn. Yes, that’s right, watering the lawn. Two or three houses down, someone else was doing the same thing. It completely blows my mind.
Watering during the hot afternoon is serving absolutely no purpose! Very little of it actually reaches the root level of the grass because it evaporates away as quickly as it reaches the ground. Save your watering until the evening after the sun has lowered in the sky! Watering the driveway, street and sidewalk also is pointless– not much grows in those areas.
Now to pet peeve #2. I was driving two work Wednesday morning and was coming down Chemong Road as usual. The right lane by the strip mall on Chemong seemed to be backed up for no apparent reason, as traffic below the mall entrance was flowing normally. As I changed lanes it became quite apparent why traffic wasn’t moving. There was a line up for the Tim Horton’s drive-thru! Why do people think they have the absolute right to BLOCK a FULL LANE OF TRAFFIC so they can wait in line at a drive thru? Not only are they creating a safety issue, but also spewing endless amounts of exhaust into our atmosphere. Air Quality was already strained that day, and drive thrus like this were only making it worse.
So how can we solve this problem? Park your car, take your coffee cup into the restaurant, get it filled and pay inside. Without a doubt, by the time you get out and into your car the drive thru line won’t have moved too much.
What do you think? Post a comment!
 Students find out what bus routes they need to take to get to key locations within Peterborough. I just returned from a busy morning with Peterborough Green-Up educator Brianna Salmon. We boarded a Peterborough Transit bus at 8:30 this morning, and along with bus driver Jim, picked up 20 or so kids at a school I can’t currently remember the name of.
The kids, teacher, and two grandparent chaperones, were taking part in Peterborough Green-Up’s “On the Bus” program. Students from local schools are shown how to take public transit by learning how to read bus schedule maps, how to transfer onto a different bus, how to make the bus stop and know that the bus driver is always there to help them if they have any questions.
The part the kids enjoyed the most was driving under the Lift lock! They got to scream at the top of their lungs, and the driver honked the horn. They also enjoyed our Ecology Park stop where they learned about pollution and global warming and the importance of carpooling and using public transit.
At the “bus barn” we saw how the busses are parked after the routes are finished at the end of the day, how a bus is washed and Jim, the driver, answered questions. Everyone had a great time!
Ah, life at the lake. It’s something we here in the Kawarthas take for granted. Next week I’ll be returning home to New Brunswick for a well deserved week of rest and relaxation. It will be great to catch up with friends in Fredericton that I haven’t seen since Christmas.
My parents live about an hour and a half outside the city, in a tiny community bumped up against the Canada/US border. Probably one of the best parts of this remote location is the close proximity to the lakes.
Growing up, swimming was always a real treat on those hot summer days. Usually the beach would be packed with kids (and adults) from both sides of the international border. The lake featured clean water, a sandy beach and the fishing wasn’t bad either. My parents eventually purchased some shoreline property of their own, so over the past few years, over-crowded beaches were never an issue
I’m hoping when I return the water will have warmed enough for a quick dip. Last year was so cold and wet days for swimming were few and far between.
Here in the Kawarthas we also enjoy our lakes. Peterborough Green-Up in conjunction with the Lakeland Alliance works hard to educate shoreline property owners in the importance of keeping our lakes clean and healthy for generations to come.
Up the road on the shores of Pigeon Lake, another organization has the same mission. Gamiing Nature Centre (pronounced Gah-min-j) works hard to provide similar education in addition to environmental workshops and a native plant nursery.
Gamiing operates on a 100-acre property consisting of picturesque forest, meadows and wetlands. The property was purchased in 1985 by current volunteer executive director Mieke Schipper and in 1995 Mieke placed the property in a land trust with the goal to create an environmental education site.
I first heard about Gamiing when I took over this position almost a year ago. I was sorting though an endless pile of newspaper clippings that a predecessor left behind and happened across an older column. The name threw me off initially, but after asking around I found a correct pronunciation.
My counterpart at Gamiing, Andrew Kadykalo, says that’s something he sees all the time.
“We get confusion surrounding the word Gamiing,” he said. “Gamiing is a word in Ojibwa [Pigeon Lake’s first settlers] meaning ‘at the shore.’”
The Pigeon Lake shore is going to be the centre of attention in a couple of weeks at Gamiing’s annual Summer Lakeshore Music Festival. The Festival, held on June 20th, is a fabulous opportunity for young and old to come out and enjoy great local musical entertainment, activities for children and much more.
“Live folk and blues music will be playing throughout the whole day. We are very excited to showcase a special appearance by the L’ll Big Band!,” Kadykalo said.
Event organizers made sure this was an event that would appeal to a wide age range and designed activities to appeal to young and old.
“This event is great for the whole family. There will be face painting, pony rides and interactive games for children. Featured will be an organic food court serving wine and beer for when you get hungry and thirsty and exhibitor booths of local artisans will be on site as well,” he said.
The event serves as an important fundraiser for Gamiing, with all money raised going to support their education and environmental programs throughout the whole year.
Aside from raising money, the event is also a chance for people from throughout the Kawarthas to come and learn about what Gamiing does, and the important role the organization plays in our communities.
“We want to make the public aware of the work being done here and to encourage the broad community to utilize what Gamiing has to offer. The Kawarthas were established and settled on because of the beauty of our natural resources and we want to preserve that beauty and ensure the Kawarthas remain a favoured destination to visit and inhabit,” he said.
Gamiing is also looking for exhibitors to be at the Lakeshore Music Festival. For only $25 you will receive a 10 foot by 10 foot area to sell your products or service to those in attendance. Those representing not-for-profit organizations can receive one free space.
Those interested in attending the festival as an exhibitor can contact Mieke Schipper by phone at 705-799-6734 or email info@gamiing.org.
I encourage you to plan ahead and attend this excellent community event. Not only will you experience some great local music and entertainment, but also leave with a better understanding of our beautiful Kawarthas.
Gamiing is located at 1884 Pigeon Lake Road (County Road 17), 12 km south of Bobcaygeon. For more information give Andrew a call at (705) 799-7083 or email marketingandpromotion@gamiing.org
Two weeks ago, the McGinty government’s much anticipated Green Energy Act was signed into law. The Act contains many provisions which will allow Ontarians to more easily buy and sell renewable energy, upgrades our power grid, and speeds up the permit and planning process for renewable energy developments.
This is exciting news because there are people out there who are anxious to try generating power on their own, and are just waiting for the right moment to jump on board.
Not only will the Green Energy Act soon be providing some encouragement, but other current government programs are also great reasons to start making your home greener.
The Home Renovation Tax Credit will allow you to install such things as new windows and doors, and receive a tax credit of up to $1,350. The widely popular ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program lets homeowners to install insulation, new heating and cooling systems, water-saving appliance and a variety of other improvements in exchange for government grant money.
The dollar amount of grants in the ecoENERGY program is currently increased by 25% for a limited time, so there’s no better time to take part.
If you have questions about all the buzz around green energy, and are looking for suggestions of what you can do at your own home there is an excellent event coming up on June 6th. The Green Home and Garden tour will allow you not only see installations of renewable energy in operation but also talk to some of the people that installed and purchased them. There are nine different homes and gardens on this year’s tour.
“The Green Home and Garden Tour is an excellent opportunity for people to come out, meet their neighbours and learn about alterative ways power their homes using methods such as solar power,” says Thalia Bock, who is a member of the Green Home and Garden committee.
In addition to alternative methods of powering a home, a couple of home owners on the tour have installed new heating and cooling systems that use less energy and obtain the heat from the ground below their homes. Called Geothermal, this form of heating and cooling is gaining in popularity, especially since there are now government grants available to help make the cost of purchase and installation more affordable.
The Green Home and Garden Tour wouldn’t be complete without Gardens, and there are plenty of those.
“With the introduction of the pesticide ban in April, many people are still scrambling to find new gardening methods and keep pests and weeds away without the use of harmful garden chemicals,” Bock says.
The gardens on the tour feature both food and flower gardens and those with a combination of both.
“Homeowners who have naturalized gardens will be happy any questions you might have about their successes and might even be willing to share a few gardening secrets with you,” she said.
The Ministry of Environment will have an informational available at one of the gardens that will answer common questions about the pesticide ban, and point people to the right sources of information and their new website.
The Ministry won’t be the only informational representative in attendance at the various tour stops. People from a variety of companies that offer green products or services will have displays set up where you can gather information and have questions about their product or service.
There are more then just homes on this year’s tour. Two not-for-profit organizations, Peterborough Green-Up and the John Howard Society of Peterborough will also be participating.
Green-Up celebrated one year in the organization’s new energy efficient and environmentally friendly office yesterday, and to continue the celebration as we’re adding our own office to the tour. Tour participants can drop in and see what we’ve done, the products we’ve used and get information on popular energy programs.
The John Howard Society has also been busy making their office space greener. They’ve installed solar panels on the roof and have gone through the Power Savings Blitz program to switch to more energy efficient lighting—for free, up to $1000. The Society also developed a “green training” program for other non-profits to allow them to learn the ins and outs of having a more sustainable and environmentally conscious.
To participate in the tour, purchase your tour passport at the following locations:
Peterborough Green-Up, 378 Aylmer St. N.
Avant Garden Shop, 165 Sherbrooke St.
Gardens Plus, 136 County Rd. 4, Donwood
Happenstance Books, Lakefield
Tour passports are only $10 and give you access to all 9 stops from 10 am to 4 pm on June 6th. All money raised goes to Peterborough Green-Up’s environmental programs. For more information call myself, Thalia Bock or Cathy Mitchell at Green-Up. 745-3238.
I’m fortunate enough to live close to downtown and can walk to work every day. On my daily treks down Charlotte Street I tend to see the same cast of characters over and over.
There is the guy who is always about two minutes ahead of me, arriving just in the nick of time to open his business across from Charlotte Towers. When I hit Reed Street I usually pass a man headed in the opposite direction, and then pass him again on the way home. I see real estate agents arriving at Bowes and Cocks and the same clientele coming in and out of the Charlotte Pantry every morning—clearly a lot of us have the same routines.
As Sue McGregor-Hunter said at the Shifting Gears Workplace Transportation Challenge launch last week, walking to work is a great opportunity to think and really enjoy some “me time.” I must admit during my journey to the office this morning, I dreamed up the majority of what you’re currently reading.
It makes me wonder just how many downtown businesses (and even those not downtown) have employees who walk to work. Here at Peterborough Green-Up the vast majority of us live close enough to walk or bike to work. Our staff who live out of town drive and carpool as a necessity. It would be a long hike in from Bobcaygeon!
Shifting Gears, now in its 6th year, is a great way of encouraging commuters to walk, bike, carpool or take public transit to get to work. Staff at Green-Up, and dozens of other non-profit organizations and businesses around town are taking the Shifting Gears challenge to see how many of us can get to work without driving alone, and win some great prizes in the process.
Shifting Gears Ambassador Clifford McCarten is excited about the challenge this year, and was impressed at how many local businesses signed up and are participating.
“I’m really excited by with the large number of workplaces participating. It suggests a strong community interest in exploring and increasing sustainable practices. So far, we have over 60, with more coming on board every day,” McCarten said.
 Businesses are encouraged to sign up at www.peterboroughmoves.com, where employees can enter how they got to work on a daily basis and see how well their workplace is doing compared to others in town that are also shifting gears.
Individuals are also encouraged to sign up, because in addition engaging with the natural environment of their community, there are also some fabulous prizes to be won! For those businesses and individuals without Internet access, don’t worry, you will be give a paper tracking sheet to keep score of your participation and still be eligible for prizes.
“Participants have a chance to win weekly prizes, including dinner for two at Parkhill on Hunter and Rare Steak House, bus passes, and a $150 gift card from Wild Rock Outfitters,” says McCarten. “I’m hearing a lot of interest in the grand prize, a $750 gift package to any Resorts of Ontario destination.”
In addition to the weekly prizes, McCarten will be surprising participating workplaces to catch people Shifting Gears. Anyone seen biking, walking or arriving at work in any other eco-friendly way will be awarded some great prizes such as coffee & ice cream certificates, bike lights, leg bands and ponchos.
Last year the program eliminated over 18,000 vehicle trips, reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by at least 23 tonnes.
“This is as much about people’s health and happiness as it is about the environment and saving money,” McCarten said.
There are also weekly events happening throughout the month to coincide with Shifting Gears. Every Friday from 7:30 to 9:30am there will be bike-checkups held at Confederation Park, across from City Hall on George Street, for those participating in the program.
I encourage everyone to participate in Shifting Gears, whether you’re a member of the business community or an individual. Together we can become more engaged members of out community, making our air a little easier to breathe, reducing traffic congestion by taking cars of the road, improving our physical and mental health, and maybe winning a prize in the process. I hope you join me and hundreds of others as we shift gears!
Some of the most stunning photographs come from space. We can tune into the news, or open the pages of a newspaper from time to time and see the latest images captured from high-tech satellites orbiting out into the depths of the universe. Far off galaxies and star systems are seen for the first time, and we marvel over their beauty as we try to learn about some of the secrets trapped within them, millions upon millions of light-years away.
We don’t have to go far to see something equally as beautiful. Some of the most stunning images from space are of our own planet. When we view it from afar, it truly is remarkable. This glowing ball of blue and white stands out in sharp contrast to the black abyss surrounding it, and when seen from this vantage point I think it really reinforces how special our planet really is.
Today is Earth Day. From it’s humble beginnings in the ‘60s, Earth Day has steadily grown as more and more people take part and encourage others to spread the message of planetary stewardship, after all we only have one Earth and it deserves our full attention.
In recent decades our planet has faced some of its toughest challenges. Global warming is melting the Arctic and Antarctic, human activity has resulted in hundreds if not thousands of animal, plant, fish and bird species to disappear, our oceans are filling with garbage and acres of crucial animal habitat such as rainforests are being wiped out daily.
Here in the Kawarthas the natural beauty sometimes fools us into forgetting what is happening outside our region, but even here we’re not immune to changes being felt around the world. Polluted air from points west drifts into our homes, invasive species make their way into our lakes and we too face the challenges of climate change and global warming.
It’s not all bad news. Peterborough has been doing amazing things when it comes to caring for our environment and protecting our Earth. From passing one of the first pesticide and anti-idling by-laws in the country to encouraging its residents to conserve water and energy, the “green idea” has really taken root and I’m glad to see Peterborough and Ontario are leading the way.
While we’re making good headway there’s still much more that can be done. Making simple changes at home are some of the easiest things we can do. Using less water, having a home energy evaluation to show what parts of your home are inefficient that you may not be aware of, conserving energy by unplugging electronics when not in use are just a few. Jumping to the field where the “green sheep” reside can usually save you a few bucks in the end, too.
If you’re looking for some ideas of how you can green your life and become a better steward of our Earth, I encourage you to attend the Green Expo on Saturday. Businesses and organizations from around the Peterborough area will be present, showcasing products and services that are environmentally friendly.
“There will be lots and lots of exhibits, presentations, something for everyone, lots of education on green living,” says event organizer Laurie Collette.
One of the exhibitors will be Wendy Trussler, a local artist, who will be there with her Reworks business. Wendy makes art and furniture pieces from bits and pieces of reclaimed objects, such as springs from a chair, she gathers from a variety of sources.
If you have questions about home energy evaluations (the government recently boosted the grants by 25% for a limited time!) Peterborough Green-Up’s Alex Mortlock will be there to deliver a presentation and answer questions about the ecoEnergy program.
There will also be an exciting announcement happening at 11:15 with Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal and Green-Up’s Cathy Mitchell. A new program focusing on greening places of worship for religious and spiritual organizations—a first for the Peterborough area!
Collette is “really excited” about this year’s keynote speaker who is well known across Canada for her hard-hitting interviews and investigative journalism. CBC reporter and host, Wendy Mesley, will address those in attendance at 11:30 with a talk on how the media and marketers influence what we buy and eat.
The Expo is happening on Saturday from 10 to 4 at the Evinrude Centre, 911 Monaghan Road. Admission is only $5 and children under 12 get in for free.
Back to Earth Day for a moment, I encourage you to make a change in your life to make our Earth a better place to live. It can be as small as choosing to plant a native tree in your back yard, or as large as installing a more energy efficient heating system. It all adds up in the end and helps to keep our beautiful planet healthy. Remember, every day is Earth Day.
Well, everyone, April has arrived. The birds are chirping, grass is turning green and tulips are beginning to poke they’re head through the ground. I think we can safely say that Spring is here in full force. On my morning walks to work I usually see birds flying by with bits of grass or twigs in their mouth, getting a start on the nest.
April is also significant for another reason– it’s Earth Month. A month out of the year where we stop to celebrate all our earth provides for us and inform others of our impacts on it.
Locally, there are all kinds of events happening around the city and county that you can participate in to clean up our environment and learn how we can be better stewards of it.
APRIL 15 EARTH DAY BANNER RAISED OUTSIDE CITY HALL
PETERBOROUGH’S TREASURED TREE HUNT LAUNCH
Launch of Peterborough’s Treasured Tree Hunt. Check out the website for all the details www.treasuredtreehunt.com
GREEN DRINKS
Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up for a beverage at informal sessions known as Green Drinks - it’s a chance to mix with other like-minded folks, to network, share info and make friends. Anytime after 5pm at Riley’s Pub, Hearth Room (ground floor, back). 251 George (between King and Sherbrooke). Everyone is welcome.
APRIL 14-16 VOLUNTEER AT ECOLOGY PARK
Volunteers are always welcome at Ecology Park to help in the tree nursery on April 14, 15 and 16, anytime from 9-5, weather permitting.
APRIL 18 EARTH DAY JACKSON CREEK CLEAN UP
Join us for the 11h annual Earth Day Jackson Creek Clean Up Saturday April 18, 2009, 10:00am – 12:00pm.
Meet at the main entrance to Jackson Park (Monghan Road and Parkhill Road). Gloves and bags will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. Volunteers will pick-up litter throughout Jackson Park and along the Creek following the trail towards downtown.
APRIL 19 MILLENNIUM PARK CLEAN UP
Join organizers from 10:00am –12:00pm to receive gloves and bags at the Boat House small building beside the Silver Bean Cafe. A concentrated clean up of the waterfront park and railway bed to George Street will be the focus. Volunteers will be provided with snacks and refreshments from community sponsors at the BBQ after the clean up. Tree seedlings (local native species of course!) will be available for volunteers to take home and plant, and there will be books available for children aged 3-15 to take home.
LAKEFIELD TRAIL NATURE HIKE
Join MNR Biologist, Colin Jones and Natural Areas Ecologist, Mike McMurtry as they share nature’s awakenings. Meet at the Marshland Centre at 10 am for a brief orientation, followed by an interpretive hike along the southern shores of Katchewanooka Lake to the Doug Sadler Viewing Tower at the Imagine the Marsh wetland area. As an addition to the guided nature hike this year, you can purchase a back bacon on a bun breakfast served by the Lakefield Trail Stewardship Committee. For more information, please contact Penny Hebert at 652-0747.
OPIRG REUSABLES GIVE-AWAY
On April 19th, OPIRG will be hosting a massive Give Away from 9am-5pm on the lawn of Sadleir House, 751 George St, Peterborough. All the donated items, ranging from household goods, clothing, office supplies, books, small electronics and miscellaneous items will be available to community members and students, absolutely FREE. We are hoping, but have not yet confirmed we will be offering a free lunch and free entertainment.
Volunteers are also very much needed, so please email us if you can help out! Please note that we will not be accepting computers or furniture. The following organizations can be contacted about accepting those items: Reboot Peterborough 749-5815 (computers)
St.Vincent De Paul 742-2585 or Salvation Army Thrift Store 742-0483 (furniture)
APRIL 20-24 CLEAN AGAIN-GREEN AGAIN SCHOOL YARD CLEAN-UPS
36 local schools will participate by hosting a school yard clean-ups.
MONAGHAN ROAD CLEAN UP AT CGE
Canadian Auto Workers, Canadian General Electric staff and students from Prince of Wales Elementary School work together to clean up the area surrounding CGE and the school on Monaghan Road
APRIL 20-24 PETERBOROUGH GREEN UP QUEST FOR LESS EARTH WEEK CHALLENGE
The Quest for Less Earth Week Challenge, challenges schools and classrooms to bring fully litterless lunch for the entire week of Earth Week. Those that participate can win great prizes including a free class trip to the Ecology Park or a school assembly with the amazing paddling puppeteers. Schools and/or classes need to pre-register by Friday, April 10th, 2009 — just call Peterborough Green-Up 745-3238 ext. 216
PITCH-IN CANADA WEEK
The theme of Pitch-In Canada Week this year is “Operation Clean Sweep”. To become a partner, decide on a project such as starting a cell phone recycling program, planting trees, a neighbourhood clean up or setting up a composting program. Activities can take a few hours, days or be an on-going commitment – it’s up to you. Visit www.pitch-in.ca for more ideas.
APRIL 21-23 VOLUNTEER AT ECOLOGY PARK
Volunteers are always welcome at Ecology Park to help in the tree nursery on April 21, 22 and 23, anytime from 9-5, weather permitting.
APRIL 22 EARTH DAY!
Cleanup your neighbourhood, plant a tree – check out www.earthday.ca for ideas about how to make every day earth day!
2ND ANNUAL KAWARTHA ROTARY CLUB SUPER SPRING CLEAN-UP
Members of the Kawartha Rotary Club, 250 high school students and community volunteers will clean up the City and County of Peterborough. After the clean up, there will be an Earth Day Celebration at Millennium Park including food and drinks, live music and displays at the MNR Building.
ADOPT-A-NEIGHBOURHOOD
Community Groups can contact Duncan Manser at the City of Peterborough Public Works Department 745-1386 to identify areas that they are planning to clean up. Bags, gloves and garbage pick-up will be provided by the City of Peterborough Public Works Department.
APRIL 25 GREEN EXPO 2009
10 am to 4 pm, Evinrude Centre, Peterborough Central Ontario’s source for eco-friendly products and services for building and living. Organic, all natural, recycled, sustainable, fair trade, energy efficient and otherwise good-for-the-earth products and services exhibited throughout the day. Accompanying the exhibits will be presentations on a variety of ‘green’ topics as well as delicious organic food and a supervised children’s area. www.greenexpo.ca
FLEMING PARK CLEAN UP
Peterborough Horticultural Society (PHS) members will be at Fleming Park (Brock and Aylmer St.) from 10 a.m. – 12:00 p. m. PHS members will be pruning, raking and digging as well as cleaning up litter at Fleming Park.
APRIL 26 ECOLOGY PARK OPENS FOR TREE AND COMPOST SALES
Ecology Park will open on Sunday, April 26 from 1-4 pm for trees and compost.
The Ontario Liberals have tabled their much anticipated Green Energy Act at Queen’s Park, and those who work in the environmental field couldn’t be happier. That happiness vibe is also felt here at Green-Up.
I liked several aspects of the act, but the parts promising more renewable energy were especially of note.
Finally, money will be spent that will encourage more people to jump on board the renewable energy bandwagon. It’s exciting that the government wants to invest in our power grid to make it easier for homeowners to put power back into the grid, instead of just taking away.
I tuned into the news conference and was impressed by Minister Smitherman made the remark that solar panels would soon be the standard on neighborhood roofs across Ontario.
 Former Green-Up Energy Advisor, Vince Hughes, completes a blower door test as part of an energy evaluation at a Peterborough area home. It’s encouraging that the act will provide funding for homeowners who wish to install renewable energy systems in their homes and that one piece of blanket legislation will make it easier for renewable energy projects, such as wind turbines, to be developed. This has been a concern from some communities, but overall I think this will be good.
Another positive aspect was the requirement for an energy evaluation each time a house is put on the market. This has been a cause for debate, but I see it as protection for homeowners. When you buy a major appliance, car, etc you demand to know how energy efficient it is…shouldn’t the same be true for your home, one of the biggest purchases of your life? I think so. This will also create jobs, as new energy advisers must be added to perform the evaluations.
Renewable power, more efficient homes and new jobs are all things that could benefit Ontario in the future, should this piece of legislation get the “green” light. Pun intended.
-Matt
Last week, myself and our Executive Director took place in “Peterborough Northumberland Day” at Queens Park. We were invited down by our MPP, Jeff Leal, as one of the many businesses to represent the Peterborough Riding.
We had a great opportunity to meet and greet with other businsses and non-profits from around the area and talk to several MPPs and Ministers, includuing the Minister of the Environment. He was very interested in our past education work with the city of Peterborough during the implementation of the city’s pesticide by-law. Ontario is about to embark on a similiar piece of legislation for the entire province.
This was great exposure for Green-Up and we were pleased to answer many questions about our organization, energy audits, the impending Green Energy Act and a host of other topics.
-Matt
Green is not the only environmental colour out there. What about BLUE? Our water is important to us all! Did you know that it is our most precious resource? And the most effected part of our world to climate change?
2009 World Water Day is celebrated on March 22 and this years topic is Transboundry water. Thinking locally, Peterborough gets our water from the Otonabee River. So the residents of Peterborough should be pretty concerned about what happens to the water before it gets to the Peterborugh Utilities Water Treatment plant located at the Riverview Park and Zoo. And when the City of Peterborough is done treating it on the waster water side, they put it back into the Otonabee River and it makes its way to other communities.
So don’t forget Peterborough Water Day on March 22! On that day, you should think about where your water comes from each time you turn on your tap!
Cheers to our water!
-Heather, Peterborough Children’s Water Festival Coordinator
|
|
