HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-06-026 - Memorandum of Agreement - Earth Day 2006
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Community Services
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Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Community Services Committee
March 6, 2006
Christiane Sadeler, Interim Director, Community Programs and
Services (x 2687)
Jo-Ann Hutchison, Facilitator, Volunteer Resources &
Community Engagement (x 2227)
All
February 16, 2006
CSD-06-026
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT-EARTH DAY 2006
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute the signing of the attached
"Memorandum of Agreement - Earth Day 2006" between Earth Day Canada and the
Corporation of the City of Kitchener subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor.
REPORT:
International Earth Day is held on April 22nd each year. The first Earth Day was held in the USA
in 1970. In 1990, the original organizers of Earth Day proposed staging an international event
and the international environmental community agreed.
On a global basis, Earth Day's mandate is to create and nurture a popular, highly visible
"window of awareness" in April in which individual awareness and action are the primary goal.
Earth Day does not espouse a specific environmental issue (i.e., Save the Rainforest, Save the
Whales, etc) as this would be a duplication of the efforts of established environmental groups.
Earth Day also clearly outlines that, as an organization, it will not participate in confrontational or
political activities for the same reason.
Earth Day Canada (EDC) was created in 1991. It is a national, not-for-profit environmental
charity that provides Canadians the opportunity to make a difference where they live, work and
spend their leisure hours. It reaches out to youth, community and environmental groups,
schools, businesses, government departments, and individuals across the country.
EDC coordinates and promotes Canada's celebration of International Earth Day every April 22
which in many communities has grown into Earth Week or Month. EDC operates year-round to
prepare for the annual activities and to promote environmental action and solutions. It provides
user-friendly interactive programs, an events calendar, print resources and a website
(earthday.ca). EDC also offers national programs such as Community Action Network,
EcoKids, ecoMentors, Toyota Earth Day Scholarship, EcoAction Teams, and the Natural
Planting Network. All of these programs provide tips, techniques, and tools to spark the
imaginations of Canadians imagination with ideas and activities to help them tackle
environmental pollution and degradation.
REPORT:
For the past several years, a City of Kitchener staff member has been an accredited Earth Day
Coordinator.
Community-based Earth Day Coordinators organize, administer and promote environmental
projects and events for Earth Day/Month and act as a public contact throughout the year. They
are also part of EDC's network of over 50 accredited Earth Day Coordinators across Canada.
By having a staff member as an accredited ED Coordinator, the City can then access the many
helpful resources that Earth Day Canada makes available, use the Earth Day logo and name
and access the network of other ED Coordinators for ideas or resources.
The attached agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of Earth Day Coordinators and
Earth Day, Inc.
In 2006, the City of Kitchener Earth Day Committee is planning the following initiatives:
)0. Tim Hortons Community Litter Pick-up on Friday, April 21 st from 4 to 6 p.m. in
Victoria Park is being organized by City Staff. Tim Hortons has generously
offered to sponsor this event by contributing supplies, prizes and significant
promotion. Because the banks of Schneider Creek will be cleaned up, this event
also qualifies for and has been registered as a Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-
up event.
)0. New Initiative - On April 3rd, a new Earth Day initiative that is being organized in
cooperation with the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo will be unveiled.
)0. Environmental Consulting Firm Challenge - Once again, Environmental
Consulting Firms in Kitchener will challenge each other in the 2nd Annual Earth
Day Challenge. For this challenge, points are awarded to the consulting firms
who have the highest percentage of employees participating in a litter pick-up,
the most unusual piece of garbage, and the largest amount of garbage collected.
A trophy is awarded to the firm with the highest overall number of points. When
approached about supporting this challenge in 2005, the City of Kitchener
facilitated it by agreeing to provide garbage bags, gloves, garbage pick-up, Tim
Hortons prizes and a trophy. The City is pleased to provide this support again in
2006.
)0. Community Organized Litter Pick-ups. Community groups, individuals, or
neighbourhoods can also organize their own litter pick-ups. If the City of
Kitchener is notified of these events, city staff record when and where the clean-
up is scheduled. At any time throughout the year, the City is pleased to supply
garbage bags, gloves, and garbage pick-up. If these clean-ups are done any
time in the month of April, Tim Hortons has offered to provide the supplies,
prizes, and refreshments. This year, a handbook for organizers of community
litter pick-ups has been developed.
)0. Operation Spring Clean - each year all elementary and secondary public,
Catholic and private schools are invited to participate in Operation Spring Clean.
If participating schools organize a litter pick-up of their school yard and/or
surrounding area, the City of Kitchener provides supplies such as garbage bags,
gloves, and if needed, garbage pick-up. The City also rewards participating
schools with $100 that the school can use to plant trees or fund other
environmentally friendly initiatives at the school. Last year, 36 of the 74 schools
in Kitchener participated which is a 49% participation rate. This year, the Earth
Day Committee is working to increase that participation rate by enhancing the
promotion of this program. This enhanced promotional package will also include
information about all of the programs outlined below and resource information.
)0. Yellow Fish Road Program - The City of Kitchener's Engineering Department is
coordinating the Yellow Fish Road Program which is a nation-wide environmental
initiative lead by Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC). This program is designed to
remind people that everything that get poured down the storm drain ends up in
our water systems which affects fish and fish habitats. Schools or community
groups can borrow a kit from Engineering. This kit provides the group with
supplies so that yellow fish can be painted on or near storm drains as well as
literature to make the group and people living in the area more aware of the
issue.
)0. Friends of Kitchener's Natural Areas - The new initiative is explained in detail
in the CSC Report # _. Dave Schmitt, the staff member leading this
project joined the Earth Day Committee in fall 2005. Through this program, a
slate of environmental events and activities has been organized throughout the
month of April and May. The official launch of this new program will be held on
April 29th in Homer Watson Woods. This launch will include opportunities for the
public to participate in litter pick-ups, nature walks, tree planting, restorations,
maintenance, information displays and an opening ceremony.
)0. Kitchener Youth Action Council (KY AC) Event - KY AC is exploring the
possibility of having an event on Thursday, April 20th in Council Chambers that
provides an opportunity to learn about and discuss urban sprawl.
)0. Earth Day Information Fair at Your Kitchener Market on April 22nd- In 2005,
an Earth Day Information Fair was piloted with 7 local environmental groups
participating. This year, the number and range of topics has expanded to include
organic gardening, eat local, wind energy as well as the two new City of
Kitchener programs outlined above: Friends of Kitchener's Natural Areas, and
the Yellow Fish Road Program. Market staff has also integrated Earth Day into
their programming and have hired an entertainer who plays musical instruments
made out of recycled materials. As well, some of the exhibitors may do
information session or seminars at scheduled times throughout the day.
The City of Kitchener Earth Day Committee consists of the following people:
)0. Colleen Allan, Corporate Communications
)0. Carrie Curtis, Senior Project Manager, Engineering
)0. Johanna Ellis, Volunteer Resources & Community Engagement
)0. Jo-Ann Hutchison, Volunteer Resources & Community Engagement
)0. Camille Sahula, Environmental Advisory Committee Representative
)0. Dave Schmitt, Urban Forest Technologist
)0. Rohan Thompson, Coordinator of Youth Services
)0. Berry Vrbanovic, City Councillor & Chair of Environmental Advisory Committee
)0. Nick Watkins, Interim Coordinator of Youth Services
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None. There is no fee to be an accredited Earth Day Coordinator.
Tim Hortons, Crown Courier, the Littter Reduction Task Force, and The Record have
generously offered to sponsor City of Kitchener's Earth Day Activities.
Any other expenses will be paid out of an already existing budget.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The City of Kitchener's Legal Department has reviewed this agreement.
Corporate Communications has developed a communication strategy for Earth Day 2006 and
has worked closely with the City of Waterloo to coordinate Earth Day activities and the
communication plan for both Cities.
Tim Hortons has generously offered to sponsor Record Ads as part of the promotional
campaign and will be promoting the Mass Litter Pick-up at each Franchise.
Representatives of the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) of Kitchener City Council sit
on the Earth Day Planning Committee and provide a communication link to and from EAC.
A presentation is being planned for the March 20th televised Kitchener City Council meeting.
CONCLUSION:
Earth Day is an excellent opportunity for the City to raise awareness of local environmental
initiatives and concerns and to encourage residents to take action on a local level.
Christiane Sadeler
Interim Director,
Community Programs & Services
AP
Ken Currier
Director
Operations
