HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-06-080 - Report on Earth Day 2006
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Kitchener's Environment Committee
May 18, 2006
Mark Hildebrand, Interim Director, Community Programs &
Services (x 2687) and Ken Currier, Director of Operations (x
2657), Earth Day Committee
Jo-Ann Hutchison, Facilitator, Volunteer Resources &
Community Engagement (x 2227)
All
May 30,2006
CSD-06-080
REPORT ON EARTH DAY 2006
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Earth Day Committee is making the following recommendations for Earth Day 2007:
· Over the next year, focus on building relationships and networks with schools, so
that communication is more effective and participation in Earth Day activities is
higher;
· Since Earth Day 2007 is on a Sunday, create a communication strategy to
encourage faith groups to participate;
· Explore the possibility of organizing an interactive Environmental Fair in an
outdoor venue on a weekday targeted primarily to both primary and high school
groups;
· Continue to build the 20 Minute Make-Over Program;
· Explore the possibility of offering on-line registration for all litter pick-ups
including the 20 Minute Make-over, Operation Spring Clean (schools), and
Community Clean-ups.
· Explore possible alternate locations for the Tim Horton's Litter Pick-up;
· Evaluate the effectiveness of the new $2500 Eco-Grant
· Explore the possibility of highlighting activities related to air quality; and,
· Recruit additional community members to serve on the Earth Day Committee.
BACKGROUND:
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:
Once again, in 2006, the City of Kitchener was an accredited Earth Day 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. As well, information about City of Kitchener events was posted on the Earth Day
website.
In 2006, the City of Kitchener Earth Day Committee offered the following initiatives:
'" Tim Horton's Community Litter Pick-up - The litter pick-up, organized by City
staff, was held on Friday, April 21 st from 4 to 6 p.m. in Victoria Park. Tim
Horton's generously offered to sponsor this event by contributing supplies, prizes
and significant promotion. Because the banks of Schneider Creek were cleaned
up, this event also qualified for and was registered as a Great Canadian
Shoreline Clean-up event. Despite inclement weather, approximately 80 people
participated.
'" 20 Minute Makeover - The 20 Minute Make-over was organized in the Cities of
Kitchener and Waterloo for the first time in 2006. This initiative encouraged
individuals, businesses, schools, and other organizations to take 20 minutes from
their busy schedules at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 21 to clean up the grounds around
their work, schools, or homes. Groups could register on-line through the City
website or by calling 741-2227. The City provided specially marked bags and
gloves along with posters to organizers in each business. Approximately 3,000
people participated. This initiative will be repeated and further expanded in 2007.
'" Consulting Firm Challenge - Once again, environmental consulting firms in
Kitchener challenged each other to the 2nd Annual Earth Day Challenge. For this
challenge, points were 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. Three consulting firms
participated. The winner will be announced in the near future.
'" Community Organized Litter Pick-ups. Community groups, individuals, or
neighbourhoods can also organize their own litter pick-ups. To date, 25 groups
have organized their own litter pick-up. 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
Horton's offered to provide the supplies, prizes, and refreshments. This year, a
handbook for organizers of community litter pick-ups has been developed. As
well, for the first time, groups doing an environmental initiative any time between
April 1 and October 1 can submit a ballot for an Eco-grant of $2500. This grant
can be used for an environmental project on public land in Kitchener in
consultation with city staff. The recipient will be selected through a random draw
in Fall 2006.
'" Operation Spring Clean - All elementary and secondary public, Catholic and
private schools were 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. This year, 33 of the 74 schools
in Kitchener participated which is a 45% participation rate.
This year, the Earth Day Committee created a resource booklet and package that
was mailed to schools. This package provided an overview of Earth Day and
other environmental events and resources available through the City of
Kitchener. As well information about the Schools in Bloom "Eco Challenge"
program was included in the package. Through this program, elementary schools
are recognized and assessed in a friendly competition on the following criteria:
tidiness effort, environmental awareness, community involvement, school yard
greening, and curriculum integration of outdoor spaces. Information about Earth
Day Canada's Eco-Kids and Eco-Mentors programs was also included.
'" 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. The engineer who coordinates this program participated in the Earth Day
committee and information about the Yellow Fish Road Program was included in
Earth Day promotional materials.
'" Kitchener's Natural Areas Program (KNAP) - David Schmitt, the staff member
leading this project joined the Earth Day Committee in fall 2005. Through KNAP,
a range of environmental activities was organized throughout the months of April
and May. The official launch of this new program was held on April 29th in Homer
Watson Woods as part of the overall slate of Earth Day activities. This launch
included opportunities for the public to participate in an opening ceremony, litter
pick-ups, nature walks, tree planting, habitat restorations, information displays,
sessions on trees and amphibians, and a demonstration offered by the Wild Bird
Clinic from University of Guelph. Approximately 85 people of all ages participated
on this launch day. The summary statistics for the overall KNAP program up to
May 25,2006 are as follows:
· total volunteer hours = 571.5
· total number of participants = 228
· total number of activities = 11
'" Kitchener Youth Action Council (KYAC) Event - KYAC showed a film "The
End of Suburbia" followed by a panel discussion on urban sprawl on Thursday,
April 20th in Council Chambers. Twelve people attended this event and engaged
in quality discussion about this topic. Environmentally-friendly door prizes were
distributed.
'" Earth Day Information Fair at Your Kitchener Market on April 22nd- In 2006,
the Earth Day Information Fair was expanded to include exhibitors and the range
of topics was expanded to include organic gardening, ethanol, 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. Thirteen of the
sixteen exhibitors related to air quality. See Appendix A for complete list of
exhibitors
Market staff has also integrated Earth Day into their programming and hired an
entertainer who plays musical instruments made out of recycled materials.
As well, a community member stepped forward to lead a "Slow Walk" through the
downtown and ended at the market. A "Slow Walk" is when people significantly
slow their pace of walking so that they can observe nature and become more
aware of their surroundings. Since this "Slow Walk" was in a downtown area, it
gave participants the chance to observe nature in an urban environment.
The 2006 City of Kitchener Earth Day Committee consisted of the following people:
'" Colleen Allan, Corporate Communications
'" Carrie Curtis, Senior Project Manager, Engineering
'" Jo-Ann Hutchison, Volunteer Resources & Community Engagement
'" Camille Sahula, Environmental Advisory Committee Representative
'" Dave Schmitt, Urban Forest Technologist
'" Innez Snider, Cameron Heights Collegiate Co-operative Education Student
'" Berry Vrbanovic, City Councillor & Chair of Environmental Advisory Committee
'" Nick Watkins, Interim Coordinator of Youth Services
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Expenses were paid out of an already existing budget allocated specifically for Earth Day.
Tim Hortons, Crown Courier, the Littter Reduction Task Force, and The Record have
generously offered to sponsor City of Kitchener's Earth Day Activities.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Corporate Communications 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 Horton's generously offered to sponsor Record Ads as part of the promotional campaign
and promoted 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 report was taken to the March 6th Community Services Committee meeting to obtain
authorization to sign the agreement with Earth Day Canada and a presentation about Earth Day
2006 was made at 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. The City will
continue to support and grow this initiative.
Jo-Ann Hutchison
Facilitator, Volunteer Resources
& Community Engagement
Appendix A
Exhibitors Invited to Participate in Earth Day Information Fair
at Your Kitchener Market
April 22, 2006
· Canadian Sweet Potato Ethanol Alliance
· City of Kitchener Display features Kitchener's Natural Areas Program, litter pick-up
opportunities and Yellow Fish Road Program
· City of Kitchener Fleet Division - featured Smart Car & emission reduction initiatives
· Community Renewable Energy Waterloo - wind energy
· Footsteps to Conservation - environmental awareness campaign and trek to raise funds
for the Bruce Trail
· Grand River Transit - interactive display - bicycle racks on buses
· Heffner Toyota - Prius
· Hike to Raise Funds for the Bruce Trail
· Kitchener Honda - Honda Accord Hybrid
· Native Plant Source - native plants
· Rare Organics - organic gardening
· Think Green - recycle cell phones and printer cartridges for food bank, businesses
Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP)
· The People's Car Coop
· Waterloo Public Interest Research Group (WPIRG)
· Working Centre - bicycle recycle, community gardens, etc.
World Wide Opportunities for Women - green home visits