Canada’s 2009 Hometown Heroes Award

www.earthday.ca/hometown
Earth Day Canada (EDC), in partnership with Cascades Inc., is searching for Canada’s 2009 Hometown Heroes Award winner. The Hometown Heroes Award program recognizes and encourages environmental leadership and achievement in local communities. Canada’s 2009 environmental hero will receive a cash-prize of $10 000 ($5 000 to keep and $5 000 to donate to the environmental cause of their choice). The recipient of the 2009 Hometown Heroes Award will be recognized as part of the 6th Annual Earth Day Canada Gala in Toronto, on June 10th 2009. For more information, or to nominate yourself, an individual or group from your community, please visit www.earthday.ca/hometown. The deadline for applications is April 22, 2009.

Filed under: Announcements

Eat Well Guide

www.eatwellguide.org
Illustrating the very digital virtues it documents, Cultivating the Web will live on the Eat Well Guide website (www.eatwellguide.org), where it will be maintained as an up-to-date resource for everyone working to promote a future of good, local, sustainable food for all.  Eat Well Guide is a free online directory of thousands of family farms, restaurants, markets and other outlets of fresh, locally-grown food throughout the United States and Canada. Visitors simply enter a postal code to find good food and create free printable booklets.  This database includes sustainably-raised meat, poultry, eggs and dairy, farmers' markets, CSA programs, local advocacy organizations, and vegetarian/vegan restaurants.  Many listings are also accompanied by water conscious ratings.

Filed under: Announcements

Energy Audits in Peel: Elora Centre for Environmental Excellence

1-866-865-7337
www.ecee.on.ca
The ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program of Natural Resources Canada, in conjunction with Ontario’s Ministry of Energy, offers homeowners up to $10,000 for improving the energy efficiency of their home.  Grants are available for upgrades to everything from heating systems, windows, insulation, and hot water systems.  Even low-flush toilets are eligible for money back.  The ECEE has ten years of experience performing energy audits.  Our energy advisors are highly-knowledgeable and well-trained in how houses work as systems.  We can give homeowners excellent third-party advice about small and bigger ways to improve your home’s efficiency, maintain healthy ventilation, and help solve home comfort issues.  You are then provided with a printed report showing which upgrades will make the most difference in reducing your energy costs and improving home comfort.  Call the ECEE office for more details and to book an energy audit for your home: 1-866-865-7337.  To visit our website, go to: www.ecee.on.ca. 

Filed under: Announcements

Equipment Available to Charities

905-829-4644
www.gsnai.com
Green Solutions Charitable Trust is an Environmental Humanitarian organization supporting the work of schools and charities by making available to them, high quality redundant corporate assets (furniture / IT / etc.) for their offices; programs; recipients and outreach.  Product is completely FREE of charge to charities and schools.  Wish lists of required product can be submitted via email below. Charities may also visit our warehouse to choose product, once registered.  We conduct work locally; nationally and internationally.  Pls visit our web site at: http://www.gsnai.com. Please contact Andy Reid at 905-829-4644, or andy.reid@gsnai.com for additional information.  

Filed under: Announcements

Forces For Good: The six practices of high-impact nonprofits

www.forcesforgood.net
Forces for Good: The six practices of high-impact nonprofits reveals six strategies for effective actions: 1. Work with government and advocate for policy change  2. Harness market forces and see business as a powerful partner  3.Convert individual supporters into evangelists for the cause  4. Build and nurture nonprofit networks, treating other groups as allies   5. Adapt to the changing environment  6. Share leadership, empowering others to be forces for good Another hint: spend as much time working outside the organization’s four walls as you do managing internal operations. On The Economist ‘s Top Ten Business Books of 2007.

Filed under: Announcements

Guide to the Environmental Petitions Process Announced

This week, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development announced the publication of Getting Answers: A Guide to the Environmental Petitions Process. The federal environmental petitions process was established to provide a formal means for Canadians to bring their concerns about environmental issues to the attention of federal ministers and departments. This new 27-page guide explains the purpose and mechanics of the process, describes the scope of requests that can be made within petitions, and provides guidance on how to write and submit a well-designed petition.

Filed under: Announcements

Health Canada Announces New Regulations Making Toys Less Toxic

The federal government has proposed banning the sale of children's toys that contain harmful chemicals, in particular lead and six different phthalates. Read the story on the CanWest web site.

Filed under: Announcements

Home Depot Launches CFL Bulb Recycling Campaign

www.homedepot.ca
The Home Depot has launched its national CFL Bulb recycling program at all 160 The Home Depot locations. Because CFL bulbs should not be disposed of with regular household waste, Canadians can now bring in their expired CFLs to any The Home Depot store, and be assured that each bulb will be recycled safely. The recycled components will be used in creating a host of new products, including glass bottles and jars, baseball bats and products for the lighting industries. At each Home Depot store, customers will find a CFL recycling unit located at the entrance by the special services desk. Customers can simply bring in their expired CFLs, place them in one of the plastic bags provided, seal the bag and deposit it into the display. Each store monitors the unit and, once full, sends the expired CFLs to be responsibly recycled. Fore more information click here.

Filed under: Announcements | Energy

Job Posting: CVC Program Coordinator, Agricultural Extension

Program Coordinator, Agricultural Extension, Full-Time Permanent Position. This position will provide support to CVC’s Stewardship Programs related to agricultural outreach, soil and water conservation and habitat protection and enhancement.  In conjunction with CVC staff, community partners, farm and other rural landowners, the Assistant Stewardship Technician will implement projects through rural water quality programs as well as those identified in subwatershed and other plans. This position will enhance CVC’s relationship with the watershed farming community and others who have the greatest ability to improve the environmental health of the Credit River Watershed.  Forward resume by November 24, 2008 to: Credit Valley Conservation Fax (905) 670-5613 or E-mail: hrcvc@creditvalleycons.comwww.creditvalleycons.com
Mississauga
Filed under: Announcements

Job Posting: CVC Program Coordinator, Headwaters Stewardship

www.creditvalleycons.com
Program Coordinator, Headwaters Stewardship Full-Time Permanent Position. SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS: Support CVC’s stewardship programs within headwaters communities.   In conjunction with CVC staff, community partners, landowners, and volunteers the Regional Stewardship Program Coordinator will implement projects identified in subwatershed and other plans.   This position will enhance CVC’s relationship with the groups and individuals who have the greatest ability to enhance the environmental health of the Credit River Watershed. Forward resume by November 24, 2008 to: Credit Valley Conservation Fax (905) 670-5613 or E-mail: hrcvc@creditvalleycons.comwww.creditvalleycons.com
Mississauga
Filed under: Announcements