Hamilton Achieves Milestone 5!

We at Green Venture are happy to share the following press release from the City of Hamilton announcing the City has achieved Milestone 5 – Monitoring Progress and Reporting Results. Milestone 5 is the final milestone of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners for Climate Protection program, a network of Canadian municipalities that have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and taking action on climate change. The City has continued to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as tackle the causes and consequences of climate change in Hamilton.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hamilton Achieves Climate Change Milestone

HAMILTON, ON – April 22, 2013 –  The City of Hamilton achieved Milestone 5 from the Partners for Climate Protection program for taking steps to reduce greenhouse gases and improve energy efficiency as recognized by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

The Partners for Climate Protection program is a results-oriented network of Canadian municipal governments that have committed to reducing greenhouse gases and acting on climate change. This recognition places Hamilton amongst the top 6% of 239 Canadian municipal members of the program.

Since 2005, the City of Hamilton has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 16% by, retrofitting municipal buildings, replacing street lighting with energy efficient LED lighting, capturing methane from landfills and water treatment and converting to energy at the Glanbrook landfill and the Woodward Wastewater treatment plant, introducing hybrid and electric vehicles into the city’s vehicle fleet, reducing paper consumption, and encouraging active transportation and commuting by employees.

In 2011, Hamilton was the first municipality in Ontario to introduce a community Climate Change Action Charter. The charter is a voluntary agreement that outlines the need for local action and commitment on climate change from individuals, organizations and businesses of all types and sizes throughout Hamilton. Under the charter, the City reports annually on its progress addressing climate change.

For more information visit www.hamilton.ca/climatechange

Climate Change Champions Update April 2013: Dundas in Transition and Ecowham

Saturday March 23^rd, 2013 marked the 7^th annual Earth Hour. Earth Hour is the single largest mass participation event in the world. Based on the hope that we can mobilize people to take action on climate change, Earth Hour now inspires millions of people in over 7000 cities and towns in over 150 countries to switch lights off for an hour and is a great first step towards reducing our environmental impact. This year, Hamilton residents turned out the lights and were able to reduce energy consumption by 4% and Horizon Utilities reported energy usage was down 21 MW during Earth Hour – enough power to run 913 homes for an entire day.

While some Hamilton residents participated in Earth Hour by turning lights out at home or local restaurants, Dundas in Transition and the Ecological Churches of West Hamilton (Ecowham) took celebrations a step further by holding the Earth Hour Resilience and Sustainability Night. During Earth Hour and throughout the night, over 70 local residents celebrated by examining ways to become a more resilient and sustainable community through movies, presentations, and great treats from sponsors Café Domestique and Picone Fine Foods. Those who came to this terrific event at St Paul’s United Church were even given a sneak peek at The Revolution Movie. This movie tries to uncover the secret to saving ecosystems we depend on for survival. From coral reefs to deforestation to tar sands, he reveals that all of our actions are interconnected and that environmental degradation, species loss, ocean acidification, pollution, and food/water scarcity are reducing the Earth’s ability to house humans. This great evening night ended after lights went out to celebrate Earth Hour at 8:00 PM and flashlights came on!

Although turning the lights out for an hour isn’t the solution to all of our environmental issues, we hope that you go beyond the hour and start making small and simple changes that reduce your energy consumption today and every day.

To find out more about the Climate Change Champions program and ways you can reduce your environmental impacts, visit the Climate Change Hamilton website.

For more information about Dundas in Transition and Ecowham, check out their websites at http://www.dundasintransition.ca/and http://ecowham.blogspot.ca/.

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What is the Air Quality Health Index?

Often called the AQHI, the Air Quality Health Index is a rating system that helps us better understand the quality of the air we are breathing each day and how it affects our health. The index ranks each day’s air quality and assigns it a certain colour or number. Every citizen can access these rating online (website: airhealth.ca) or by calling 905-543-1136.

For example, on days when air quality is poor (generally on some of the hottest summer days) the rating will be a 10 (or red) and officials suggest that anyone at risk (such as people with heart or breathing problems) should avoid being active outside while the general population should keep outside activity to a minimum.

Air Quality Health Index

As we write this, Hamilton’s AQHI is a 3 (or blue) meaning it is a great day for everyone to enjoy outdoor activity.

Learn more about AQHI and how to check readings at airhealth.ca. Hamilton specific reading can be found along with our weather. 

You can also learn more about air quality and how it affects your health from CleanAir Hamilton.

How Your Actions Impact Air Quality (activity demo)

Sometimes it can be hard to visualize air pollution (except for on a few very smoggy days). Even harder is making the connections between our actions and air pollution.

We found a great activity that uses food colouring to represent pollutants and water to represent the air. Different pollutants (drops of colouring) are released depending on our morning routines. For example, a drop for driving a car to work and even a drop for using hot water in the shower (because of the pollutants created to heat the water).

Clear water represents clean air

Your drive to work releases pollutants into the ‘air’

All the pollutants created from your daily routine mix into the air

When the pollutants mix, it leads to very dirty air

It got us thinking about how all our little actions can make a big impact and that air can be polluted even when we can’t see that pollution.

Imagine if each pollutant was a bright colour and our air was a brown, soupy mess! There is a great write up on this activity so you can do it in the classroom or with kids at home.

Learn lots more about how your actions impact air quality at CleanAir Hamilton’s website.

Launching Growing in the Greenhouse with Oliver’s Garden Project – Thanks Cowan Foundation!

The Cowan Foundation Supports Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton’s Growing in the Greenhouse with Oliver’s Garden Project

Media Release

HAMILTON ONTARIO – On April 8th The Boys and Girls Club, Oliver’s Garden Project and Green Venture will be hosting a breakfast celebrating a new partnership funded by The Cowan Foundation.

The event will launch a pilot that will introduce approximately 100 children from the Boys and Girls Club’s Let’s Get Moving after school programs to having fun while gardening and cooking. Kids will get to explore, cook, and grow in the Parkview Secondary school greenhouse and kitchen once a week during the five week pilot programs.

Oliver’s Garden Project was created by Oliver and his younger sister Piper. While travelling to the grocery store one day Oliver asked his mom why some kids were rummaging through peoples recycling. He then had an idea and with the help of mom Stacey, dad Calum and sister Piper they created “Oliver’s Garden Project”. Growing produce in their backyard in Hamilton Ontario, they sold their veggies in front of their house or at local farmers markets where 100% of vegetable sales were directed to local youth charities.

The Cowan Foundation has stepped up to support the after school program through a $20,000 donation that will help to ensure children can learn about the importance of sustainable living and realize a cleaner, healthier community.

“Through the Cowan Foundation, we look to support programs which assist in improving the overall health and wellness of our communities as well as those programs which encourage excellence in children, explained Dave Wilkins, Cowan Foundation representative and Group Manager Employee Benefits Cowan Insurance Group/Wentworth Financial Services .  Oliver’s Garden was a perfect example of a project that encompassed these ideals.  It is a true pleasure to be able to support Oliver, Piper and their family on this wonderful project.”

“We just want the next generation to be more aware of their offspring and their actions,” explains Stacey Allen-Cillis, Oliver and Piper’s mom. “Growing your own produce and sharing it teaches so much!” She is excited for this program to directly affect so many kids with real, hands-on food and garden experience.

Media are welcome to join us to learn more about Oliver’s Garden Project and our exciting plans to empower even more young people to grow, eat, and share with their community.

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More about everyone involved:

Oliver’s Garden Project is an initiative working to empower kids to grow, eat, and share with their community. www.oliversgardenproject.com

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Hamilton works to provide a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life. www.kboysandgirlsclub.com

The Cowan Foundation (www.cowanfoundation.ca) was started in 1995 in honour of Frank Cowan, the founder of Cowan Insurance Group and Frank Cowan Company. The Foundation is sustained by the ongoing success of the Princeton Holdings group of companies including Cowan Insurance Group, Frank Cowan Company, The Guarantee Company of North America and Millennium CreditRisk Management. Together they provide insurance and risk management products and services for individuals, businesses, organizations and public entities as well as assist employers with their group benefits, retirement and health and disability management plans.  The goal of The Cowan Foundation is to make a positive difference in the lives of Canadians and the broader well-being of our communities. www.cowanfoundation.ca

Catching the Air Quality Enemy– Fugitive Dust

Fugitive Dust is the term for the dust that gets into our air or water as a side effect of everyday actions or sources such as cars, construction vehicles, agriculture, and outdoor storage piles.

These dusts, called ‘particulate matter’ are a pollutant and have a serious negative effect on our air quality.

Industrial sites are often a main source of these fugitive dusts as many heavy vehicles move around sites and track particles onto the road.  Other traffic then moves the dirt around and into our air and water. This dirt is called ‘drag-out’ and it can get especially bad on sites with open storage piles and dirt roads. While things like vehicle exhaust and tire wear also create nasty dusts, the impact of drag-out is very easy to prevent.

Drag out of dust can contribute to air pollution

There are many steps industrial sites, such as construction zones, need to take to decrease the impact of dust on our air quality such as covering supplies and washing vehicles before they leave a site.  It isn’t just a suggestion, it’s the law. Municipal By-Laws forbid the tracking of mud, soil or building materials on to public roads and The City can fine violators for costs to clean up the mess.

The best thing to do is to snap a photo (if you can) and then report the violation. Environment Hamilton has a great program called Dust Busters all about drag out and how you can help. Visit their website to find all the details on reporting a problem:

You can also find more about this topic, and lots of other information about air quality in Hamilton, from the CleanAir Hamilton website.

Get Involved in Planning Open Streets #HamOnt

As a proud partner of Open Streets Hamilton, Green Venture is encouraging residents (yes you!) to get involved and help make Open Streets Hamilton a continued success.

This event is only going to be possible with help from you, so get involved today!

A volunteer planning meeting is scheduled for this Thursday April 4th. Contact events@openstreetshamilton.ca to become part of this dynamic team of volunteers (even if you are unable to make the meeting this Thursday, there are many ways that you can help).

Thanks,

Pete Wobschall
Executive Director
Green Venture

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Open Streets Wants You…

…to join our 2013 team!

Sunday June 23, 2013 – 10am to 5pm

We hope you’re coming to Open Streets Hamilton: James Street North!   Apply now and tell us how you’d like to help us open the street!

WHO – Open Streets Hamilton Community Organization is a volunteer-run, registered non-profit organization.  We are a community-based partnership dedicated to promoting active, healthy and inclusive lifestyles by temporarily transforming streets into a shared space for everyone to experience.  Our motto is “Make the Streets Your Playground”.  Sunday, June 23rd, 2013, will mark our 7th car-free Sunday in Hamilton since June 2010!

Open Streets Hamilton is part of a network of events taking place all over the world to re-purpose streets for fun, active, and creative activities!  Click here to see more about events like this across North America!  Open Streets Hamilton is looking for volunteers to help in the following areas:

• Media & Sponsorship (assist in recruiting paid and in-kind sponsors, arrange media coverage for event day, write press releases, ensure sponsor recognition on event day)
• Street & Logistics (create street design for programming and amenities, arrange equipment for event day, set up/tear down of equipment, coordinate drop off/pick up on event day)
• Communications & Outreach (assist with outreach to businesses and residents along the event route, attend promotional events, answer emails/social media requests)
• Programming & Activities (help to solicit programming for the event, assist with set up/tear down of programming for event day, work with street layout team for placement/amenities)
• Volunteers & Fundraising (recruit new volunteers, learn & develop volunteer training program, coordinate volunteers for event day and promotional events, assure fundraising tools are available)
• Reporting & Evaluation (create event report template, set up evaluation for event results, carry out evaluation, prepare reports for future events)
• Administration & Finances (attend committee meetings, take minutes, assist with bookkeeping tasks, answer general inquiries, direct requests to appropriate volunteers)

We will be hosting our next event on James Street North, in Hamilton, Ontario (final route details TBA).  Our volunteer planning team is open to all volunteers and meets at YWCA Hamilton (75 MacNab Street).  Please note YWCA Hamilton is an accessible building, has outdoor bike racks, and is only a short distance from both the MacNab Street bus terminal and Hamilton GO Station.  (Paid parking is available at City Hall.)Our next event is on Sunday, June 23rd, 2013 (10am* to 5pm – *road closure starts at 9am, set up is between 9am and 10am).

Planning team meetings take place starting April 4th on the first and third Thursday of every month from 5:45pm to 7:45pm.  All volunteers will receive minutes from planning team meetings and are welcome (and encouraged) to attend and assist with the planning process!

Click here to submit your application to join our June 23rd, 2013 event!  A team of returning volunteers will review your application and confirm your registration upon approval.  See above for more information about the kind of help Open Streets Hamilton is looking for.

Thank you for your time and consideration!  We hope you will be able to join us on June 23rd!  If you have more questions please contact Sunil at sunil@openstreetshamilton.ca or call 905-481-0809.Looking forward to seeing you on the street!The OSH Event Planning Team

events@openstreetshamilton.ca

905-481-0809