June 1, 2009
COLDSTREAM, BC – The Sustainable Environment Network Society hosted its third annual Green Enviro Fair to kick off Canadian Environment Week on Saturday, May 30th. The fair featured green, innovative businesses and concepts and provided opportunities to learn more about sustainability in the North Okanagan. “It was great to see the number of environmentally friendly products and concepts on the market and the fair provided an opportunity to see what North Okanagan businesses are doing to keep this region a beautiful place to live and work in,” adds Waste Reduction Coordinator Karmen Peace.
The Green Enviro Fair also included the presentation of the Regional District of North Okanagan Environmental Leadership Awards and the City of Vernon’s Sustainability Awards. The winners for the Regional District category awards were: Wendy Aasen and Lori Borchert for Air Quality Improvement, Daniel Stark and Allan Brooks Nature Centre for Community Clean Up, Malcolm Martin for Invasive Plants Control, Julia Lissau and the Food Action Society of North Okanagan for Sustainability - Climate Action, Sonja Straight and Jay Aarsen for Waste Reduction and Recycling, Lloyd Davies and Dave Weatherill for Water Conservation and the Kingfisher Interpretation Centre Society and the North Okanagan Naturalists Club for Water Stewardship. The award program has expanded from the previous single waste reduction category to include more opportunities for environmental recognition.
The City of Vernon showcased Vernon’s top sustainability contributors by recognizing the Junction Youth Centre and Ellison Elementary School for Youth Sustainability, Healthy Spot Pet Nutrition and Supply for the Sustainable Business, Foothills Development Ltd. for Sustainable Building and Development, and Wendy Aasen and Patrick Allen for Community Sustainability. A big congratulation goes out to the winners, as well as all other nominees in each category!
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| Sonja Straight, Okanagan Landing Elementary School, being presented with the RDNO Waste Reduction and Recycling Award by the RDNO Chair, Herman Halvorson. |
Andrea Lauridsen, Healthy Spot Pet Nutrition and Supply, being presented with the RDNO Sustainable Business Award by the City of Vernon, Councillor Buffy Baumbrough. |
Canadian Environment Week (May 31-June 6) will be packed with activities this year! Following the kick-off celebration on Saturday, there are a series of activities planned to get everyone thinking “green!” On Sunday, May 31st 6142 Star Road was the spot for an invasive plant pull and education workshop. Monday marked the launch of the Commuter Challenge at Vernon City Hall. Water is the theme for Tuesday with a display at the Village Green Mall to illustrate wise water use and what is happening with local water sources. Celebrate Clean Air Day on Wednesday and enjoy FREE transit anywhere in the North Okanagan, a lunch hour bike tour and walking tours in Vernon. Waste Reduction is the focus for Thursday and includes a noon hour workshop on xeriscaping and composting at the Xerindipity garden next to the Okanagan Science Centre. The week winds down with a community garden bike tour on Friday from 5:00-6:30 p.m., meet at the Library/Museum Square to join the group.
For more information on these events please contact the Regional District of North Okanagan at 250-550-3700 or the City of Vernon at 250-545-1361 or go online to www.vernon.ca.
For more information:
Karmen Peace
Waste Reduction Coordinator
Regional District of North Okanagan
250-550-3743
Anna Page
Sustainability Coordinator
Regional District of North Okanagan
250-550.3789
Brooke Marshall
Environmental Planner
City of Vernon
250- 550- 3492
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