News Release

Government of Canada Supports Community Environmental Projects in Calgary

CALGARY, Alta. -- October 14, 2009 -- Lee Richardson, Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre on behalf of Canada’s Environment Minister, the Honourable Jim Prentice, today announced the contribution of $149,950through the EcoAction Community Funding program for three projects in Calgary.

The three projects receiving funding today are $25,000 to the Green Cyclers Program, $24,950 to the Bow Valley Climate Kids Project and $100,000 to the Healthy Homes Calgary Program.

“The EcoAction Community Funding program is a concrete example of how the Government of Canada is helping communities and their citizens enjoy cleaner air, water and land. We are supporting projects under this program because we believe on the ground activities like these can and will make a difference,” said Mr. Richardson.

Natalie Odd, Executive Director of Clean Calgary said, “With significant funding from Environment Canada's EcoAction program, we will help almost 1000 Calgary households to ‘green’ their homes and lives. This has a critical, positive impact on the entire community as fewer precious resources are used, and homes are healthier."

Dr. Melanie Watt, Executive Director of the Biosphere of the Bow Valley said, "Local students, with the help of professional filmmakers, will write, direct and edit their own videos to demonstrate what climate change means to them. This program will focus on youth-to-youth learning of environmental issues with follow-up in the classrooms”.

Jackie Mann, Wheel View Director said “We challenge young people to do something different.  We teach them about the world we live in and the environmental challenges we face, we hope that with our involvement it will make a difference in their life and community”.

“The Government encourages all Canadians to do their part to protect our environment. We support community groups taking on-the-ground action to preserve and enhance the quality of the natural environment”, said Minister Prentice. 

Each year, Environment Canada funds various groups which help to deliver real results for Canadians and our environment.  Environment Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program provides financial support to locally-based, not-for-profit organizations to undertake community-level projects that have positive, measurable results for the environment.  The program assists these organizations in initiating projects that result in cleaner air, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner water, and the conservation of nature at the local community level.

More information about the EcoAction Community Funding Program is available on Environment Canada’s website at the following address: www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction.

Related documents:

Environment Canada's ecoACTION Community Funding Program
[Backgrounder 2009-10-14]

ecoACTION Projects In Western Canada
[Backgrounder 2009-10-14]

For more information, please see attached backgrounder or contact:

Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819- 997-1441

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
1-888-908-8008