Statement

Environment Canada Celebrates World Meteorological Day

OTTAWA, Ont. -- March 18, 2011 -- The Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment, has released the following statement in celebration of World Meteorological Day which is celebrated each year on March 23 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and its Member States:

“Canada is a country known as much for the diversity of its weather and climate, as for the diversity of its people. How fitting it is then, that Environment Canada’s Meteorological Service is celebrating its 140th anniversary this year. The organization is one of Canada’s oldest public institutions, growing and evolving with our great nation. I want to congratulate our highly qualified and dedicated weather and environmental services staff across the country and recognize the important contribution they provide to Canadians, weather sensitive industries and the scientific community, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. This immense task includes issuing approximately 1.5 million public forecasts, 15,000 severe weather warnings, 500,000 aviation forecasts, and 200,000 marine, ice and sea-state forecasts each year, spanning the vast geography from Atlantic to Pacific to Arctic.

“Canada’s Meteorological Service is part of a large international community of 189 meteorological and hydrological organizations world-wide. We recognize the leadership role and commitment to excellence the WMO provides in the area of climate, water and weather services in facilitating cooperation across borders and oceans and working to help limit the consequences of extreme events on human safety, well-being, and the economies of all nations. 

“For example, Environment Canada along with our partners in the WMO has been working closely with Haiti’s National Meteorological Centre to provide support and expertise in helping to rebuild the Haitian Meteorological Service after the 2010 earthquake. 

“On behalf of Canadians I take the opportunity on World Meteorological Day to thank all employees of our Meteorological Service for their daily dedication and expertise in delivering high quality weather, water, ice, and climate services to Canadians.”

For more information on Environment Canada’s latest weather information, please visit: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/canada_e.html.

For more information on Weather and Meteorology at Environment Canada’s, please visit: http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=FDF98F96-1.

For more information about the World Meteorological Organization, please visit: http://www.wmo.int/worldmetday/.

For more information, please contact:

Veronica Petrò
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

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

Environment Canada's Twitter page: http://twitter.com/environmentca

Environment Canada's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/environmentcan

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