Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and IMAX Corporation received a Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence for using innovative approaches and new technologies to protect the Great Lakes and the environment. The award ceremony took place yesterday at Queen’s Park.
CVC and IMAX partnered to reconstruct an environmentally friendly parking lot at the IMAX head office. This innovative lot uses cutting edge technologies and expertise from local green companies Imbrium, Unilock, Aquaforbeech and Fernridge. The innovations decrease flooding and prevent pollutants from entering Lake Ontario, a drinking water source for eight million people.
“We are honoured to receive this award,” said Christine Zimmer, senior manager of protection and restoration for CVC.
“We are very proud to have partnered with IMAX. This project has demonstrated how doing the right thing for the environment can have economic benefits.”
Climate change is a global phenomenon that results in severe weather, flooding and drought. Storms, like the one that hit the Greater Toronto Area on July 8, 2013, cost Ontarians an estimated $900 million in insurance claims.
Large storms are occurring more frequently. By installing on site storm water technologies, IMAX reduced the risk of flooding. This project supports local green businesses, contributes to the green economy and provides more green jobs for Ontarians.
The award recognizes and encourages environmental excellence, fosters innovation and raises awareness about the importance of protecting the environment. Since 2011, the program has recognized the environmental achievements of 40 organizations.
“Today we celebrate just a few of the most outstanding efforts of individuals, groups, and companies in protecting our environment,” said the Hon. Glen R. Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. “We hope the examples we see today inspire others to be innovators in protecting our natural heritage; not only because it’s good for the environment, but because innovation helps build a strong economy, and create new jobs.”
Recipients of the 2013 award collaborated with schools, industry leaders and volunteers to restore wildlife habitat, conserve water and energy, and prevent pollutants and nutrients from entering our Great Lakes. The other recipients are:
– County of Simcoe;
– Regional Municipality of Durham;
– Alderville First Nation Black Oak Savanna;
– Murray and Wilma Scott;
– Western University;
– Teknion Limited;
– Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) Ontario; and
– Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association.
Recognizing environmental excellence is part of Ontario’s plan to build a stronger economy, create new jobs and promote innovative ways to protect the environment.
Conservation authorities are a provincial/municipal partnership. CVC was established by an act of the province in 1954 with a mandate to protect all natural resources other than minerals in the area drained by the Credit River. They have been working for 60 years with partner municipalities and stakeholders to protect and enhance the natural environment of the Credit River watershed for present and future generations.
