 |
|
VICTORIA – The Province has launched the nomination process for this year’s Green City Awards, providing $500,000 in funding to local governments that are leading the way creating greener, healthier communities for their citizens, announced Ida Chong, Minister of Community Services.
“We strongly
encourage all communities, including rural or smaller communities, to nominate
themselves. Through these awards, local governments can demonstrate how their
recent initiatives are working to reduce greenhouse gases and their
resulting carbon footprints or improve the quality of life for their residents,”
said Chong. “It’s important to recognize and reward the tremendous work and
effort communities have undertaken. By providing funds to further these
initiatives, we’re helping B.C. communities become even greater places to live
and work – with eco-friendly neighbourhoods, cleaner air, and more choices for
physical activity.”
Communities are evaluated based on criteria that include reduction in greenhouse gases, reduced water use; creating, protecting and improving urban forests; increasing density and reducing urban sprawl through new urban designs; encouraging physical activity and building senior-friendly and disability-friendly communities.
In recognition of the differences between communities of
varying sizes, the awards are given to municipalities in six categories based
on population and to regional districts in two categories. This year’s awards include the addition of a new $100,000
partnership award which will be provided to both a local government and private
partner whose collaboration has led to the creation of a leading-edge
development breaking ground on the urban sustainability front.
The inaugural
Green City Award winners, announced at the September 2007 UBCM convention,
were: the Nanaimo Regional District, the Capital Regional District (Salt Spring
Island), the Town of Oliver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the City of
Dawson Creek, the City of North Vancouver and the City of Vancouver.
Nominations for the awards close April 18, in advance of the award ceremony to be held at the 2008 UBCM convention in Penticton. For further information on the Green City Awards Program and nomination forms, visit: www.greencityawards.gov.bc.ca
-30-
|
contact: |
Ministry of Community Services 250 356-6334 |
|
|
|
||
|
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
||
