TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – April 15, 2011) – This evening, the City of Toronto in partnership with Green Living, celebrated the people, organizations and neighbourhoods that are helping to lead the way to a greener Toronto. The awards were presented at the seventh annual Green Toronto Awards ceremony held at Exhibition Place.

Ten winners, one in each award category, were announced from the Main Stage of the Green Living Show, as friends and family of the 30 finalists and the public looked on.

“Your leadership and dedication to our environment is inspiring,” said Councillor Norm Kelly (Ward 40 Scarborough Agincourt), Chair of the City’s Parks and Environment Committee. “On behalf of all Toronto residents, I thank you.”

For their outstanding contribution to the greening of Toronto, each of the winners received a prestigious Green Toronto Award and $5,000 to further their work on the environment or donate to a registered charity of their choice, courtesy of award sponsors. New award categories for 2011 include Green Home and Green Business.

2011 Green Toronto Award winners are:

Community Project Award: Cultivating Youth Leadership, Afri-Can FoodBasket

Afri-Can FoodBasket (AFB) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to meeting the nutrition, health and employment needs of the African Canadian community, in particular those who are economically and socially vulnerable. In addition to operating a food buying club and 26 community gardens, AFB provides youth in the Jane-Finch, Jamestown and Lawrence Heights neighbourhoods with opportunities to develop leadership and job skills, and learn about urban gardening, organic farming and community building.

Energy Conservation Award: Nitta Gelatin Canada Inc.

Nitta Gelatin’s focus on efficiency and reducing waste saw it undertake multiple projects that reduced its natural gas use by more than 3,000 cubic metres a day. In doing so, the company avoided the production of more than 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Examples of actions they took to improve efficiencies include increasing the capacity of hot water storage tanks and installing a direct-fired gas burner.

Green Business Award: LoyaltyOne

LoyaltyOne’s award winning Call Centre features the largest solar roof-top installation in Canada, with more than 800 panels feeding energy back into the grid. With a commitment to the environment at the heart of its business, LoyaltyOne’s many environmental initiatives include green procurement and sustainable fleet programs, as well as ride share and work-at-home programs for its associates.

Environmental Awareness Award: TREC Education

TREC Education is helping to build a greener Toronto by educating and empowering people. TREC is inspiring the next generation to change its energy habits and attitudes, and to adopt careers in the sustainable energy sector. Through workshops, excursions, an annual festival and online consultations, TREC educates residents about the critical importance of protecting our green energy future.

Youth Leadership Award: Youth Mentors, Greenest City

Youth Mentors is a group of high school students from the Parkdale neighbourhood who have taken on a leadership role with “Growing the Future”, a free after-school program focused on food and the environment for 13 to 15 year olds. In 2010, they committed more than 500 volunteer hours to lead program activities and act as peer mentors to younger participants, teaching them how to grow and cook sustainable foods.

Local Food Award: The Toronto Beekeepers Co-operative

The Toronto Beekeepers Co-operative helps protect bees that are threatened world-wide and raises the profile of its plight. With beehives at the Royal York Hotel and Downsview Park, Co-op members help build a culture of beekeeping through outreach, public education and training. In 2010, the Co-op produced more than 544 kilograms of honey, 13 kilograms of beeswax and three kilograms of pollen.

Green Design Award: architectsAlliance, Sackville-Dundas Apartments, Regent Park Revitalization

When architectsAlliance was commissioned to design the first project in the Regent Park Community redevelopment, they integrated sustainable design in building form, sitting and orientation, materials, building systems, landscaping and construction. Through the centralized energy system alone, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 8,000 tonnes a year during phase one. Over 30 years, the saving will be about 400,000 tonnes — the equivalent of taking more than 66,000 cars off the road for a year.

Green Home Award: Anthony Ketchum, Ketchum’s Retirement Project

In 2005, Mary and Anthony Ketchum subdivided their Toronto lot and built a two-storey sustainable home. From three drill holes, each 53 metres deep, ground source heat supplies heating and domestic hot water. Operating at 300 per cent efficiency, their home’s only source of energy is electricity; their annual electricity bill is about $800. A cistern in the basement collects rainwater which is used for toilets and laundry.

Water Efficiency Award: Kraft, East York Bakery

Kraft’s East York Bakery reduced its water use over five years, withdrawing 58 per cent less water from the city water supply in 2010 than it did in 2005, and surpassed Kraft Foods global reduction target of 35 per cent. Technological and business practice improvements included replacing cooling units and modifying its products and processes to reduce water use. The East York Bakery shared its successes with other Kraft plants.

Leadership Award: Civic Action’s Greening Greater Toronto

In 2010, Greening Greater Toronto, in partnership with Toronto and Region Conservation, issued The Living City Report Card, which raised awareness of what organizations, governments and residents need to do to reduce their environmental impact. In addition, through three major programs, they helped reduce energy use in commercial buildings, increase the sustainability of purchasing decisions made by organizations, and helped create a fund through which large Canadian corporations invest in community emission reduction projects.

More information about the Green Toronto Awards is available at www.toronto.ca/greentorontoawards. More information about The Green Living Show, on now through April 17, is available at www.greenlivingonline.com.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Contact Information

Media contact:
City of Toronto
Valerie Cassells, Senior Communications Coordinator
416-392-8306
vcassel@toronto.ca