ReThink Red Deer
Emerald Day and Waskasoo Park Input
Hi All,
Emerald Day is fast approaching! Join us to roll out the green carpet this:
Friday, February 3 - 2:30pm - 6:30pm - Red Deer College - Forum and Margaret Parsons Theatre
Presented by Servus Credit Union and the Emerald Foundation
Hosted by ReThink Red Deer and RDC Green Campus
This event is open to the general public (no cost).
Local environmental leaders will share their inspiring work and one of Time Magazine’s Sixty Heroes for the Planet, Simon Jackson, will share his story of conserving habitat for endangered animals and creating the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition.
At 2:45pm, Mayor Morris Flewwelling will proclaim February 3rd as Emerald Day in Red Deer. Displays from a dozen local environmental groups (including CLUCK Red Deer (urban chicken keeping), ReThink Red Deer, the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance and 2011 Emerald Award recipients Off the Creek Landowners) will be set up in the Forum area, as well as free food and refreshments. At 3pm and again at 5pm, we will hear from our keynote speaker, Simon Jackson in the Margaret Parsons Theatre.
“By hosting Emerald Day in Red Deer, we hope to engage more Albertans in environmental stewardship,” said Alberta Emerald Foundation Executive Director Emmy Stuebing. “Much good work already occurs at the local level here, and we aim
to inspire more people toward similar actions that support a healthy environment.”
For twenty years, the Alberta Emerald Foundation has worked to recognize, celebrate and inspire environmental excellence, with a vision that Alberta will be a leader in environmental stewardship. The Foundation’s signature program, the Emerald
Awards will be held for the 21st time at Calgary’s Martha Cohen Theatre on June 6, 2012
Waskasoo Park Input (reminder)
Monday, February 13, 7:00pm - Kerry Wood Nature Centre - 6300 45th Avenue, Red Deer
Hosted by The City of Red Deer
This event is open to the general public (no cost).
Waskasoo Park is many things to many people. It is a place for learning, for recreation, for contemplation – and a place where we more directly experience our natural world. The City of Red Deer and Waskasoo Environmental Education Society are collaborating on a new Interpretive Master Plan for our city’s largest park system. Waskasoo Park includes large areas of the river valley, Kerry Wood Nature Centre, Gaetz Lake Sanctuary, Bower Ponds and Fort Normandeau as well as Waskasoo and Piper creeks. The new Interpretive Master Plan will update the themes and methods for telling the park’s stories and set out a framework for how people become more aware, more involved and more connected to the park.
Help shape the next Interpretive Master Plan for Waskasoo Park by participating in an online feedback survey.
Visit: www.reddeer.ca/waskasooparkplan for the survey link and more information.
You are also invited to attend the preview night for the Interpretive Master Plan:
Monday, February 13, 7:00pm - Kerry Wood Nature Centre - 6300 45th Avenue, Red Deer
Cheers,
Rene Michalak
Coordinator
ReThink Red Deer
403-986-7981
Newsletter Sent on: Wednesday, February 1st 2012
Garbage-Free February 2012 Kick-off - update!
Hi All,
GFF 2012 is growing - here's the latest news...!
Hosted by ReThink Red Deer & RDC Green Campus
This event is open to the general public (no cost).
Now in its sixth year, Garbage-Free February is back to lead the charge towards zero waste living!
To celebrate this occasion, the month of February will hereforth be known by official Mayoral decree as "Garbage-Free February"! Mayor Morris will join us to sign the official proclamation and kick off the 2012 promotion. Also joining us will be the Honorable Cal Dallas, Minister of Intergovernmental, International and Aboriginal Relations and MLA for Red Deer-South, AND representatives from the Recycling Council of Alberta!
The evening will feature presentations on:
Triple StaRs Waste Reduction Challenge (St. Martin de Porres - Grade Four Students)
Each year, this program offered in partnership with Alberta Environment (and Water) to raise awareness of Waste Reduction Week (WRW), encourages grade 4 students from across Alberta to find practical ways to reduce their classroom waste. This Challenge was designed to easily fit into regular classroom planning with its link to the Waste In Our World curriculum component. For one week in October (preferably WRW), students collect and sort the waste generated in their classroom. At the end of the week students record what was collected and decide how to reduce the amount of waste that will go to the landfill. Most classes identify a huge potential for reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills – the average in 2011 was 67%. Classes then choose actions that they will commit to for the rest of the school year that will reduce the amount of waste the class generates or sends to the landfill.
The City of Red Deer Waste Managament Master Plan (WMMP)
Now that the City’s Environmental Master Plan is complete, Environmental Services staff are working to complete an update of the WMMP, which will set the strategic direction for The City’s Waste Management programs for the next 10 years. Janet Whitesell (Waste Services Superintendent) will speak about the mandate and current programs of City of Red Deer Waste Services including the success of adding recycling of asphalt shingles and gypsum drywall to diversion programs in 2011. We'll also hear about future direction for waste management in Red Deer for 2012 and beyond.
Composting at Home Education and Promotion
Lauren Maris of City of Red Deer Environmental Services will speak about a new City-led program aimed at giving Red Deerians the tools to compost their organic waste at home.
And we'll wrap-up (if time permits) with a screening of the film "Waste = Food", an amazing story that will definitely change your way of thinking about production and consumption.... followed by a look into ReThink Red Deer's zero-waste projects for 2012!
Hope to see you all there - have good weekending!
Cheers,
Rene Michalak
Coordinator
ReThink Red Deer
403-986-7981
Newsletter Sent on: Friday, January 27th 2012
