Celebrating Sustainable Neighbourhoods

Pickering, ON, March 18, 2013 – The City of Pickering is encouraging those who live or work in the community to take part in its new Celebrating Sustainable Neighbourhoods program for a chance at winning $10,000 toward enhancing their neighbourhood space.

There are lots of fun and inspiring ways to make a community more sustainable, and the City is challenging residents to explore these opportunities by implementing creative projects that align with its Sustainability Program.

Program participants can define their own ‘Neighbourhood Groups’ by connecting with at least four other individuals who either live or work in Pickering. The groups will choose an activity that works toward one or more of the 55 indicators of sustainability outlined in the City’s Measuring Sustainability Report, and complete it before the end of November for a chance at winning.

“We are asking our residents to join in our journey to become the most sustainable municipality in Ontario,” said Mayor Dave Ryan. “This is an excellent program that will engage residents, and encourage them to make a real and meaningful difference right in their own community.”

After the program ends in November, the Neighbourhood Groups will be invited to a celebration event at City Hall to share their stories and successes. The winning Neighbourhood Group will be chosen by their peers through a vote for ‘best group effort’.

“$10,000 can go a long way,” said Councillor Doug Dickerson, Chair of the Sustainable Pickering Advisory Committee. “Working together with our City staff, I have no doubt that the winning group will come up with something great to put this money towards. It is through such projects that our community continues to prosper in our sustainable journey.”

The program will launch at this year’s Sustainable Pickering Day, an all day event focusing on local food and urban gardening. The event will take place on March 23rd
from 9:30 am to 6 pm in the lower level of the Pickering Town Centre. City staff will be on hand to answer any questions and register interested neighbourhood groups for the program. The first six individuals to register their neighbourhood group will receive a free, three-month, family swim pass for the Pickering Recreation Complex.

For more information, or to register for the program, visit pickering.ca/sustainability or call 905.420.4660 ext. 2170.