Eco-News · 2013. 10. 2. · ECO-NEWS † EcoSuperior †3 The paper you are reading is manufactured by your friends and neighbours who work at Resolute Forest Products – Thunder

Say hello to BernieThis is Bernie, who joined our staff last year. He’s a

replica of a backyard burn barrel, without the stinkysmell. The other main difference between Bernie andthe barrel that might be in your neighbour’s back yard,is that this barrel talks! Push Bernie’s red button, and hewill give you all the nasty facts about the hazards ofburning garbage.

“I know, I’ve heard it all – your old grandpa alwaysburned his garbage, for years and years,” says Bernie.“But hey, our garbage is a lot different than Grandpa’s.There’s a lot more plastic and chemically treated stuffin our trash and when you burn it, it makes poison!”

You might think that burning garbage is only a ruralissue, but there are many people who make a habit ofburning trash in their campfires or even woodstoves.Burning anything other than dry wood creates a blendof toxic chemicals and carcinogens. EnvironmentCanada has identified garbage burning as one of theprimary sources of dioxin, a potent carcinogen.

We use Bernie for public outreach on this importantissue. He has visited area parks, rural fairs and specialevents like the Central Canada Outdoor Show, alongwith his informative display and handouts. We wel-come invitations for Bernie to visit your school or com-munity event. Call the office to make arrangements –Bernie loves to travel!

For a unique piece of outdoor art, you won’t want to miss EcoSuperior’s2nd annual Painted Rain Barrel auction happening this weekend at the CLESports Dome Home & Garden Show. At least 25 rain barrels will be on dis-play, painted in a wide range of styles and themes. Bids in the silent auctionwill be accepted up until the show closes at 4 p.m. Sunday. Each barrel issubject to a $65 minimum bid.

“This is working art,” says Lesley Edwards, customer service coordinatorfor EcoSuperior. “Each rain barrel is fully equipped with mosquito screen,overflow hose and spigot for filling your watering can, and the paintingshave been sealed with acrylic spray to be durable outdoors.”

Last year’s top selling barrel was painted by Denise Brown and sold for$235. Once again this year, the winning artist gets half of the cash for thehighest bid, a prize sponsored by Arbora Consulting. New this year is anoth-er cash prize for the Children’s Choice award, sponsored by EcoSuperior’sBoard of Directors. Kids can vote by participating in a treasure hunt con-test—pick up an entry form at EcoSuperior’s booth and find a list of designelements among the rain barrels. Vote for your favourite rain barrel, andyour name goes in the draw for a Kid’s Gardening kit, with your very owntools, seeds and starter pots.

Funds from this event go toward EcoSuperior’s energy efficient demon-stration house, a project planned at the corner of Red River Road and Hill

Street. We are very grateful for the support of our event sponsors: CanadianLakehead Exhibition, the Sports Dome, Green Communities Canada and

Maaco Collision Repair.

March 2012

Eco-News

• Spring Up to Clean Up• Outreach in Marathon

• Chevy Volt in Terrace Bay• Maude Barlow coming

• Bike Racks for Businesses• Souvlaki Goes Eco-FriendlyInside

Burninggarbage –it stinks!

Peee-yeeww!

2011 Painted Rain Barrel Auction winner, painted by Denise Brown.A new Children’s Choice award has been added this year.

Buy a PaintedRain Barrel

this Weekend

Home Energy Grants Program Wrapped UpFor the third time in the last decade, the federal government has ended the very successful home

energy grants program. Registration in the popular program was abruptly cancelled earlier thiswinter, but homeowners already registered in the program still had until March 31, 2012 to com-plete their renovations. The province of Ontario also ended its subsidy for the home energy auditportion of the program, leaving it the only province without a home energy retrofit incentive plan.

Locally, EcoSuperior was one of several delivery agents providing home energy audit service toenable homeowners to qualify for the grants. As of January this year, our office has brought about3.8 million dollars in grants to Thunder Bay homeowners since 2007—that’s a lot of money spentwith local renovators and building product suppliers. Will the program return? We do not know, butwe now have two very experienced certified home energy advisors looking for work.

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 2

OurStaff

Boardof DirectorsA big thank you to the individuals whogenerously provide time and expertiseto guide the operation of EcoSuperior:

Executive:President: Chris WaltonArbora Consulting

Vice-President: Jane ToddOntario Power Generation

Treasurer: John StephensonFORM Architecture Engineering

Secretary: Ken AllanThunder Bay District Health Unit

Directors:Jay Eingold, Eingold Consulting

Dr. Anthony Gillies, Lakehead University

Bryan Heppler, Union Gas

Pat Johansen, Lakehead School Board

Kerri Marshall, City of Thunder Bay

Don Murray, Retired

Kirk Ross, A&R Ross Products

Executive Director:Ellen Mortfield

Manager of Finance & Admin:Brenda Ingram

Customer Service:Lesley Edwards

Program Coordinators:Jim Bailey(Lake Superior AOCs)

Karen Copeland(Central Gardens, RAIN, Litter Prevention)

Adam Krupper(Active Transportation, Safe Cycling)

Lucie Lavoie(Benthic Biomonitoring, Toxics Reduction, RAIN)

Ashley Priem(School Travel Planning, Lakewide Management Plan)

Jessica Backen(Green Events, Waste Reduction,Spring Up To Clean Up)

Energy Advisors:Don RutledgeKen Piccinin

Co-op Student:Alex Bohler

Our Mission: To achieve greater environmental stewardship in NorthwesternOntario and the Lake Superior Basin through engagement, education, collabora-tion, action and leadership.

EcoSuperior is an incorporated not-for-profit organization, operated by a vol-unteer board of directors. We are partnership based and supported entirelythrough fee-for-service projects delivered for municipal, provincial and federalgovernments as well as corporate sponsors and other funding agencies.

We envision thriving communities in northwestern Ontario and the LakeSuperior Basin that are ecologically, socially and economically sustainable.

We offer a wide range of programs and services, from community and schoolpresentations to information resources and a growing retail operation of eco-friendly products. Volunteers are always welcome to participate in many differentactivities. Our staff are actively involved in community events and committees.

Our location at 562 Red River Road includes an older office building current-ly under renovation, and a small 1940's bungalow currently rented that will even-tually become a retail centre and demonstration home. Our goal is to showcaselocal products, services and techniques that can make homes and offices moreresource-efficient.

Look for our regular editions of EcoNews in your Chronicle Journal everyApril and October. All the articles are written by EcoSuperior staff unless other-wise credited. We are a non-profit organization, providing public education pro-grams and encouraging environmental stewardship in the Lake Superior basinand beyond. If you would like to comment on our programs, please contact us:

562 Red River Rd., Thunder Bay, Ont. P7B 1H3Tel. 807-624-2140 • Fax 807-622-0005www.ecosuperior.org • [email protected]

Community PartnersThe many community programs and projects that you will read about inthis newsletter would not be possible without the efforts of those whofinance and contribute to EcoSuperior’s activities. Through contribu-tions of ideas, connections, expertise and financial support, the follow-ing organizations have played a major role in our success. We extend oursincere gratitude to the individuals within these organizations who havehelped us along the way.

• Resolute Forest Products

• Canadian Tire

• CBC Radio

• City of Thunder Bay

• Dougall Media

• EarthWise Thunder Bay

• Environment Canada

• Form Architecture Engineering

• Green Communities Canada

• Lake Superior Binational Forum

• LitterFree Thunder Bay

• MGM Electric

• MNP

• Ontario Ministry of the Environment

• Ontario Power Generation

• Ontario Trillium Foundation

• ReCool Canada

• The Chronicle-Journal

• Thunder Bay District Health Unit

• Thunder Bay Hydro

• Thunder Bay Port Authority

• Tim Hortons

• Township of Terrace Bay

• Township of Marathon

• Union Gas

• Volunteer Thunder Bay

• Zero Waste Action Team

In addition to the list above, we must thank the many local businesseswho make it possible for people to make the right choices; the localmedia that help us spread the word, and many volunteer and committeemembers who provide invaluable assistance.

About Eco-News

Safe Cycling Thunder Bay is a project dedicatedto helping people learn to ride safely. We want tohelp build a community where cyclists of all agescan ride on the streets of Thunder Bay knowl-edgably, confidently, and safely.

Our instructors are the heart and soul of ourcourses. Each one brings unique personal experi-ences that shape how they teach. We would like youto introduce you to Stasia Starr.

Instructor Profile: Stasia StarrStasia has been commuting by bike since her uni-

versity days; “I vividly remember the feeling of pure joy as I

would ride to school through the invigorating rainand the exciting rides through the snow. What Iloved about cycling was being able to say ‘goodmorning’ to people, hearing the birds singing, andsmelling the sweet smells of spring.”

Now a mother of two and a Public Health Nurseat the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Stasia rides13 kilometres to work as often as possible. Ratherthan a barrier, her children present new opportunities

“I feel compelled to share my passion for cyclingwith my girls,” explains Stasia, “As they reached asafe age for them to travel in a bike trailer and weara helmet, we used every opportunity to ride ourbikes; to go to the library; get our groceries; go todaycare and/or school and then to work with me!”

For her, “bike lanes are an extremely exciting addi-tion to the streets of Thunder Bay” because they“designate a space for cyclists.” She believes they

send a very strong message that cycling is impor-tant to this city.

Stasia took her first Safe Cycling course in April2011. Although a regular commuter, Stasia admitsthat “I felt that I was taking my life into my ownhands when cycling on busy streets.”

“In all honesty, before taking the Safe Cyclingcourse, I was not riding as defensively or as safelyas I could have been. I thought that as long as I wasriding with traffic and using hand signals that I wasdoing well. After taking the course, I have not onlygained knowledge and experience; I have mostimportantly gained confidence in my place on theroad as a cyclist.”

Her experience taking the Safe Cycling coursewas such a success that Stasia decided to become acertified cycling instructor.

“As an instructor, I am completely convincedthat a Safe Cycling course will be the best moneyyou will invest in your health. I am a nurse in myprofessional capacity and am extremely passionateabout helping people live a balanced, healthy life. Ibelieve that cycling is something that all of us canenjoy and I am committed to helping people findthat place in themselves where they can return to atime in their lives when cycling was enjoyable,relaxing, invigorating – freedom!”

Stasia is 1 of 12 Safe Cycling instructors whooffer urban cycling courses. She’s certified to teachyouth, women-specific courses, older-adult courses,and urban riding courses for recreation and com-muting.

To learn more about the courses offered by Safe CyclingThunder Bay, go to www.safecyclingthunderbay.ca.

Safe Cycling Thunder Bay


The paper you are reading is manufactured by your friends andneighbours who work at Resolute Forest Products – Thunder Bay Operations

Driveway Sealers work wonders for giving your drive-way or parking lot a fresh look and for eliminating unsight-ly cracks. When it comes time to seal your driveway you will have a choice between different types of sealants,some of which are more harmful to the environment than others. Whether you are doing it yourself or hiring acontractor, here are some tips for making choices that will help protect our local lakes and rivers.

Willow Springs Creative Centre is anon-profit organization that provides cre-ative expression and therapeutic garden-ing programs to organizations, social ser-vice groups, schools & the general public.Director Judi Vinni sees the Rain BarrelArt project as a great opportunity for someof their program participants to receivemuch- appreciated public exposure fortheir artistic efforts.

The Dawson Dirt Diggers is one groupthat Willow Springs works with year-roundin an accessible garden project at DawsonCourt Home for the Aged.

“We talked about ideas for this year’srain barrel,” says Judi, “and the groupdecided to illustrate one of their favouriteexperiences with water—a sauna scene,complete with lots of steam and an elderlycouple enjoying their time together.”

Judi also talked about how rewarding itwas to work with the group last year on adaffodil planting project in the fall. “It was

the first time we got them talking about thefuture,” she says. “In that kind of resi-dence, there’s not often much mention ofthe future, but planting those bulbs hadthem looking forward to spring and think-ing how beautiful their flowers would be.It was so wonderful to hear them talkingthat way.”

Willow Springs also did a painted rainbarrel with a March of Dimes inclusive all-adult art class. This group decided to por-tray a bounty of fresh vegetables. “Theskill levels and artistic ability vary tremen-dously in the group, but everyone con-tributes to the final product,” says Judy.“And everyone really looks forward to theopportunity for so many people to see theproject that they’ve been a part of.”

While the financial proceeds fromEcoSuperior’s rain barrel auction help sup-port our projects, the community benefitsclearly stretch much farther. Rain barrelscan do so much more than collect water!

Asphalt-Based SealersThis is the more environmentally friendly alter-

native for asphalt sealers but it tends to cost a bitmore than coal tar based varieties. Asphalt basedsealers do contain harmful polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons but in significantly reducedamounts compared to coal tar based sealants. Toavoid the use of these harmful sealants altogether,have your driveway made of concrete, gravel, orlockstone. Gravel or lockstone bricks make excel-lent choice as they are permeable and will assistwith proper drainage and water flow. Most con-tractors will carry this more environmentallyfriendly sealant and generally prefer to use it ontheir jobs.

Coal Tar SealersThese tend to be a popular choice for those who

are very serious about repairing their driveway asthis type of sealant will yield the longest lastingresults. However, coal tar is known to be a humancarcinogen. It also contains polycyclic aromatic

hydrocarbons which are toxic to aquatic life.Unfortunately, once these harmful toxins are usedon your driveway they do not stay put. When therainfall comes, the contaminants from coal tarsealants get swept through the drainage system andinto surrounding soil, streams, rivers, and lakes.

The Choice is YoursWhen the time comes to put a coat of sealant on

your driveway you can take the do-it-yourselfroute or hire one of several local companies thatprovide the service. Many of the local contractorscarry the coal tar sealants as well as the more envi-ronmentally friendly asphalt-based sealants. Localretailers also carry both types of sealants. Whencontracting work make sure you specify whichkind of sealant you would like used on your drive-way. When doing it yourself be sure to read thelabels on the sealant you are purchasing. The do-it-yourself route will be the most inexpensive.Hiring someone to do it for you will generally costanywhere from 15-25 cents/square foot of yourdriveway.

Rain Barrel Art Profile –Willow Springs Creative Centre

Driveway Sealersand the Environment

Butt Out Promofor Businesses

OutdoorAshtraysfor Half Pricein May!

Free portable pocket ashtrayswill be available at our office (starting in May) and many outdoorevents again this summer. Pick up one for yourself or a smokerfriend at the Water Bar!

Help protect lakes and riversfrom harmful chemicals


When EcoSuperior first partnered with theTown of Marathon in 2003 to carry out ahousehold hazardous waste collection withsupport from the Ontario Ministry of theEnvironment and Environment Canada it wasthe first time the municipality had ever beenin contact with the Thunder Bay based non-profit organization. Town residents didn’tknow EcoSuperior existed.

Jim Bailey, who helped organize the collec-tion on behalf of EcoSuperior, remembers the

complaint lodged by the very first Marathonresident at the public works yard on PennLake Rd., “He opened his trunk and had sev-eral containers of old oil, some unused pesti-cides, old solvent from cleaning paint brushesand several half-full cans of old paint. Helooked me in the eye and then asked crosslywhy a collection like this hadn’t happenedyears ago. He said it defied common sense tolandfill such materials, instead of ensuringthey were properly disposed of or recycled.

Several other people utilizing the collectionalso asked when a similar event would happenagain.” Since that time, EcoSuperior has goneon to introduce household hazardous wastecollections in almost every town in theCanadian Lake Superior watershed. Marathonhas since held many hazardous waste collec-tions, becoming a model community whereproper hazardous waste management, whichrelates directly to groundwater protection, hasbecome a matter of course.

EcoSuperior is still involved in the Town ofMarathon, coordinating activities to ensurethe views of the Town and its residents areheard, respected and acted upon in addressingcontamination in Peninsula Harbour.EcoSuperior coordinates the PeninsulaHarbour Community Liaison Committeechaired by Dr. Sarah Newberry. Committeemembership includes a cross-section ofMarathon residents, including Mayor RickDumas and Councillor Terry Fox.

Current cooperation between EcoSuperiorand the Town of Marathon includes supportfor a Green Education Coordinator. This sum-mer job position will utilize funds and supportfrom Environment Canada and the OntarioMinistry of the Environment. The positionwill be advertised by the Town of Marathon.The successful applicant will work on publiceducation and potential program improve-ment for the Marathon recycling program,household hazardous waste, composting,water use and energy efficiency. TheCoordinator will also organize a LakeSuperior Day event on the third Sunday inJuly; this event celebrates the great lake onMarathon’s doorstep. Additionally, theCoordinator will assist Environment Canada,the Ontario Ministry of the Environment andEcoSuperior in communication regarding theproject to address contaminated sediment inPeninsula Harbour.

EcoSuperior is very pleased to be cooper-ating with the Town of Marathon and wishesthe community and its new Green OutreachCoordinator every success in efforts toengage Marathon residents in practical envi-ronmental action.

By Sean Irwin, Special Projects Coordinator

Once again Terrace Bay will be the place to be for theregion’s green motivated individuals. This small town and itsdedicated volunteer planning committee will host the GreenTradeshow for its fifth year on May 5 from 12pm to 4pm at theTerrace Bay Arena. The Green Tradeshow showcases busi-nesses and organizations from throughout NorthwesternOntario encompassing the many shades of green. Last year’sevent involved 80 exhibitor tables with subjects includingrenewable energy, heating, healthy living, and many moreenvironmentally friendly products and services. NorthernComfort, an innovative installer of magnetic acrylic stormwindows, is a regular exhibitor at the Green Tradeshow.Northern Comfort Owner John Wilson said “I really enjoy

attending the Tradeshow and receive alot of attention for my services.People are becoming more concernedwith their heating costs and looking forways to save money.”

A big attraction at this year’s GreenTradeshow will be the first Chevy Volt in NorthernOntario. The 2012 Chevy Volt is the new electric car that is mak-ing waves in the auto industry. Terrace Bay Chief AdministrativeOfficer Carmelo Notarbartolo says “The Green Tradeshow con-tinues to grow every year. We are happy to accept exhibitorsfrom many different green initiatives and are very excited to beable to display the Chevy Volt and its revolutionary greendesign. This year’s Green Tradeshow will also be different withmore interactive areas for children and product demonstrations.”

The Green Tradeshow accepts exhibitors right up until aweek from the event or until the capacity of the arena isreached. Those interested can find more information online atwww.greentradeshow.ca which includes travel tips designedfor visitors from Thunder Bay. The website also featuresinformation for exhibitors and videos of the Chevy Volt. Ifyou are looking for a fun afternoon, consider the scenic twohour drive from Thunder Bay on May 5th!

Marathon to Hire Green Education Coordinator

Terrace Bay’sGreen Tradeshow

September 12, 2003, Marathon Public Works Yard, Penn Lake Road: volunteers unload a vehicle at the first household hazardous waste collection held in Marathon.

What do rain gardens, liv-ing roofs, pet waste digesters,permeable paving, outdoorashtrays and rain barrels havein common? They all helpprotect our waterways whenit rains! Like many cities,Thunder Bay is covered witha lot of hard surfaces: asphaltroads and driveways, parkinglots, roofs, patios and walk-ways. When snow melts orrain falls, all that water(including contaminants fromvehicle leaks, spills, litter andcigarette butts) runs off thesesurfaces in large volumes intoour storm sewers. Most of ourstorm sewers lead directlyinto our urban streams andrivers, which connect directlyto Lake Superior.

EcoSuperior is pleased toannounce that we have fund-ing for a second year of

RAIN programming, helping residents learn what they can doto help protect their drinking water and aquatic ecosystems.Sign up for a workshop or take part in a tour or special event.Find out more at www.slowrain.ca.

The RAIN program includes a series of workshops forspring. Registration is first come, first served and space islimited. To register for any of the workshops listed here,visit www.ecosuperior.org or call 624-2140.

Build a Rain GardenSaturday, May 19th

Rain Gardens are a natural way to deal with: leaky base-ments, poor drainage, wet/low areas in the yard, and run-off &erosion problems.

Plus they look great! Learn how to build your own rain gar-den at this hands-on workshop. Register by calling 624-2140or visiting www.ecosuperior.org.

Build a Pet Waste Digester Workshop Tuesday, May 29that 6:30pm(rain date: Wed., May 30th)When it rains, doggie doo

left in our yards and parkswashes into the storm sewersystem and into streams,rivers, and our beautiful LakeSuperior. Dog waste is loadedwith nitrogen and bacteria,harmful to both human andenvironmental health.

Prevent poo-llution by learn-ing to build your own pet wastedigester in your backyard atour FREE workshop! This wasone of our most popular work-shops last year and space islimited, so register early!

Build a Living RoofSaturday, June 9th

While traditional asphalt and metal roofs shed large quanti-ties of water every time it rains, living (or green) roofs are agreat way to soak up excess rainfall, reduce pollution, provideinsulation, attract wildlife, and beautify your yard. Learn howto build a green roof on a shed, garage, or other outbuilding inthis full day, hands-on workshop as we install a living roof onCentral Natural Environment Gardens’ new garden shed.Instruction will be provided by Restoration Gardens fromToronto. Workshop fee: $40 (limited to 10 participants) .

Funding for this project has been generously supplied byUnion Gas, City of Thunder Bay Water Authority, OntarioMinistry of Environment and the Ontario Trillium Foundation,and Green Communities Canada.


Rainy Day People (& Programs)

Wildflower Sale Wildflowers offer low-maintenance beauty for

your garden, and provide a food source for birds,bees and butterflies. Last year we sold out early, sowe’re planning a much bigger event this year. Somefeatured plants you can expect to find include:Black-eyed Susans, Ox-Eye Sunflower, Bee Balm,Prairie Coneflower, and many others. The sale willtake place Saturday, May 26 from 9am-1pm at ouroffice at the corner of Red River Road and HillStreet. You may want to pick up a composter or rainbarrel while you’re here!

Our plant sale is a fund raiser that helps supportall of EcoSuperior’s community programs. Buyingplants is not the only way to help support our pro-grams — we are also accepting donations of plantpots and trays. If your garden is getting crowded,consider potting-up some of your extra perennialsfor the sale. All proceeds will go to EcoSuperiorand Central Natural Environment Gardens. Formore information or to donate, please contactKaren @ 624-2143.

McVicar Creek Stream WalkEarly June (date TBA)

Learn how to reduce stormwater runoff and pollution fromyour property with water-wise landscaping, rain water collec-tion, and more. You don’t have to live on a stream to help pro-tect our waterways. FREE! Register at www.ecosuperior.org orby calling 624-2140.

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Give Spring Cleaning a WholeNew Meaning this May!

The early spring thaw has given us the fortunate opportunityto enjoy Thunder Bay’s beautiful parks, waterways, and trailsmuch sooner than usual. However, the melting snow and beau-tiful weather also reveal a significant problem, and that’s litter.Luckily, with the arrival of spring comes another yearly event –Spring Up to Clean Up! Last year close to 11,000 citizenscleaned up over 250 areas around the city. We would like tosend out a big “THANK YOU” to all who have participated inthe program and helped keep Thunder Bay clean, green andbeautiful. Here’s the scoop about how you can get involved thisyear and give your community a spring makeover!

20-Minute Makeover Launch Eventfor WorkplacesFriday, April 27th, 2012 at 10:00am

On Friday, April 27th, many employees throughout the citywon’t be found on the job. Instead, they’ll be outdoors spending20 minutes cleaning up litter and debris around their workplaceneighbourhood. Mark your calendars, rally up your co-workers,and register your workplace by April 20th for clean-up supplies,public recognition and a gift from event sponsor, Tim Hortons(while supplies last). Lend a hand and give litter the boot…it’sgood for business!

Community Clean-upsMonth of May

We invite individuals, families, community groups, work-places, and schools to register your cleanup and get everythingyou need, including supplies, draw prizes and a public pat onthe back on our website and local media.

Attention teachers! Participating schools will also receive agift certificate to a plant or tree nursery of their choice to puttoward a school greening project. Registered schools will alsobe entered in a draw to win a set of outdoor trash and recyclingbins to install on their school grounds!

Leaf & Yard Waste Curb-side CollectionMay 1st-11th on your regular recycling day

Place your leaves, bundled branches, and garden waste outfor curbside pickup. Look for the leaf symbol on your garbagecollection calendar for your leaf & yard waste collection day (ifyou're not sure when this is you can call 684-2195). Use onlyclear plastic bags or kraft (paper) bags. Kraft bags are availableat hardware and grocery stores, are biodegradable and can beplaced directly into the compost pile. These materials are takento the City of Thunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Facility

and made into soil enriching compost. No grass clippingsplease, as they may catch fire. Leave them on your lawn for anatural fertilizer, add them to your compost pile, or use them asmulch in your garden. You can also deliver compostable mate-rials such as leaves, shrubs and branches directly to the landfillsite compost area.

Community-Wide Yard Sale DaySaturday, May 12th (rain date: Sunday, May 13th)

Take advantage of the annual community-wide yard sale dayand clear out cramped quarters or cluttered closets. You caneven recruit our help with advertising! Register your yard salewith EcoSuperior and we’ll include it in the list of locations onour website. If you need help disposing of leftover items,Thunder Bay’s Green Guide is a comprehensive handbook forlocal recycling, safe disposal, and re-use options. Download iton the City’s website, EcoSuperior’s website, or pick up a papercopy at EcoSuperior or Thunder Bay Public Libraries.


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Spring Up to Clean UpPhoto Contest for Everyone

What better way to share your clean-up experience than tocapture it on camera? Send us a photo of your clean-up crewin action, a before and after of the area you tackled, your mostunique find – the possibilities are endless! Be sure to includea brief description of your picture. More information aboutthe contest will be included in your Spring Up to Clean Upkit. Qualifying entries received by May 31st will be judgedby quality and creativity. Entrants’ photos will be posted onthe EcoSuperior website, and the winning picture will be fea-tured in next spring’s EcoNews. You’ll also have a chance towin exciting prize packs sponsored by Tim Hortons!

Spring Up to Clean Up ContestsPut your artistic or technical skills to the test and enter

these contests to win over $300 in prizes, courtesy ofBoston Pizza!

Poster contest for elementary students:There will be two categories – one for grades K to 3 and

one for grades 4 to 8. Help get the word out about why youthink people shouldn’t litter. The top three entries willreceive prizes from Boston Pizza and the winning posterswill be printed and distributed throughout Thunder Bay.Everyone who takes part will be entered into a randomdraw for more prizes.

Video contestfor youth and adults

Take your spot in the limelight and geta positive message out to Thunder Bay tostop littering! We all want a city we can

be proud of...and you can help make it happen. Do a soloact or get together with some friends to create a videothat is less than 30 seconds long (using a digital or videocamera) that will help convince people to go litter-free.

The top videos will be posted on the EcoSuperior andLitter Free Thunder Bay websites, and will qualify for cashprizes, gift certificates from Boston Pizza, and more. The win-ning videos in each category will be aired on Thunder BayTelevision. There are two categories: youth (13-17) and adults(18+). Find out more at www.ecosuperior.org, or by callingKaren at 624-2143. This contest is sponsored by the City ofThunder Bay Clean, Green & Beautiful Committee, DougallMedia and Boston Pizza.

For more information, contest details, or to register your clean-up or yard sale,please visit www.ecosuperior.org and click on the Spring Up logo, or call Jessica at 624-2142.

This community program is funded by the City of Thunder Bay Infrastructure and Operations Department and delivered byEcoSuperior Environmental Programs. We would like to thank sponsors and supporters Tim Hortons,Ontario Power Generation, and Boston Pizza for helping make Spring Up to Clean Up a great success.

2011 PhotoContestWinner –BreanneOlsen & theThunder BayMuseumClean-UpCrew.


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Celebrating Canada Water Week 2012For the first time, Thunder Bay partici-

pated in Canada Water Week from March17 – 23. Residents were encouraged tostop and think about where their watercomes from, how much they’re using, andways to protect our vital water supply.Canada Water Week is a week-long cele-bration of water from coast-to-coast-to-coast, held annually in the third week ofMarch to coincide with the UN’s WorldWater Day to raise the profile and under-standing of water. EcoSuperior workedwith the City of Thunder Bay EnvironmentDivision to help citizens appreciate andrespect the wonderful water resources weenjoy in our community.

Celebrations kicked off with an all-dayinformation display on water issues at

Intercity Shopping Centre, with giveawaysand a prize draw. Citizens were also invitedto try the water taste test! Once again thepublic prefers the taste of filtered tap waterover bottled water. Congratulations to EvaScollie, the winner of a Delta “Lahara”bathroom faucet, rain barrel, EcobeautyBasket and a Housecleaning Without HarmKit. We offered free tours of the WaterTreatment Plant and Water PollutionControl Plant with transportation provided.Four lucky radio listeners won a sailingtour with Sail Superior during the watertrivia contest. Schools that booked tours ofthe water and wastewater treatment plantsduring the week also received free busing.

A recent poll showed that 80% ofCanadians said they were concerned about

the long-term supply and quality of waterand yet next to the United States, we arethe second highest water consuming coun-try in the world. Canada Water Week drewattention to this disconnect between con-cern for water and the misuse of water andalso helped to highlight some ofEcoSuperior’s water protection programssuch as: Medicine Cabinet Clean UpMonth, Housecleaning Without Harm,Stormwater Run Off and Choosing SaferPersonal Care Products.

Living on the shore of the world’slargest lake, Thunder Bay residents arevery fortunate, but the time is now to startbeing conscious of the water we use andhow to protect it. Canada Water Week wasa great opportunity to learn!

By Maude Barlow

For too long now it has been assumed that the GreatLakes could withstand any amount of pollution and allexploitation, so vast are their stores of water. But in thelast two decades, the “myth of water abundance” hasbeen proven false. The Great Lakes face the abuses ofover-extraction and diversion, pollution, poor agricultur-al practices, groundwater mining and growing demand.

Those lucky enough to live on the shores of LakeSuperior appreciate its wild and pristine nature but theyknow as well as anyone how fragile Superior’s future isand that if we don’t learn to live sustainably in this greatwatershed, it will only be a matter of time before Superiorbecomes as polluted and abused as the waters down-stream. The future of the Great Lakes rests in our collec-tive hands. How can we act together to protect them?

We want to designate the Great Lakes and their tribu-tary waters as a Commons, a Public Trust and aProtected Bioregion to be shared, protected, and enjoyedby all who live around them. The notion of theCommons is a very old one and asserts that no one ownswater- it is a common heritage that belongs to the Earth,other species and future generations.

Public Trust Doctrine underpins in law the universalnotion of the Commons- that resources central to ourvery existence such as water are considered to be theproperty of the public and that governments, as trustee,must protect these resources for the long-term use of theentire population, not just the privileged few who canbuy access.

The Great Lakes must also be designated a ProtectedBioregion as it is actually one integrated watershed andneeds to be seen and governed as such.

In the end, we, the people of the Great LakesBasin Commons are the only hope for their sur-vival. Collectively, we have the power to protectand restore them but we must choose to do so.

About the Author Maude Barlow is a best-selling author, life-

long activist and the National Chairperson of theCouncil of Canadians. Recently she servedas Senior Advisor on Water to the 63rdPresident of the United NationsGeneral Assembly. Her forty pagereport: Our Great Lakes Commons:A People’s Plan to Protect the GreatLakes Forever can be found atwww.canadians.org

Our Great Lakes Commons: A People’s Plan to Protect the Great Lakes Forever

Come hear Maude Barlow and special guests in Thunder Bay as part of the Great Lakes Commons tour for FREEat the Italian Cultural Centre on Algoma St. on Thursday, May 17th at 6:00pm. More info - www.canadians.org or 1-800-208-7156

Two residents receive a reusable water bottle at the Canada WaterWeek Information Fair.


EcoSuperior is a part of the GreenInfrastructure Ontario (GIO) Coalition, analliance of organizations that share a commonvision for a healthy, green Ontario where theenvironmental, social and economic benefits ofgreen infrastructure are fully realized. Thegroup released a report at Queens Park earlierthis week in an effort to make a case forincreased support for green infrastructurethroughout the province.

Green infrastructure is defined as naturalvegetation, vegetative systems, soil in volumesand qualities adequate to sustain vegetation andabsorb water, and supportive green technolo-gies that replicate ecosystem functions. Lastmonth, EcoSuperior hosted a well attendedworkshop and training session in Low ImpactDevelopment, supported by the OntarioMinistry of the Environment.

Support for green infrastructure is growinghere in Thunder Bay. Did you know that aGreen Roof was installed last fall at the WaterPavilion at Prince Arthur’s landing? In addi-tion, much of the landscaping around the newmarina is designed to retain and filter run-offbefore it returns to the lake, protecting waterquality. If you want to learn more about greenroofs, be sure to check out the details of ourupcoming Green Roof Workshop coming up inJune – see page 5.

The GIO report features key recommenda-tions for the province:

• Change the definition of public infrastruc-ture to incorporate green infrastructure.

• Fund green infrastructure projects throughvarious mechanisms such as public infra-structure funds, stormwater fees/utilities,and incentive programs

• Capture opportunities to incorporate greeninfrastructure into existing legislation, policyand programs.

• Improve intergovernmental coordination andcooperation, specifically among: theMinistry of Infrastructure, Ministry ofMunicipal Affairs and Housing, Ministry ofEnergy, Ministry of Environment, Ministryof Natural Resources, Ministry ofTransportation, and Ministry of Agriculture,Food and Rural Affairs.

• Assemble a group of experts to gather infor-mation on existing research and programs,and create a comprehensive plan to eliminatebarriers and develop provincial targets forgreen infrastructure.

• Establish a research and development fundto support green infrastructure planning,evaluation and implementation activities

An invasive plant is a species that originates in another region orcountry, a plant whose introduction or spread negatively impactsnative biodiversity in our region. Second to habitat loss, invasivespecies have been identified by the International Union forConservation of Nature as the most significant threat to biodiversity.

The Grow Me Instead guides (for southern and northernOntario) have been created by the Ontario Invasive Plant Council,and were inspired by a similar guide from the Invasive SpeciesCouncil of British Columbia. EcoSuperior was among the manynorthern Ontario representatives who helped pull this regionalversion together.

The guide informs gardening enthusiasts about some of thepopular invasive plants that can sometimes cause problems in thelandscape. Some of these plants may be purchased unknowinglyfrom garden centres, shared between gardeners, or they maytravel between gardens by seed (via birds, wind or uncuredcompost). A variety of non-invasive plant alternatives are high-lighted in the guide, as well as tips for dealing with existinginvasive species. “This guide is full of beautiful pictures anddetailed growing information,” says Karen Copeland, one of our project coordinators.“I learned a lot while helping with editing. It makes it easy to identify invasive plants andchoose better alternatives.”

Whether you are adding new plants to your garden, starting a landscape project, or remov-ing invasive plants, the Grow Me Instead guidebook will be a valuable resource to ensurehealthy ecosystems and vibrant gardens for the future.

Pick up your free copy at our booth at the Home and Garden Show or at EcoSuperior.

Grow Me Instead

The Greeks Go Greenat the Great Souvlaki Take-Out DinnerStarted a few years ago, the Great Souvlaki Take-Out Dinner at the Holy Trinity Greek

Orthodox Church has gained a city wide following for a fresh, healthy alternative to tradition-al fast food take-out. Located at the corner of Balmoral and Beverly (across from LakeheadUniversity), the church soon had customers asking if we would look into serving our dinner inmore environmentally friendly containers says Tom Marinis, one of the Souvlaki Dinner orga-nizers.

Their new clamshell containers are a sustainable alternative to traditional styrofoam. Theproblem with styrofoam, says Marinis, “it’s a product that is non biodegradable”, meaning thatit cannot be broken down by the activity of living organisms. Their new containers are madefrom bagasse - the fibrous pulp that remains after the juice is extracted from sugarcane.Whereas it was once burned, the fibre is now recovered, processed into a pulp, then heated,shaped and sterilized.

The containers use up to 30% less fossil fuel for production than paper products and up to70% less than polystyrene. These clamshells have a heat and moisture-proof lining made fromplants instead of petrochemicals. “They’re microwave safe, biodegradable and best of all; theycome from a renewable resource,” says Marinis.

Even their famous home-made Greek salad dressing comes served in an environmentallyfriendly container. The portion cups and lids are made of a biopolymer derived entirely fromrenewable, plant resources, not petroleum. Sourced and manufactured in North America, thiscarbon-neutral alternative uses up to 68% less fossil fuel energy to produce than traditionalplastic.

Marinis believes that none of this would have been possible without the generous supportfrom the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. “They helped us get off the ground andmove to a better alternative to protect our environment and our community.”

The spring session of the Souvlaki Dinner will help the local MS Society of Thunder Bay.Part of the proceeds from each of the Dinner tickets sold will go to support the efforts of thelocal MS chapter. Marinis says, “It’s a great charity and I know first hand they do terrific workin our community supporting individuals and their families affected by this disease.”

For more information on the Great Souvlaki Take-Out Dinner, check out their website atwww.gothunderbay.com

Green Infrastructurefor Ontario









This is the green roof on the newWater Pavillion at Prince Arthur’s Landing.


Chemicals& Your Health

EcoSuperior staff have joined forces with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit to help spreadthe word about making better choices in personal care products and household cleaners. Sharingmaterials, knowledge and resources allows both agencies to do a better job getting this importantinformation out to the public.

We recently worked together to develop messaging in a campaign about the hazards of antibac-terial products. The billboard shown here was supposed to be in place for the entire month ofMarch, but disappeared after two weeks. Retailer backlash? We don’t know, but the ad wasplaced near stores where shoppers are picking up handsoaps, creams and lotions that may includethe main ingredient of concern: triclosan. A bookmark with the same look and additional infor-mation has also been developed and was handed out to shoppers at our Canada Water Week infor-mation fair at the mall.

“There’s been a great response to this campaign,” says TBDHU health promoter LyneSoramaki. “We’ve had requests to share the campaign from provincial partners such as otherhealth units in Toronto and Waterloo, and the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health &Environment (CPCHE).”

For many people, this is new information. Consumer advertising has convinced many thatadding antibacterial chemicals to as many products as possible is a good idea, when in fact, therecan be serious health and environmental impacts. At the Women’s Expo event earlier this month,EcoSuperior set up a display titled “What’s Wrong with Antibacterials?” and handed out free barsof non-toxic glycerine soap to those who pledged to avoid antibacterial products. “This is the bestthing I’ve learned today!” commented one visitor to the booth.

More information on this topic is available at www.ecosuperior.org/triclosan

Ever notice how cigarette butts pile up outside some restaurants, bars, office buildings, and othergathering places? Not only do they look bad, cigarette butts are full of toxic chemicals which leachinto our waterways, and they are not biodegradable. Studies have shown that the concentration ofchemicals from as little as one cigarette butt in a litre of water is deadly to fish. Fish, birds and otheranimals (children too!) are also at risk from ingesting cigarette butts.

EcoSuperior, with the support of Thunder Bay’s Clean, Green and Beautiful Committee andGreen Communities Canada, is pleased to launch a new cigarette litter prevention program whichwill focus both on education and a cost-sharing initiative for outdoor ashtrays. This program wasinspired by a similar and very successful program run by Winnipeg’s Downtown BIZ. Businessand property owners will have an opportunity to purchase durable high-volume ground-mountashtrays, or smaller wall-mount ashtrays at half the regular price. Signage and posters will alsobe available for businesses to help get the message out to staff and patrons alike. Contact Karen@ 624-2143 or [email protected] for details.

Thunder Bay was designated an Area ofConcern (AOC) in 1987 based on degradedwater quality associated with pulp mill effluentand sediment contamination. Concerns relatingto the contamination have included restrictionson fish consumption, negative pressures on fishpopulations, loss of species diversity, and lossof recreation value. Since then, many of theoriginal causes of impairment have been sub-ject to restoration activities. These have includ-ed removal and capping of contaminated sedi-ment, upgrades to the sewage treatment plant,

improvements to water quality following instal-lation of secondary treatment and other opera-tional changes, and restoration of fish andwildlife habitat in many areas of the AOC.

There are still areas of environmental degra-dation and beneficial uses which remainimpaired in the AOC. Research is being under-taken by Lakehead University on storm water inthe AOC to better understand non-point sourcecontamination from urban and industrial runoff.

For Thunder Bay AOC updates visitwww.northshorerap.com.

Nipigon Bay was designated as an Area ofConcern primarily as a result of impacts relat-ing to the upstream hydroelectric dams, theaccumulation of wood fibre, bark and otherorganic matter from historic log drives, andmunicipal and industrial effluent.

Over the years, many programs have beenimplemented to enhance fish and wildlife com-munities, and to rehabilitate degraded aquaticand terrestrial habitat. In 2010 work began onthe installation of the Nipigon Secondary

Treatment facility upgrade with constructioncompleted in 2011. The Nipigon PublicAdvisory Committee of the Nipigon AOC wasinstrumental in the implementation of the facil-ity update. One of the most recent remedialactions undertaken in the Nipigon AOC wasrestoration of Kama Creek in the fall of 2011. Aribbon cutting ceremony will take place in June2012.

For Nipigon AOC updates visitwww.northshorerap.com.

Outdoor Ashtrays for Half Price in MayThunder Bay AOC

Nipigon AOC

Starting Monday, April 2, the City of Thunder Bay will be offering a $20 instant rebate to customers purchasing a rain barrel from EcoSuperior. The rain barrels are made from repurposed olive orpicklebarrels from very durable heavy plastic and come equipped with an overflow hose (that can also link to another rain barrel), mosquito screen and spigot. The cost to customers with a Cityof Thunder Bay water account in good standing is $45, limit one per household. You must present your water bill with account number in order to receive the discount. There are a limited number ofrebates available, while quantities last. Customers not on the municipal water system may purchase the barrels for $65, no quantity limit.

Rain Barrel Rebates are Back!

This billboard was on display earlier this month in Intercity Shopping Centre.


AXEL’s at 107 South May Street (near City Hall) has up to 60 differentbrand-name water-saver toilet models on the floor – STARTING AT $99.97. Comedown to AXEL’s, Thunder Bay’s trusted toilet specialist and test-sit them for comfort.There is a reason why they call AXEL – the owner – THE TOILET KING ofNorthwestern Ontario.

At AXEL’s you’ll not only find great prices but also a huge selection. EXPECTMORE at AXEL’s – your one-stop plumbing store with the largest display of toiletsin Northwestern Ontario – up to 60. AXEL’s also offers repair and installation serviceas well as complete bathroom renovations.

All your plumbing jobs are executed by registered and licensed plumbers who workunder the supervision of a master plumber with decades of experience.

YOU, our customers, have turned AXEL’s Water & Plumbing into NorthwesternOntario’s preferred toilet specialist with the largest floor display, because we try harderto please you. Why? Because we can not afford to take you for granted. YOU arealways #1 with AXEL’s.

Go with AXEL’s next time you need a plumber for repairs, are in the market forplumbing supplies, a new installation, or a bathroom renovation. See AXEL’s whenonly the best will do for you – in price and service.

TOILETS FOR LESS AT AXEL’s

AT AXEL’s WE TRY HARDER

AXEL’SAXEL’S WATER & PLUMBING

A Locally Owned Family Company

107 S. MAY ST. (NEAR CITY HALL) • 623-4488FREE CUSTOMER PARKING AT REARSALES • INSTALLATION • REPAIRS

By Rena Viehbeck,Urban Forest Program Specialist with the City of Thunder Bay

It’s an important but simple message: Burn your wood where you buy it and don’t move anywood from one region to another. The reason; we must stop the spread of pests that are not meantto be here, especially the destructive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). EAB will happily hitch a ride onyour wood to move from an area that already has the bug to our Northwestern Ontario forestswhere it is not yet found. All it takes is one load of ash wood with this bug and we lose all our ashtrees! This little green bug is unlike any other pest we have seen. When EAB arrives inNorthwestern Ontario it will kill every living ashtree (Fraxinus) that we have (note that mountainash (Sorbus) is not a true ash tree). It won’t mat-ter if the tree is young, old, healthy or sick. Thebug can fly a small distance but so far it is woodmovement that has spread the bug quicklyacross most of North America since its arrivalfrom Asia in 2002. Ash trees make up approxi-mately 10% of our natural forests (mostly blackash) and about 25% of our urban forests (mostly green ash). All those trees will be lost very quick-ly, within 5 years, and the loss will be very noticeable. The ecological impact will be enormous.The Northwestern Ontario EAB Task Force are preparing for the worst and working towards pub-lic education and a management plan. The only way to protect our natural and urban forests is tokeep the bug out. Once the bug has arrived there are two options to consider with each tree;remove the tree or pay for a costly insecticide injection every two years. Northwestern Ontariocommunities will be heartbroken when they see thousands of mature beautiful trees die onceEmerald Ash Borer arrives. Do your part to save our forests & don’t move firewood!

To find out more on EAB visit the CFIA web site at www.inspection.gc.ca

Want to keep your City as green as it is now?

Don’t Move Firewood

D O N ’ T M O V E D O N ’ T M O V E F I R E W O O DF I R E W O O D thunderbay.ca/eab

H E L P P R O T E C T O U R F O RH E L P P R O T E C T O U R F O R E S T S A N DE S T S A N D T R E E S T R E E S

T H E E M E R A L D A S H B O R T H E E M E R A L D A S H B O R E R E R H I T C H H I K E S O N W O O D ! H I T C H H I K E S O N W O O D !

Have you checked out our new blog yet? Visit www.ecosuperior.org toread this hilarious series by someone’s Mom – or is it yours? Becauseyour mother knows what’s best for you – and for the planet! Here’sa sample:

Hello honey, how are you? Your father is on his way over to your house dear to getrid of the bottled water in your fridge. He’s a little grumpy about it because I madehim miss his favorite show to do it! I told him that’s what the PVC is for.

Yes, I realize I’m the one who bought the bottled water in the first place but now Iknow better. Last night I managed to find the TV remote before your father did andwe watched something other than Storage Wars. It was a program about how there areno regulations for bottled water so we don’t know exactly what we are buying. Theysaid a lot of bottled water starts out as tap water which is then sold back to us at amuch higher price! And instead of being recycled, people throw millions of plasticwater bottles out each day. What a waste! We are going back to the tap, I told yourfather, who thought I was referring to beer and then asked me to get him one.

Remember when you were little dear and when you wanted a drink you simply got itfrom the kitchen tap? Or when we were out and you needed a drink you simply lookedfor a water fountain? When did our lives become so busy that we don’t have the timeto fill a reusable water bottle on our way out the door? It seems your father’s life is sobusy he doesn’t have time to pick his underwear up off the floor!

I have to go now dear, Dancing with the Stars is about to begin. I love you and don’tforget to drink lots of water. Tap water of course!


We know by your phone calls and huge response to EcoNews that you might like to see it more often. However, we only have the budget to publish twicea year. If you’d like more news from us, please sign up for our new E-News, sent out monthly to subscribers only. Visit our website and look for the sign-up box—enter your e-mail address and click on Submit. We’ll send you a quick and lively e-newsletter at the beginning of every month. You’ll be the firstto know about new programs and offers coming up. Subscribe now – it’s free and we promise not to send you anything but our monthly newsletter!

Want More EcoNews??

Coming EventsMarch 30th to April 1stPainted Rain Barrel Auctionat the Home and Garden ShowCLE & Sports Dome

March 30th to April 1stEnvironmental Film Network Film FestivalParamount Theatre

March 31stEarth Hour8:30pm to 9:30pm EST

April 2Rain barrel rebates for City of Thunder Baywater customers available (see pg 10)

April 14th & 15thSuperior Living Health and Wellness ExpoValhalla Inn

April 21stCountry Market Earth DayCountry Market, CLE Grounds

April 26th55+ Health and Wellness Expo55+ Centre, 700 River St.

May 1st to 31stSpring Up To Clean Up (See pg 6)

May 12thCommunity Yard Sale Day

May 12thArbour Day – Plant a Tree for the FutureBirch Point at Boulevard Lake 1pm to 4pm

May 19thEcoSuperior Workshops:Install a Rain Garden55+ Centre, 700 River St.

May 26thEcoSuperior Plant Sale562 Red River Rd. 9am to 1pm

May 29thWorkshop: Make a Pet Waste DigesterLocation TBD

June 9thWorkshop: Build a Green RoofCentral Natural Environment Garden

July 15thLake Superior DayMarina Park

Join in the Pole StrollIf a great workout, greeting old and new

friends, having fun in the sun, and making his-tory sound appealing to you, then be sure tomark Friday, July 27, 2012 on your calendar!Thunder Bay is hosting the 73rd annualFinnish Canadian Grand Festival this July. Thefestival, dubbed Finn Thunder for 2012, cele-brates Finnish culture through food, music, art,theatre, dance, film, and sports. There areactivities for people of all ages, and this year’sprogram is sure to impress, since the mainevent on July 27th will be an attempt to breakthe Guinness World Record for the most peoplesimultaneously participating in a Nordic Walk!

Nordic walking, also known as urban pol-ing, involves using special, yet simple, tech-

niques and equipment designed to work yourcore muscles, strengthen your upper body, andenhance balance while walking (source:urbanpoling.com). You may not feel likeyou’re exerting any extra effort, but the rangeof motion allows you to improve your overallbody and muscle fitness without putting addi-tional strain on your joints.

The walk will take place at Boulevard Lakeand registration is open to everyone! In addi-tion to being a great source of exercise, thepurpose of Finn Thunder’s walk is to supportthe Nordic Development Team. So, recruitsome friends and family, and let’s get movingto shatter the record! To register for the walk,visit www.finnthunder2012.com.

Why is this summer a great time for localbusinesses to install a bike rack? Because theCity of Thunder Bay is offering a new pro-gram that pays for 50% of the cost! BikeRacks for Business is a program to help pro-vide high-quality bike parking for cycling cus-tomers.

Funding from the Mayor’s Clean, Greenand Beautiful Committee is supporting theproject. Active Transportation intern LeeAmelia is coordinating the project, offeringbusinesses full service including all the detailssuch as selection of the proper location andarranging professional installation.

“We take care of all the legwork,” says Lee.“No need to worry about spacing by-laws, fireregulations, or utility locates, and there’s noadministration fee or annual encroachment fee(if the rack needs to be placed on the side-walk) through this program.”

In addition to the incentive program, theCity’s Recreation & Culture division isadministering a public art competition thatwill result in the selection of regionally-pro-duced artistic designs for bike racks. Thedesigns will be cut into circular panels andattached directly onto the racks. The artworkwill not interfere with cyclists’ ability to lockup their bikes safely and effectively.

The City’s Public Art Coordinator, ReanaMussato said “this competition is a great wayfor local and regional artists to have their workexhibited in multiple locations throughout theCity, and to combine function with art. Notonly does the artwork define and beautify theCity, it attracts patronage of local businessesby the City’s growing cycling community. Forartists, business owners, and cyclists it’s awin-win-win.”

This program is open to business owners inThunder Bay. If you would like obtain a bikerack, please contact Lee Amelia, with ActiveTransportation at the City of Thunder Bay.You can reach him by phone at (807) 625-2295 or by email at [email protected]

Composters $25Organic Vegetable and

Herb seeds $2.29Blue Recycling bags

$5/roll of 25Fling It Garbage nets $30

Bike Racksfor Business

On sale atEcoSuperior:

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Eco-News · 2013. 10. 2. · ECO-NEWS † EcoSuperior †3 The paper you are reading is manufactured by your friends and neighbours who work at Resolute Forest Products – Thunder