ONTARIO GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT
THUNDER BAY - The Ontario government is recognizing the environmental achievement of EcoSuperior, Canadian Pacific Railway and Josephine Mandamin for their efforts to protect Lake Superior, Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky said today.
"The award recipients show us how partnerships can provide cleaner water and cleaner communities that will benefit the people who live in them," said Dombrowsky. "I am truly impressed by the leadership and innovative actions today's recipients have taken to promote the restoration and protection of the Lake Superior basin."
While visiting Thunder Bay, the minister presented three Lake Superior Binational Program Environmental Stewardship Awards for outstanding environmental achievement:
* EcoSuperior is a not-for-profit organization that delivers programs to support water and energy conservation, waste reduction and provide residents with information and motivation for building healthy, sustainable communities.
* Canadian Pacific Railway Company has taken steps to successfully restore an important fish habitat on McKellar Creek near Terrace Bay. The company made improvements downstream from its railway bridges, improving the flow of water and making it possible for fish to migrate upstream.
* Josephine Mandamin, from the Wikwemikong First Nation, helped to raise awareness of the importance of protecting our water by organizing "Water Walk 2003," a 2,000 km walk around the entire coast of Lake Superior.
The Lake Superior Binational Program is a partnership between the Canadian and United States federal governments, the Province of Ontario, the states of Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin, First Nations, communities around the Lake Superior basin, and members of the Lake Superior Binational Forum, a volunteer stakeholder group with members from both Canada and the United States. The award celebrates the important contributions made by individuals, businesses, industries, communities and First Nations to protect and restore the Lake Superior basin in Canada and the United States.
To further the government's efforts to protect the Great Lakes basin, the minister also presented EcoSuperior with $20,000 to help it reduce pollutants entering the Lake Superior watershed. This investment is part of approximately $13 million being invested by the government on various priority initiatives with Great Lakes partners across Ontario to improve and conserve the Great Lakes basin.
Contact:
Art Chamberlain
Minister's Office
(416) 314-5139
John Steele
Communications Branch
(416) 314-6666
