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Award acknowledges MNR as environmental contest
winner A ceremony was held in Robinson Place, where the offices are located. The group won in the ‘large’ category, with a 30 per cent participation rate. They competed against five other employers: City of Peterborough, County of Peterborough, Trent University, Fleming College and Community Living Peterborough, according to Jackie Donaldson of Peterborough Green-Up, program co-ordinator of climate change and transportation. Overall, employees from 22 workplaces across Peterborough competed for an entire month to see how many employees could walk, cycle, carpool or bus to the workplace. Assessed for both the number of participants and the number of trips overall, almost 500 employees vied in four categories for the ‘Most Travel-Wise Employer in Peterborough’ award. As the numerous bikes locked outside 500 Water Street attest, Robinson Place staff worked hard to maintain their status as a workplace that considers active and efficient modes of transportation as a viable option, according to Jackie. At Robinson Place, Cool Captain Climate (a Peterborough Green-Up official mascot) and friends were on hand to perform and to present the Shifting Gears ‘Large Employer’ award to employees for their efforts. "For many participants, the challenge provided the push needed to take on healthy lifestyle activities," says Jackie. "Walking (whether full or part way) was a common choice for getting to the workplace," she says. "We heard of many employees who tried walking to work for the first time and found the walk more manageable (and enjoyable) than they originally anticipated," she adds. Others continue to reap the benefits of carpooling, in which many employees can together share the expensive costs of commuting. Green-Up also promotes cycling, carpooling and taking the bus as important alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle use, with benefits in improved physical fitness, saving money, community engagement, cleaner air and reducing excess greenhouse gases. The Shifting Gears Challenge was co-ordinated by Peterborough Green-Up and is supported by the Government of Canada, the City of Peterborough, the Peterborough County-City Health Unit and Wild Rock Outfitters. |
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Peaceful Communities is reaching more people! The Grassroots Review |
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