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April 2013

Eco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-News

A really big lake deserves a really big celebration and this year, Lake Superior Day wel-comes the Norwegian Tall Ship Sorlandet! Since 2008, EcoSuperior has organized LakeSuperior Day, a free, fun, family event that includes displays, activities and entertain-ment for the whole family. In the past, the festival area at Marina Park has hostedLake Superior Day but this year it takes place at Thunder Bay’s Pool 6 Cruise ShipDock to accommodate the tall ship on Sunday, July 21 from 10 am to 5 pm.

The Sorlandet is a 57m long ship built in 1927 in the city of Kristiansand,Norway. It is the oldest full-rigged ship in operation. Currently being used as ateaching vessel by Class Afloat, the Sorlandet is based in the community ofLunenburg, Nova Scotia. For nine months students live, study, sail and stand watchaboard the Sorlandet which travels through the Mediterranean, down the coast of Africaacross to Brazil, and up through the Caribbean back to Nova Scotia. To track the ship’s jour-ney before it arrives in Thunder Bay visit www.classafloat.com. During Lake Superior Day the Sorlandet will beavailable for public on deck tours with admission of $3 a person, free for children under 3 years of age.

Lake Superior Day was started in the early 1990s to highlight the importance of this great water body to thebasin’s environment and economy. The Lake Superior Binational Forum initiated this basin-wide event which iscelebrated annually on the third Sunday in July in communities all around the lake. Hosting a tall ship will helpto make this our largest event in Lake Superior Day history.

To learn more about Lake Superior Day visit www.lakesuperiorday.com or email [email protected], be sure to like us on Facebook. For businesses interested in getting involved with this event, there are spon-sorship opportunities available to help support the tall ship visit. Contact our office for a sponsorship package.

Tall Ship Comingto Lake Superior Day

Our Painted Rain Barrel Artists

Inside: Greener Grilling • Cycling Courses • Superior House Update • Open Streets Events • Heirloom Vegetable Seeds

What a diverse group of artists this year! The PaintedRain Barrel Project reached out into the community and thecommunity responded. The artists who were chosen to paintbarrels, took on the challenge of painting on this very unique“canvas” and they reflect Thunder Bay’s spirit! Young andyoung at heart, artistic Individuals and groups-both big andsmall – painted barrels this year. This year’s Painted RainBarrel Auction is presented by Axels Water and PlumbingCentre, with support from RBC, Thunder Bay Insurance,Maaco Collision Centre, Canadian Lakehead Exhibition,and Lowery’s Sports Dome.

A number of schools put applications forward from theirart classes and clubs. Designs were selected from the fol-

lowing schools: Westgate Collegiate Vocational Institute,Pope John Paul II Senior Elementary, St. Margaret School,Our Lady of Charity School, Vance Chapman Public SchoolGrade 8 class and Five Mile Public School Art Club. Otherhigh school aged youth came forward on their own and inone case, two girls who just saw the advertisement decidedto submit an application.

Individual artists include Aubrey Pugh-Ellis, ChristopherRantala, and Aaron Hetherington to name only a few. Chris(a previous winner of our Top Selling barrel award) andAubrey both chose bird and northwestern Ontario themesand Aaron is bringing elephants of the savannah to theNorthwest!

Groups participating this year include the CanadianMental Health Association, and the 1st Slate River GirlGuides. At Dawson Court Home for the Aged, the OntarioMarch of Dimes and the Hogarth Riverview Manor, staff,residents and professional artists worked together. Readmore about one of these groups on page 3.

New this year is the work of Remy Chunick who basedhis painting on tattoo designs he has provided for his cus-tomers at Creation Body Piercing. Also, we have a familyentry from Denise and Hannah Brown.

Join us at the Home and Garden Show this weekend at theLowery’s Sports Dome and make a bid on one of theseunique pieces of art.

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 2

Boardof Directors

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

EcoNews is published by EcoSuperior, an incorporated not-for-profit organi-zation based in Thunder Bay. 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. 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 whocontribute to EcoSuperior’s activities. Through contributions of ideas,connections, expertise and financial support, the following organizationshave played a major role in our success. We extend our sincere gratitudeto the individuals within these organizations who have helped us alongthe way.

• 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

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

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 twice a year. Ifyou’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 youre-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 first to know about new programsand offers coming up. Subscribe now – it’s free and we promise not to send you anything but our monthly newsletter!

Want MoreEcoNews??

A 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:Dr. Anthony Gillies, Lakehead University

Bryan Heppler, Union Gas

Pat Johansen, Lakehead School Board

Kerri Marshall, City of Thunder Bay

Kirk Ross, A&R Ross Products

Colin Kelly, Confederation College

• Resolute Forest Products• Axels Water & Plumbing Centre• Boston Pizza• Canadian Tire• CBC Radio• City of Thunder Bay

Community Environment Fund• Confederation College• Dougall Media• EarthWise Thunder Bay• Environment Canada• Form Architecture Engineering• Green Communities Canada• Lake Superior Binational Forum

Elvis Presleyinspiredrain barrel.

Our StaffExecutive Director:Ellen Mortfield

Operations Supervisor:Jay Eingold

Customer Service:Deanna Ford

Program Coordinators:Lucie Lavoie

Ashley Priem

Adam Krupper

Jessica Backen

Aynsley Klassen

Jennifer Hansen

Raphael Shay

Jamie Saunders

Doug Diaczuk

Bookkeeper:Kathy Deley

Willow Springs Creative Centre hasbeen offering an accessible gardening pro-gram at Dawson Court Home for the Agedfor the past two years, working with resi-dents who call themselves the Dawson DirtDiggers. This is the group’s second rainbarrel creation in support of EcoSuperior’sfantastic work in our community. This yearthe Dirt Diggers decided to do a Rock ‘n’Roll barrel highlighting an old ElvisPresley blues tune, ‘Spring Fever’. Thepainting sessions were led by WillowSprings’ artists Lea Hayes and Tessa

Charlebois. The music of Elvis Presley is a favorite of many of the residents at Dawson Court. Theyfelt young again by listening and singing along.

Look for their Elvis-themed barrel this weekend at the Home & Garden Show in the SportsDome. More details about this event are on page 1.

Donald painting the rain barrel.

DawsonDirt Diggers’

Rain BarrelSubmitted by Judi Vinni

If you have school aged chil-dren in Thunder Bay there is agood chance they’ve had a guestpresenter from EcoSuperior visittheir classroom this school year.Since September 2012 we havedelivered over 50 presentations fornearly 1200 students throughoutthe city. We currently offer pre-sentations for grades 2, 5, 8, and10 through 12 on a variety of top-ics including water conservationand protection, our “lake-to-lake”municipal water system, andchoosing safer personal care prod-ucts.

In addition, during CanadaWater Week (March 18-22) wevisited 16 grade 7 classes with aspecial presentation funded by theCity of Thunder Bay EnvironmentDivision to discuss the benefits ofchoosing tap water over bottledwater. During this presentationstudents participated in a watertaste test to determine if they pre-ferred tap, bottled, or filteredwater. Overall, tap water dominat-ed the competition!

A parent wrote to us recently to let us know how much her Grade 7 son enjoyed the program.

“My child came home from school (Bishop Gallagher) with an EcoSuperior water bottle that heLOVES – he told me about the presentation they had, how they got to taste the water and decidewhich one tasted best- bottled or tap. I just wanted to say “CONGRATS” on a really cool programthat my grade 7 boy really enjoyed. He does not talk about much of his school stuff so this presen-tation really made an impression!”

If you are interested in more information about our school programs or would like to schedule avisit to your school, please contact Jennifer at 624-2147 or [email protected] or visit ourwebsite at www.ecosuperior.org.

Art is often a way of bringing an idea or con-cept to life. But it is also a way to breathe newlife into something that might otherwise bethrown away. Melissa Miller, a third year visu-al arts major at Lakehead University, wasrecently featured in the Juried Student ArtExhibition at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Hersculptures, entitled Media’s Imaginary Binary,are a commentary on how the media only por-trays two sexes.

“In actuality there are at least six knownsexes,” Miller explains. “Even in our languagethere is only he or she. It doesn’t really acceptthe wide variety of sexes that exist in our soci-ety.”

While the message on the outside of Miller’ssculptures is poignant and thought-provoking,the message on the inside is equally relevant.

Miller’s statues, a man over six feet tall and awoman over five feet tall, are comprised entire-ly of recycled materials. Hundreds of recycledmagazine pages were rolled and cut into smallpieces and then glued onto recycled Styrofoam.

“Students don’t have the means to buy newitems,” Miller says. “So it worked well with mycontent.”

But Miller added that more and more artistsare turning to recycled materials for use in artprojects, because not only is it affordable, italso helps reduce consumption.

“We don’t want to have to buy more materi-als and contribute to landfills or have to killmore trees,” Miller says. “A lot of artists aretaking materials and transforming them intosomething that you wouldn’t even know wererecycled.”

Attention parents! Seeking educational, eco-friendly adven-ture and fun for the kids this summer? If you child loves to beoutside exploring natural spaces, EcoSuperior’s new SummerDay Camp is the perfect place choice!

This summer, we invite 6-10 year olds to join us at theCentral Natural Environment Gardens for a dynamic and edu-cational summer day camp experience. Our qualified instructorsare busy preparing to lead campers through exciting activities toignite imaginations and build connections with the naturalworld. While the camp has an overarching theme of “connect-ing with water”, campers can choose the specific activity week

that sparks their interest: Webs, Wings, & Crawly Things (July8-12); Animal Adventures (July 22-26); and Plant Paradise(August 12-16).

Worried it might rain? Awesome! Water is essential for life!We will have a temporary shelter in place at the gardens to makesure we have a place to stay dry. Otherwise, we will enjoy ourtime outdoors at the Central Natural Environment Gardens,located off Central Avenue between 10th Avenue and ReaumeStreet.

Pack a lunch, put your sun hat on, and be ready to explore!Camp programming runs from 9:00am until 4:00pm from

Monday to Friday each week with drop-off and pick-up super-vision available a half-hour before and after the program.Registration fees are $175 for the week and include all materi-als & activities, a camp t-shirt, a reusable water bottle, and alocal snack each day. Sign up with a friend or sibling andreceive our “buddy” price of $150/participant. (“Buddies” mustbe attending the same week and must be indicated on the regis-tration form to receive the discount).

Interested in learning more? Check out our website or callour office for complete details. Registration can be completedonline at www.ecosuperior.org/camp


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

The art of recycling

Our New Summer Day Camp

School Programs Hit the Markwith Teachers & Students

Program Coordinator Jennifer Hansen demonstrates the planet’slimited water supply to a Grade 2 class at one of EcoSuperior’scurriculum-linked presentations.

Melissa Miller poses alongside her sculptures entitled Media's Imaginary Binary.


The City of Thunder Bay and EcoSuperior are very excited about the possi-bility of bringing four Open Streets events to Thunder Bay in 2013!

“Open Streets are programs where the streets are opened to people andclosed to cars. People traffic replaces car traffic, and the streets become “pavedparks” where people of all ages, abilities, and social, economic, or ethnic back-ground can come out and improve their mental, physical, and emotional health.Open Streets programs are one of the best programs any city could initiate toimprove access to recreational opportunities.” (from 8-80 cities)

In 2012, 70 municipalities in North America held Open Streets events.These successful events vary from community to community but share severalcommon elements: a focus on physical activity, engagement of communitygroups, removal of financial barriers for participants and a celebration of spaceand community.

Open Streets events are held in large and small cities across North Americaand focus on creating an environment where people from all walks of life canexperience their community in new and exciting ways.

In Thunder Bay, the proposed route for the Open Streets events is AlgomaStreet, from John Street to either Park Avenue or Waverley Street. This stretchof roadway is at the centre of one of the most popular local business areas andhouses a large percentage of young families and residents. The current plan isto close down the route for one Sunday in July, August, September and October.

The core objectives for Thunder Bay Open Streets are to provide events thatwill encourage greater levels of active living and community building, promotemunicipally-led active living initiatives, promote community-led active livinginitiatives, showcase the newly reconstructed, pedestrian-friendly, AlgomaStreet and support improvement efforts of the Bay and Algoma Business Area.

Preliminary meetings with a number of stakeholders have begun in order togauge the level of interest and involvement in organizing Open Streets ThunderBay. The public response has been very positive to date. Anyone interested injoining an Open Streets Committee or volunteering at any of the events cancontact Ashley Priem at 624-2142 or email [email protected].

Washing the car in the driveway may seem like a great way tobeat the summer heat, but it should be nixed from your to-do list ifyou’re interested in greening your cleaning routine. Since the hose-and-sponge route typically uses a staggering 450 litres* of water toget your vehicle squeaky clean, wasted water is definitely a cause forconcern – but so is where all of that water goes.

Do-it-yourself jobs send a chemical cocktail of detergents, heavymetals, oil, exhaust and gasoline residues from your driveway into anearby street drain or storm sewer. While the Atlantic Avenue WaterPollution Control Plant treats household water that travels down sinkdrains and toilets before it is released into the environment, waterrunning through storm sewers discharges directly into river and lakesystems. The soapy concoction created during a home carwash goesdirectly into local waterways, along with harmful toxins that canaffect aquatic ecosystems and wildlife.

But cruising around town in a crud-mobile is not the ideal solu-tion, either! Thick dirt, bird droppings, and salt can corrode a car’sfinish, so regular cleaning helps to maintain the condition of your

vehicle. Fortunately, there are ways you can clean up your act dur-ing your summer Sunday scrub ups.

Visiting a commercial facility is your best bet to conserve waterand properly dispose of wastewater. According to the CanadianCarwash Association, automatic washes require roughly a third ofthe water used to wash vehicles at home (approximately 150 litres),likely due to high pressure and control systems designed to limitwater use. In addition, regulations require commercial carwashes toinstall a grit, oil, and water separation system within their infra-structure to pre-treat wastewater before it enters the sewer system.

If you’re not likely to oppose the hose, at least use a spray nozzlethat you can turn off while you wash to reduce water use. You canalso relocate to a permeable surface like grass or gravel to absorband filter the water naturally.

Next time you reach for the hose, grab the keys instead and headto your nearest commercial carwash. You’ll save yourself someelbow grease and get the sparkling clean you want without dirtyingour waterways! *Canadian Carwash Association

Subject to approval of funding, we expect to have some employ-ment openings this spring and summer, for both part-time and full-time positions. Be sure to watch our website for specific positiondetails. There is a three-year contract position in the works to coor-dinate a Food Strategy project for the Thunder Bay area.

We anticipate one or two summer student positions that willhelp support our community outreach and our new summer day-camp program. We will also be seeking an individual with garden-ing knowledge to coordinate volunteer efforts at Central NaturalEnvironment Gardens.

We are also seeking a Program Coordinator with excellentproject management and communication skills as well as com-munity outreach and event planning experience. This will be afull-time permanent position.

If you have an interest in environmental stewardship and relat-ed education or experience, we will accept resumes at any time.Forward to [email protected]

Open Streets EventsProposed for Thunder Bay

Carwash Showdown We’re Hiring!

Fling-ItGarbage

Nets!Much of the litter on our city streets

comes from unprotected garbage bags thatare broken open by wildlife or stray dogs.Some people cover bags with old sheets orblankets, a simple, but unsightly solution.Now a local entrepreneur and EcoSuperioroffer a new solution – the Fling-it Net. It’s aweighted nylon net that covers up to fourfull bags, and keeps birds and animals out.It’s weatherproof and doesn’t soak up therain like that old soggy blanket.

Lois Hacio spotted the nets, invented bya business in Newfoundland & Labrador,while visiting the maritime provinces. Shebrought a sample home, secured approvalfor the product by the City of the ThunderBay Transportation and Works departmentand invited EcoSuperior to sell them in ourstorefront. The nets are currently availableat $30 each, and $2 from each purchasegoes to support EcoSuperior’s programs.


3000 Highway 61,Thunder Bay, ON P7J 0G8

WASTE MANAGEMENT • RECYCLING SERVICESSAFE STORAGE CONTAINERS

577-0411 www.recool.ca

Waste management & recyclingsolutions for your business

Introducing THE TOUGH TOTE Recool’sNew Disposal Bin!

If you buy your vegetables in the grocery store, youprobably choose between two or three varieties ofpotatoes or tomatoes. In actuality there are hundredsof varieties of all the vegetables you see in the producesection. Unfortunately many are difficult to growusing large-scale industrial agriculture. Peek into anybackyard garden, and you’ll likely see varieties of veg-etables that have been passed down through the gen-erations because they have special characteristics –like fabulous flavour – that their owners love.

Heirloom or heritage vegetables have been grownin backyard gardens and small family farms for gen-erations, and the original seed source often goes backa century or more. The great thing about heirloomvarieties is that they are ‘open-pollinated’ – you cansave seed from these vegetables to plant the followingyear. If you try to plant seed from a hybrid vegetable,you will find that the resulting plant often is nothinglike the parent. ‘Open-pollinated’ seeds will grow veg-etables that have the same characteristics generationafter generation.

Why not try your hand (or green thumb) at grow-ing some interesting new open-pollinated varieties ofvegetables? EcoSuperior is selling heirloom seedsfrom Heritage Harvest and Hawthorn Farm that areboth open-pollinated and organically-grown. Choosefrom varieties like Black Plum Tomatoes, Bull’sBlood Beets, and Northeastern Pole Beans. Not onlywill you discover new taste treats, but you will alsohelp to preserve our seed heritage!

Mark your calendars, pull on your garden gum boots, and stir your compost! EcoSuperior’s annualSpring Plant Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 25 from 10am-2pm at our office, 562 Red River Roadat Hill Street. In addition to offering a wide array of beautiful native wildflowers, we are excited to temptyour taste buds and spice up your summer with a variety of fresh herbs.

Limited numbers of each variety are available, so come early to ensure you won’t be disappointed!All plants have been locally grown with the generous support of Belluz Farms. All proceeds from thesale go toward maintaining environmental programs in the community of Thunder Bay.

Not sure about organic gardening? Come on by and ask your questions to a seasoned local greenthumb. Or better yet, join the Central Natural Environment Gardens green team this summer to gainhands-on experience with native wildflowers and organic gardening practices. Volunteer mornings areheld once a week throughout the summer (weather permitting). Bring your hat, work gloves, and sunprotection – we supply the tools, training, and refreshments. Children welcome! Call EcoSuperior at624-2140 for more information.

Anise HyssopEchinaceaBasilBergamotLupine

OreganoBlack Eyed SusanMaltese CrossParsleyBlanket Flower

Ox-Eye SunflowerPeppermintBlue FlaxSwamp Milkweed

SageDianthusYellow ConeflowerCreeping Thyme

Grow Your Own HeirloomVegetables & Save Seed!

Annual SpringWildflower& Herb Sale

A sizzling summer is just around the corner!Many people are preparing to whip up theirfavourite dishes on the grill in the great outdoors.Before you throw on your apron and grab yourtongs, here are some handy hints to help you be“licensed to grill” the green way at your nextsummer soiree.

To lessen the impacts of your barbecue, recon-sidering your hardware is a good place to start.Propane, natural gas, and electric grills are farsuperior to the charcoal variety because theyrelease fewer CO2 emissions.

However, many people delight in the smokyflavour that only their charcoal models canbring. In this case, opt for natural, organic lumpcharcoal rather than traditional briquettes. Mostcharcoal is a mishmash of sawdust, borax, lime-stone, and sodium nitrate which can deposit onyour food. Organic lump charcoal burns cleanersince it is made of hardwood rather than fossilfuels.

You can even purchase brands that bear theForest Stewardship Council or RainforestAlliance certification logos on the package,which assures consumers that the product hasbeen harvested sustainably. Charcoal devoteesshould also leave out the lighter fluid, whichmay also contain harmful tox-ins, and start the burn using achimney starter or otherDIY fire starter.

Aspiring green grillersshould also work on theirtechniques for prepping,cooking, and cleaning. Rubbing the grill with anonion or brushing on some oliveoil rather than spritzing with tradi-tional chemical sprays will helpavoid stuck-on messes.

Closing the hood while q’ing will ensure heatis contained and evenly distributed across thegrill. Scouring the grill with a wire brush whileit’s still warm will make quick work of your post-party cleanup. Tackle stubborn food scraps withnatural products and homemade recipes like bak-ing soda, vinegar, and aluminum foil.

What you cook up and how you serve it willalso affect your shindig’s carbon footprint. It’s nosecret that many resources are used to raise cattleand transport it to market, so cutting back onmeat dishes and purchasing from local vendorswill help the environment, local economy, andyour waistline. In addition, grilling is a great wayto spice up organic, fresh veggies purchased fromyour local farmers’ market (kebobs anyone?).Ditch disposables and dish out your grub usingreusable plates, bowls, glasses, and cutlery. Atthe end of the night, don’t be the host with themost – compost and recycle what you can, andsend your guests home with any leftover food.

Round up your friends and family, enjoydelicious food and drink,and get ready to unleashyour inner greengrillmaster thissummer!

Greener Grilling

Thunder Bayians know spring has sprung when theycan trade in their parkas and toques for sandals and sun-hats. However, many people ring in spring by donninggloves and safety vests instead, to take part in the annualSpring Up to Clean Up campaign. Each year, over 11,000eager volunteers roll up their sleeves to give nearbyneighbourhoods, creeks, parks, trails, and roadsides amakeover. We would like to send out a big thank you toall who have helped to keep Thunder Bay clean, greenand beautiful over the past 16 years. See below to findout how people of all ages can get involved in the manyactivities taking place during this year’s community-wide event.

20-Minute MakeoverLaunch Event for WorkplacesWednesday, May 1, 10:00am

On Wednesday, May 1, many employees throughoutthe city won’t be found on the job. Instead, they’ll bespending 20 minutes cleaning up litter and debrisaround their workplace neighbourhood. Mark your cal-endars, rally up your co-workers, and register yourworkplace to receive clean-up supplies, public recogni-tion and a gift from event sponsor, Tim Horton’s (whilesupplies last).

We’re excited to announce a new contest this year.Participating businesses will be entered in a draw to

win a portion of their recyclingcosts covered by The City ofThunder Bay, EcoSuperior, andReCool! For those who don’tcurrently recycle, we’ll alsoinclude a free consultation withone of our recycling experts tohelp you get started.

CommunityClean-upsMonth of May

We invite individuals, fami-lies, community groups, work-

places, and schools to register a litter cleanup to receive clean-upsupplies, draw prizes and a public pat on the back on our websiteand in local media.

Attention teachers! Participating schools will also receive a giftcertificate to a nursery of their choice to put toward a school green-ing project.

Leaf & Yard Waste Curb-side CollectionMay 1-14 on your regular recycling day

Place your leaves, bundled branches, and garden waste out forcurb-side pickup. Look for the leaf symbol on your garbage collec-tion calendar for your leaf & yard waste collection day (if you'renot sure when this is you can call 625-2195). Use only clear plas-tic bags or kraft (paper) bags. Kraft bags are available at hardwareand grocery stores, are biodegradable and can be placed directlyinto the compost pile. These materials are taken to the City ofThunder Bay Solid Waste & Recycling Facility and made into soilenriching compost. No grass clippings please, as they may catchfire. Leave them on your lawn for a natural fertilizer, add them toyour compost pile, or use them as mulch in your garden. You canalso deliver compostable materials such as leaves, shrubs andbranches directly to the landfill site compost area.

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

tests to win great prizes!

Spring Up to Clean Up Photo ContestWhat better way to share your clean-up experience than to cap-

ture it on camera? Send us a photo of your clean-up crew in action,a before and after of the area you tackled, your most unique find –the possibilities are endless! Qualifying entries received by May31st will be judged by quality and creativity. Entrants’ photos willbe posted on EcoSuperior’s website, and the winning picture willbe featured in next spring’s EcoNews. You’ll have a chance to winexciting prize packs sponsored by Tim Hortons, including the grandprize: a brand new mountain bike!

Poster Contest for Elementary StudentsThere will be two categories – one for grades K to 3 and one for

grades 4 to 8. Help get the word out about why you think people


Spring Into Action This May!


Are you ready to DO MORE?Join peaksaver PLUS to save energy.PLUS get a free energy display.

Participation in the peaksaver PLUS™ program is subject to terms and conditions, which can be viewed at saveonenergy.ca. Funded by the Ontario Power Authority and offered by Thunder Bay Hydro Distribution Inc. A mark of the Province of Ontario protected under Canadian trademark law. Used under sublicence. OMOfficial Mark of the Ontario Power Authority. Used under licence. ™peaksaver PLUS is a trademark of Toronto Hydro Corporation. Used under licence. You must have a: central air conditioner and/or electric water heater and/or in-ground pool pump in good working order to participate. Limited time offer.

Contact Thunder Bay Hydro Conservation

tbhydropeaksaverplus.ca | 1-855-272-9298

For more information or contest details please visit www.ecosuperior.organd click on the Spring Up logo, or call Jessica at 624-2142.

This community program is funded by the City of Thunder Bay Infrastructureand Operations Department and delivered by EcoSuperior EnvironmentalPrograms. We would like to thank sponsors & supporters Tim Hortons, OntarioPower Generation, and Boston Pizza for helpingmake Spring Up to Clean Up a great success.

shouldn’t litter. The top three entries will receive prizes fromBoston Pizza and the winning posters will be printed and distrib-uted throughout Thunder Bay. Everyone who takes part will beentered into a random draw for more prizes.

Video Contest forHigh SchoolStudents & Adults

Take your spot in the limelight andget a positive message out to ThunderBay to stop littering! Do a solo act or

get together with some friends to create a video that is lessthan 30 seconds long (using a digital or video camera) thatwill help convince people to go litter-free.

The top videos will be posted on the EcoSuperior website,and will qualify for cash prizes and gift certificates fromBoston Pizza. The winning videos in each category will alsobe aired on Thunder Bay Television. There are two cate-gories: youth (14-17) and adult (18+).

For more information, contest details, or to register yourclean-up, please visit www.ecosuperior.org and click on theSpring Up logo, or call Jessica at 624-2142.

This community program is funded by the City ofThunder Bay Infrastructure and Operations Department anddelivered by EcoSuperior Environmental Programs. Wewould like to thank sponsors and supporters SPI Health andSafety, ReCool Canada, Tim Hortons, Ontario PowerGeneration, Dougall Media, and Boston Pizza for helping make to Spring Up to Clean Up a great success.

2012 PhotoContest Winner –

Brooke Cable & theGeorge Jeffrey

Children’s CentreClean Up Crew


Safe Cycling Thunder Bay

2013 is shaping up to be an exciting year for pedestrians and cyclists in Thunder Bay. The City’s Engineering Division is proposing5.5 kilometers of new bike lanes for 2013. If City Council approves the new lanes, the Current River portion of the City’s ActiveTransportation Plan will be complete.

Thunder Bay began implementing bike lanes in 2009, first as a pilot project, then as a standard practice. While 30 kilometers of bikelanes have been successfully implemented all over Thunder Bay, Current River has had special significance.

Arundel Street was re-constructed in 2012, and as part of that work, the roadway was widened from Toledo Street to Black Bay Roadfor a 3 meter multi-use trail and bike lane parallel to the road. As well, the Lyon Boulevard West and Arundel Street intersection was nar-rowed to make it safer for pedestrians crossing the road.

Current River is also special because it is Thunder Bay’s recreational mecca. With Boulevard Lake, Centennial Park, the Current RiverCommunity Centre, Trowbridge Falls, as well as an excellent network of multi-use trails, community schools, and higher-density hous-ing, Current River is, by design, an active community.

This year’s proposed bike lanes begin with extending the Arundel Street bike lane out to Strathcona Avenue to connect with the widepaved shoulder which leads out to Shuniah Township. Leslie Avenue and Adelaide Street are also proposed, so that people can cycle safe-ly from Boulevard Lake all the way out to Arundel Street on continuous bike lanes.

These two routes complete the bike lanes planned in Current River. With these new bike lanes, someone living on Leslie Avenue willbe able to ride down to Adelaide and onto the multi-use trails surrounding Boulevard Lake. Someone living on Shuniah Street will beable to ride on bike lanes and multi-use trails all the way to Skaf’s for groceries!

Also proposed are new bike lanes on High Street. These new bike lanes would begin at Balsam Street, continue down High Street pastSuperior Collegiate and Vocational Institute, all the way to Hillcrest Park. A new bike route is also being planned up Bay Street –although, this route is simply signed as such, without dedicated bike lanes or pavement markings.

The purpose of the Bay Street route is to direct cyclists towards the intercity area by using the lights at Ray Boulevard, rather thannegotiating the steep, narrow descent at High Street towards Oliver Road. These new routes link the Red River and Current River Wards.

When Lance McKillop first hopped on a bike as a kid,he could feel the freedom that it represented and theopportunities it provided to get out and explore.

“I still have that feeling every time I pull the bike outand take off, whether I am riding to work or just ridingaround with my wife exploring the neighborhood,” Lancesays.

Lance now shares his love of cycling with the commu-nity as one of the highly skilled CAN-Bike instructorswith Safe Cycling Thunder Bay.

Safe Cycling Thunder Bay is dedicated to helping peo-ple of all ages and skill levels learn to ride safely, knowl-edgably, and confidently on area roads. Safe CyclingThunder Bay offers courses that teach everything frombasic riding skills, to advanced traffic negotiation, as wellas offering specialized courses for children, seniors, andwomen. Our team of 12 certified instructors is helping tomake cycling not only fun, but also an alternative form oftransportation in the city of Thunder Bay.

Lance, who has been an instructor since May 2011,explains that he wanted to become a safe cycling instruc-tor in order to help people in the community.

“I have always been an advocate for safe cycling andthrough CAN-Bike and Safe Cycling Thunder Bay, I nowhave a voice,” explains Lance. “I want to pass on myenthusiasm for cycling to other people and I want to seethem be able to ride safely and with the confidence theyneed to navigate the streets of Thunder Bay.”

Even though he has been riding a bike since he wasfive-years-old and has been commuting to work by bike

for the last 35 years, Lance says that since becoming aCAN-Bike instructor, his own cycling skills have greatlyimproved.

“I was amazed at how much I was able to learnthrough the course and how my confidence hasincreased,” Lance says. “With increased confidencecycling is much more enjoyable. I think all cyclists, nomatter the skill level, can benefit from taking the SafeCycling course.”

Lance believes that one of the most important tools forany cyclist is confidence. By taking to the road with con-fidence, a cyclist will gain the respect of drivers and makeeveryone’s journey a little safer.

“When drivers see that you are riding in a safe andconfident manner, not weaving in and out of traffic, andusing hand signals to indicate your intentions you willgain their respect,” explains Lance. “My hope is at somepoint in the near future we can all share the road.”

Safe Cycling Thunder Bay instructors like Lance canhelp you become a confident, safe, and knowledgeablecyclist so you can get out and explore and experience thefreedom of cycling.

“I have been hooked ever since the first time my dadtook me into the back lanes of Westfort and let go of theback of my bike and I was off on my own,” Lance recalls.“For me the bike represented freedom, the freedom tocome and go and to explore new and exciting areas of myneighborhood.”

To learn more about Safe Cycling Thunder Bay andour courses, visit www.safecyclingthunderbay.com.

Completing the CurrentRiver Cycling Network

Lance McKillop, left, is one of the Safe Cycling Thunder Bayinstructors who will be teaching courses this spring.


You Can Help Stop theEmerald Ash Borer!

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insectspecies first found in North America in June 2002.It attacks and kills healthy ash trees.

All native ash tree species are at risk! Ash treesof all sizes and species are susceptible to attack.The most common ash trees in NorthwesternOntario are green ash and black ash. However,mountain ash trees are not true ash trees. Theycannot be infected by EAB.

As of fall 2012, EAB has not been detected inNorthwestern Ontario. However, it is as close asSault Ste. Marie and Minnesota, and spreading.

In Thunder Bay alone, one-quarter of its streettrees could be lost to EAB in addition toash trees found on private landand in parks. Regionally,millions of ash treesin our forests

are at risk. Invasive species, including EAB, canspread in firewood moved from one place toanother. Always use local firewood, burn it on siteand do not take any with you to other locations.

Emerald Ash Borer larvae have been found inbranches as small as 1.1 cm in diameter.

For questions or to report finding EAB, contactthe Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s EmeraldAsh Borer Hotline toll free at 1-866-463-6017 oronline at www.inspection.gc.ca.

www.dontmovefirewood.ca

HormoneDisruptors:

Reduce the Riskof Chemical ExposureReducing your exposure to chemicals is good for

you, and good for the environment. Many of theproducts we use every day are made of combina-tions of chemicals, and some can have a harmfuleffect the hormone system of humans, fish andwildlife. Chemicals that affect hormone systems arecalled endocrine disrupting chemicals or hormonedisruptors. Scientists have found 870 differentchemical ingredients that have the potential to affectthe hormone system, even at very low doses. Thesechemicals are found in many different everydayproducts, and in some foods.

Why should we be worried about chemicals thataffect our hormone system? Very low doses of hor-mone disruptors can affect all sorts of body func-tions and potentially lead to health problems rang-ing from reproductive issues such as reduced fertil-ity, to metabolic diseases such as increased obesity,to learning disabilities.

Many of the chemicals we use in our consumerproducts do not easily break down, or sometimesbreak down into more harmful products that pollutewater, soil, and wildlife. Even at the low dosesfound in the environment, some of thesechemicals affect the hormone systemsof animals. Many of the reproductive,developmental, growth and behaviouralchanges resulting from exposure to hor-mone disruptors were first noticed infish and wildlife.

Tips toreduce yourexposureChoosegreener cleaners

Traditional household cleanersoften contain toxic chemicals thatcan affect your health and ourwaterways. Use common house-hold ingredients such as bakingsoda and vinegar to make yourown non-toxic cleansers.

Choose saferpersonal care products

Even if the label says a product is “gentle” or“natural,” it may not be the safest choice. Read theingredients on the label and find out how safe theyare at ewg.org/skindeep

Keep your houseas dust-free as possible

Remove the dust from your home often, using adamp cloth or a HEPA vacuum. Household dustmay contain fine particles of chemicals from thingslike flame retardants found in foam cushions andmattresses, textiles, or electronics.

Reduce the plastics in your lifePlastics are made using non-renewable energy

and clean water, then are thrown away or recycledinto low grade products. Toxic chemicals fromplastic containers may seep into our food. Useglass, ceramic, wood or stainless steel alternativeswhen you can. Learn to choose safer plastics at get-

drasticwithplastic.org

Minimize your exposureto chemicals in food and

packagingWhenever possible, choose unprocessed and

organic foods to reduce exposure to harmfulfood additives and pesticide residues, andchoose fresh or frozen foods over cannedwhen possible to minimize your exposure tothe plastic lining found in cans. Find the foodwith the fewest pesticides at FoodNews.org

Return unused medicinesBring medicine – including over-the-

counter drugs – to your pharmacy. Neverflush them down the toilet or

throw them down thesink because thedrugs will harmfish and othercreatures living in

streams & lakes.

We don’t usually think about where our water comes from orwhere it goes when we water the grass, flush the toilet or drain thesink, but these are all important processes to manage wisely.Come learn more about your how your household is connectedto the natural world, simple things you can do to protect yourhome from water damage, and how to promote a healthierwater supply.

Clean water is our most important resource and it’s up toyou to help protect it! EcoSuperior in partnership withConfederation College will be offering a series of 3 hourworkshops this spring. Check the Spring Key for details, orthe Confederation College website. Courses include:

• Water Supply and Treatment for Residential Properties (April25th, 2013)

• Septic Systems and Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technologies (May 29, 2013)• Drainage and Flood Prevention for Residential Properties (May 16, 2013).

Please consult the Key for registration information, or contact Jamie Saunders at 624-2658for further details.

Homeowners’Water Workshops


EcoSuperior purchased the property at Red River Road and Hill Street in2011 with the goal of establishing a public resource centre where area resi-dents can see best practices and new technology in action. The OntarioTrillium Foundation provided some funding this year to get us started on ren-ovation plans. The office building is getting some new floors and lighting,while we work on plans to redesign the small bungalow on site.

The small house is characteristic of the inefficient homes built quickly towelcome soldiers home. There are 7,500 similar homes in Thunder Bay builtbetween 1944 and 1960. Another 15,000 built between 1960 and 1980 arealmost as inefficient.

Under 2012 Ontario Building Code standards, older buildings are only athird as efficient as the current minimum standard. Simple steps can help peo-ple live in more comfortable places and manage their ecological footprint. Theresource-efficient design and renovation will demonstrate alternatives tohomeowners and the construction sector in the area.

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore was first on the scene and has diverted 400kg of material from the landfill, mostly nice cedar and a sauna heater. A classfrom Confederation College’s Construction Techniques Program has also par-ticipated in the deconstruction, removing inside walls and clearing out oldshelves and a water guzzling toilet.

Prior to beginning any work on the house, the asbestos-contaminated ver-miculite insulation in the attic was removed by a professional contractor.This insulation was commonly used during that time of construction. It issafe to leave in place as long as you are not planning to disturb the substancewith renovations.

The next steps in our vision for the building are taking shape thanks toBenjamin Robinson, Eric Escarte, Graeme Nickle and Shayne Reitsma ofLakehead University’s Civil Engineering program along with their professorDr. Tony Gillies. The student time was assigned to research systems to beused in the reconstruction. Lots of suggestions are being gathered fromother experts in the community as well.

Transforming the old bungalow into the Superior House is a great oppor-tunity for EcoSuperior to lead by example and share its learning. The OntarioTrillium Foundation takes up to the design phase, but EcoSuperior will beseeking corporate sponsorship and donations of materials, technology andlabour to complete the actual construction of the project.

According to NAFTA Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s 2008Green Buildings study, Canadian buildings account for 33% of all energyused, 50% of all natural resources consumed and 35% of greenhouse gasemissions.

Superior House Update

Did you know that the City of Thunder Baywill actually pay you to improve your bath-room? If you have toilets that date back to theeighties or earlier, you are probably wasting atleast 13 litres of water with every flush. Have aplumber install a new 6-litre toilet, and you canget $125 credit on your water bill. In fact, youcan replace two toilets and get $250 back.

Initiated in 2004, EcoSuperior’s Toilet RebateProgram has visited more than 1100 homes andover 1500 toilets have been replaced.

The Toilet Rebate Program is a replacementprogram and the rebates apply in situationswhere the existing old model toilet is beingreplaced with a 6L ULF toilet or a dual-flushmodel. You can participate if your home is onthe City of Thunder Bay water supply, you havea water account in good standing and the toiletswill be installed by a participating plumber.

To get a rebate application you must book anappointment for a free, in-home Water Savervisit by our trained staff. Call Ashley at 624-2142. For more information about the program visit our website and clickon water conservation.

A limited num-ber of rebates areavailable this yearso don’t delay!

Toilet RebateProgram

Here’s a few of the things you can find whenyou drop into 562 Red River Road:

• Rain Barrels $65

• Composters $25 (for city residents only)

• Blue recycling bags (50 for $10)

• Organic herb and vegetable seeds

• Soil test kits

• Non-toxic glycerine soap

• USB rechargeable batteries(recharge them in your laptop!)

Shopping atEcoSuperior


AXEL’s at 107 South May Street (near City Hall) has dozens of different brand-name water-saver toilet models on the floor – STARTING AT $99.97. Come down toAXEL’s, Thunder Bay’s trusted toilet specialist and test-sit them for comfort. There isa reason why they call AXEL – the owner – THE TOILET KING of NorthwesternOntario.

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 – several dozens. AXEL’s also offers repair and installationservice as well as complete water treatment systems.

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

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

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 water, spa and pool filters at rock-bottomprices. See AXEL’s when only the best will do for you – in price and service.

For more info and specials see: www.axelsplumbing.com

By doing so, you could save $34,000 or 57.6%. Not everyone in Thunder Bay would: Outof dealer loyalty. Here’s the proof.

Countless Thunder Bay area residents pay $5.90 for their sediment water filters. The samefilter sells for $2.50 (a 57.6% saving) at AXEL’s at 107 South May Street (near City Hall).

AXEL’s customers report huge savings, i.e. paying somewhere else up to $22.00 for a car-bon filter which sells for $5.97 at AXEL’s.

How far does your loyalty go to support outrageous prices at the filter dealer youknow? Can you afford to throw away savings of 57.6 percent? You wouldn’t do this ona car purchase.

At AXEL’s you’ll find all you need for water treatment & filtration. AXEL’s has ahuge selection at rock-bottom prices: That’s why AXEL, the owner, is known as ThunderBay’s FILTERMAN.

AXEL’s has more than 1,000 water filters, pool and spa filters and supplies, as wellas more than 250 UV lights in stock.

For more info and specials see: www.filterman.ca

$59,000 Carfor $25,000?

Would you buy a new

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

Floors must stand up to; or rather lay flat to a regular assault ofstomping feet and elements like water, dirt and oil. The need for dura-bility in the face of such hardship has led us to develop flooring optionssuch as sheet vinyl and laminates that contain an entire arsenal ofchemicals. Urea formaldehyde for example is a toxic Volatile OrganicCompound (VOC) that is widely used in manufacturing and will off-gas after installation.

Green alternatives do exist and will soon be on display atEcoSuperior’s office at 562 Red River Rd. Our first choice is refinishedhardwood. It’s less expensive and generates less waste compared topurchasing new flooring. It’s also durable and aesthetically beautiful.We were very fortunate that several areas of our building offered thisoption.

A second sustainable option is Moso bamboo. Admittedly, the car-bon footprint of shipping it is significant. But one cannot deny the factthat it grows in 5 years, compared to the twenty or more years it takesfor a tree to reach commercial maturity. A few companies have goodlabour relations and an honest FSC certification. Plyboo, which is dis-tributed by Taproot, also passed the strictest California ‘safe forschools’ standard for organic emissions of VOCs (CA 01350).

Cork from Interiors Only in Toronto is another renewable option thatis hypoallergenic and can be harvested every nine years without killingthe tree. Cork also absorbs noise and is said to be more comfortable towalk on. Prices range wildly, from $6 to beyond $20 per square foot for100% cork.

A fourth option that also requires more attention than wood is alinoleum floor such as Marmoleum. It’s essentially a vinyl made of lin-seed oil, pine rosin, cork and wood dust, and fillers on a hemp burlap

backing. Linoleum comes in a wide range of colors and patterns,allowing for more creativity. Star-Lite flooring on Bay Street canbring it in.

Someone looking for a more care-free option should considertiles. Some tiles are made from recycled materials or in an envi-ronmentally responsible way. Habitat for Humanity’sReStore also usually has a good collection of used orleftover tiles to choose from.

Natural rubber is another good low maintenanceoption that also increases the safety of stairs and hightraffic areas. There is also a lot of possibility for cre-ativity. Unfortunately, it is much more expensive thanother options and is hard to find in our area.Johnsonite has “eco-natural” lines that incorporatepost-consumer waste products like walnut shells andcork. Dinoflex is another company that uses recy-cled tires. This company passed tests for air emis-sions, which is a good thing considering many recy-cled tire products contain lots of toxic materials.

Although most of these options are not verycommon in local showrooms, you will be able tosee them all on display and in use soon at EcoSuperior’s office. Our hardwood refinishing pro-ject was completed last week, and installations ofthe other flooring described above will be com-pleted later this spring. Next time you go lookingfor a floor, ask for something that is good for youand the planet.

The Search for Green FlooringBefore

After


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“Serving Northwestern Ontario Since 1984!”

On January 23, 2013 EcoSuperior launched the 2013 Drainage RebateProgram. The program is funded by the City of Thunder Bay and providesfinancial assistance for homeowners within city limits to take flood preven-tion measures including sump pump and drywell installation, backwater pre-vention valves and weeping tile disconnections.

Sump pumps and drywells/leaching pits are used to drain ground water inthe weeping tile around your foundation and send it to a dry well/leaching pitor to the City of Thunder Bay storm sewer system. A backwater valve is adevice that prevents sanitary sewage from flowing into the basement in theevent of a sewer surcharge. Currently within the City of Thunder Bay somehouseholds have weeping tiles which drain directly into the sanitary sewersystem. During major rainfall events weeping tiles connected to the sanitarysewer can contribute additional flows to the wastewater treatment plant. Oneobjective of the rebate programs is to encourage homeowners to disconnectweeping tiles from the sanitary sewer system and direct them to the munici-pal storm sewer system or a drywell/leaching pit.

As of March 31, 2013 the drainage rebate program has received 140 appli-cations with a total value of approximately $170,000.00. These applicationshave been received from many different areas of the city with the majority ofapplications coming from the East End and Northwood areas. It is anticipat-ed that with the advent of warmer weather and construction season that moreapplications will continue to be received.

If you are planning on doing any work eligible for a rebate under the pro-gram, please insure that you get the appropriate City of Thunder Bay per-mits. You will also need to insure that your contractor is willing to partici-pate in the program. Make sure you keep any receipts and forms associatedwith the work as proper documentation is required for your rebate applica-tion.

The application deadline for work completed prior to the January 23, 2013launch of the program but after the May 28th weather event is May 31st,2013. For work completed after January 23rd, the deadline for application tothe Drainage Rebate Program is October 31, 2013. Please contact JamieSaunders, [email protected], 807-264-2658 for further program infor-mation.

Coming EventsApril 14thNorthwest Film Fest presents Chasing Ice4:50pm - Silver City Theatres

April 17thGreen Drinks5:00pm to 7:00pm - Lot 66

April 17thSuperior Renewable EnergyCooperative AGM and Open House6:30pm - Waverley Library

April 19thDetoxing Your Body and Our EconomyBy Dr. Rick Smith7:30pm - Hillcrest Centre for Change

April 20thMother Earth Day Fair1:00pm to 5:00pmBaggage Building, Prince Arthur’s Landing

April 23rdFood Summit9:00am to 4:00pm - RFDA

May 1stSpring Up to Clean Up 20-Minute Makeover10:00am

May 1st to 31stSpring Up to Clean Up

May 25thWildflower and Herbs Plant Sale10:00am to 2:00pm - EcoSuperior

Rebatesfor Homeowners

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