Utility marks third year of participation in annual symbolic global event
SIMCOE COUNTY & YORK REGION, ON – PowerStream, the utility which delivers electricity to several communities located immediately north of Toronto and in Central Ontario, is once again asking its customers to join the company in participating with millions of others around the world in Earth Hour, scheduled this year for Saturday, March 27, between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
In addition to turning off the lights at its own work locations in Vaughan, Markham and Barrie during Earth Hour, PowerStream will once again be sponsoring a number of events in its service territory including the Barrie Earth Hour Music Festival and the Woodbridge Earth Hour Lantern Walk.
The Barrie Earth Hour Music Festival, an all ages free concert, will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in downtown Barrie (outside of Barrie City Hall), and will feature a mix of contemporary country and rock music. At 8:30 p.m. sharp the lights will go out and the Earth Hour concert will continue with acoustical performances. The Woodbridge Earth Hour Lantern Walk will begin at 8:30 p.m. from various locations in the community and will end with a celebration at the Woodbridge Pool and Arena.
“PowerStream is pleased to once again be participating in Earth Hour” said Brian Bentz, President and CEO of PowerStream. “It is a symbolic global event that our customers continue to show their support for by reducing their electricity consumption. It is our hope that participation in Earth Hour will serve as a catalyst to promote further efforts in conservation and protecting the environment.”
Earth Hour is a global climate change initiative run by the World Wildlife Fund, which calls on individuals and businesses to turn off non-essential lighting for one hour. The aim of the campaign is to express that individual action on a mass scale can help change our planet for the better.
During last year’s Earth Hour event, between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on March 28, 2009, PowerStream’s System Control reported a service territory-wide 10 percent electricity reduction. The reduction represented a savings of 88.3 megawatts in peak demand, or enough electricity to power 1,471 average-size homes over a 24-hour period.
More information about the Barrie Earth Hour Music Festival, the Woodbridge Earth Hour Lantern Walk and other Earth Hour events across Canada can be found at www.wwf.ca/earthhour.
About PowerStream PowerStream is the second largest municipally-owned electricity distribution company in Ontario, providing service to more than 320,000 customers residing or owning a business in communities located immediately north of Toronto and in Central Ontario. The communities served include Alliston, Aurora, Barrie, Beeton, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Markham, Penetanguishene, Richmond Hill, Thornton, Tottenham and Vaughan. PowerStream is an incorporated entity, jointly owned by the City of Barrie, the City of Vaughan and the Town of Markham.
About Earth Hour Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour. In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.
Friday, February 19, 2010
2009 Shinerama campaign breaks records! Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Students shine the way to success in 45th year of Canada’s largest post-secondary fundraiser
Toronto, Ontario – (February 19, 2010) – Canadian post-secondary students set a new Shinerama record last year by raising more than $990,000 in support of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“We are so excited to have met and surpassed our 2009 fundraising goals – especially in Shinerama’s 45th anniversary year,” said Serena Hartl, National Shinerama Chair. “This is a testament to what can happen when students from coast to coast really come together for a great cause!”
Shinerama is Canada’s largest post-secondary school fundraiser, involving students from more than 65 universities and colleges. The campaign, which began in 1964, has raised nearly $20.6 million in support of Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-funded research and treatment programs.
“We are tremendously grateful to all participants in the 2009 Shinerama campaign,” said Cathleen Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “This has been a huge success, and it could not have happened without the dedication of thousands of high-spirited students across Canada.”
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults. There is no cure. When Shinerama began 45 years ago, most children with cystic fibrosis did not live long enough to attend kindergarten; today half of all Canadians with cystic fibrosis are expected to live into their 40s and beyond.
The CCFF is grateful to schools and volunteers who participated in 2009. Special thanks to the campaign’s generous national sponsors: Best Buy, Breakaway Tours, Domino’s Pizza, Mac’s Convenience Stores Central Division, MuchMusic and studentawards.com.
For more information, visit www.shinerama.ca.
About the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a Canada-wide health charity, with 50 volunteer chapters, that funds cystic fibrosis research and care. In 2010, the Foundation is supporting more than 50 research projects, which are exploring all aspects of the CF puzzle; from investigating new methods of fighting infection and inflammation in the lungs, to finding new therapies that target the basic defect at a cellular level. For more information, visit www.cysticfibrosis.ca.
Toronto, Ontario – (February 19, 2010) – Canadian post-secondary students set a new Shinerama record last year by raising more than $990,000 in support of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“We are so excited to have met and surpassed our 2009 fundraising goals – especially in Shinerama’s 45th anniversary year,” said Serena Hartl, National Shinerama Chair. “This is a testament to what can happen when students from coast to coast really come together for a great cause!”
Shinerama is Canada’s largest post-secondary school fundraiser, involving students from more than 65 universities and colleges. The campaign, which began in 1964, has raised nearly $20.6 million in support of Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-funded research and treatment programs.
“We are tremendously grateful to all participants in the 2009 Shinerama campaign,” said Cathleen Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “This has been a huge success, and it could not have happened without the dedication of thousands of high-spirited students across Canada.”
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults. There is no cure. When Shinerama began 45 years ago, most children with cystic fibrosis did not live long enough to attend kindergarten; today half of all Canadians with cystic fibrosis are expected to live into their 40s and beyond.
The CCFF is grateful to schools and volunteers who participated in 2009. Special thanks to the campaign’s generous national sponsors: Best Buy, Breakaway Tours, Domino’s Pizza, Mac’s Convenience Stores Central Division, MuchMusic and studentawards.com.
For more information, visit www.shinerama.ca.
About the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a Canada-wide health charity, with 50 volunteer chapters, that funds cystic fibrosis research and care. In 2010, the Foundation is supporting more than 50 research projects, which are exploring all aspects of the CF puzzle; from investigating new methods of fighting infection and inflammation in the lungs, to finding new therapies that target the basic defect at a cellular level. For more information, visit www.cysticfibrosis.ca.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
4th annual Rockin’ the House Curling Bonspiel
Breaking Down Barriers Independent Living Resource Centre’s 4th annual Rockin’ the House Curling Bonspiel will take place on Saturday February 27th, 2010 at the Curling Club of Collingwood.
24 teams of curlers of all abilities will compete to win the tournament trophy. The Georgian Bay Breakers Wheelchair curlers will be out to show off their skills. Prizes will be presented for best team name and best team costume. The Marie Banks Memorial Award will be given to the top individual and the top team fundraiser so be sure to pledge your favourite curler now!
Teams will play two ends each and will have a continental breakfast and lunch provided by Boston Pizza. There will be a silent auction and a 50/50 draw. Cost is $50 per person or $200 per team. Curlers of all abilities are welcome.
Twenty teams have registered to date so there are only 4 spots left. The deadline for registration is February 19th, 2010. Contact Breaking Down Barriers at 705-445-1543, ext. 305 or visit their website at www.breakingdownbarriers.org for more information OR to register on-line.
VIP guest will include local mayors and a representative from the office of the Honourable Helena Guergis.
Since 1985, Breaking Down Barriers has been promoting independent living by encouraging community support and active participation of people with disabilities. The funds from this event will support the efforts of Breaking Down Barriers while they continue to provide and expand programs offered to people with disabilities in the Georgian Triangle area.
Please contact Andrea Abbott-Kokosin at 705-445-1543, Ext. 300 if you would like information on sponsorship opportunities for this event.
24 teams of curlers of all abilities will compete to win the tournament trophy. The Georgian Bay Breakers Wheelchair curlers will be out to show off their skills. Prizes will be presented for best team name and best team costume. The Marie Banks Memorial Award will be given to the top individual and the top team fundraiser so be sure to pledge your favourite curler now!
Teams will play two ends each and will have a continental breakfast and lunch provided by Boston Pizza. There will be a silent auction and a 50/50 draw. Cost is $50 per person or $200 per team. Curlers of all abilities are welcome.
Twenty teams have registered to date so there are only 4 spots left. The deadline for registration is February 19th, 2010. Contact Breaking Down Barriers at 705-445-1543, ext. 305 or visit their website at www.breakingdownbarriers.org for more information OR to register on-line.
VIP guest will include local mayors and a representative from the office of the Honourable Helena Guergis.
Since 1985, Breaking Down Barriers has been promoting independent living by encouraging community support and active participation of people with disabilities. The funds from this event will support the efforts of Breaking Down Barriers while they continue to provide and expand programs offered to people with disabilities in the Georgian Triangle area.
Please contact Andrea Abbott-Kokosin at 705-445-1543, Ext. 300 if you would like information on sponsorship opportunities for this event.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
A Canadian Way To Spend Family Day
Canadian hockey fans are boiling with anticipation as Olympic fever takes hold, and this was very evident on Family Day at the Niagara Ball Hockey Club. On Monday, February 15 a few hundred men, women and children came to play some free hockey, cheer on the Canadian Women hockey team and enjoy Canada’s pastime – a little ball hockey.
Rink General Manager Mike Thompson was impressed with the participation, “lots of people came out with the goal of having fun, grandfathers with grandsons, dads taking the time to work on the slapshot with their kids, and a couple of good games of shinny.”
Families enjoyed numerous free activities and including a hardest shot competition hosted by A Television’s Brandon Fitzgibbon and saw a blistering 94 mph by John Wilcox for the men and Amber Randell replied with 52 mph for the women. Thompson saw a lot of passion in the players in attendance and said “I would dare say that we saw a few Sidney Crosbys and a few Hayley Wickenheisers dreaming of the hockey action about to unfold on the International stage in Vancouver, and scoring the winning goal for gold.”
Most guests at the Dunlop and Ferndale street facility also received a ballot to enter a chance to win a family Orlando Theme Park Adventure 4-night package with airfare for (4) valued at over $6,000. The draw will take place on March 8th and there are more ways to get ballots including an upcoming Heart & Stroke Charity tournament this Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 20th & 21st) at the Barrie Ball Hockey Club. There are a few team and individual spots left and interested people should call 721-0198 or visit www.ballhockey.com
Ball Hockey Ontario owns and operates eight rinks in Barrie, Brampton, Hamilton and Niagara locations and entertains members from ages three to 65. Membership annually exceeds 25,000 registrations and ballhockey.com has become the number one website for Ball Hockey in the world.
Rink General Manager Mike Thompson was impressed with the participation, “lots of people came out with the goal of having fun, grandfathers with grandsons, dads taking the time to work on the slapshot with their kids, and a couple of good games of shinny.”
Families enjoyed numerous free activities and including a hardest shot competition hosted by A Television’s Brandon Fitzgibbon and saw a blistering 94 mph by John Wilcox for the men and Amber Randell replied with 52 mph for the women. Thompson saw a lot of passion in the players in attendance and said “I would dare say that we saw a few Sidney Crosbys and a few Hayley Wickenheisers dreaming of the hockey action about to unfold on the International stage in Vancouver, and scoring the winning goal for gold.”
Most guests at the Dunlop and Ferndale street facility also received a ballot to enter a chance to win a family Orlando Theme Park Adventure 4-night package with airfare for (4) valued at over $6,000. The draw will take place on March 8th and there are more ways to get ballots including an upcoming Heart & Stroke Charity tournament this Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 20th & 21st) at the Barrie Ball Hockey Club. There are a few team and individual spots left and interested people should call 721-0198 or visit www.ballhockey.com
Ball Hockey Ontario owns and operates eight rinks in Barrie, Brampton, Hamilton and Niagara locations and entertains members from ages three to 65. Membership annually exceeds 25,000 registrations and ballhockey.com has become the number one website for Ball Hockey in the world.
Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness
Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness Optimistic over New Affordable Housing Units
The County of Simcoe in conjunction with the Federal and Provincial governments has recently announced the creation of 108 new affordable housing units to begin construction in 2010 in Orillia and Angus. “These are steps in the right direction from all levels of governments towards reducing the housing and homelessness crisis in Simcoe County” says Trevor Lester, Chair of the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness. “We are certainly encouraged by these new units and continue to encourage our local political leaders at all levels to advocate for additional units for this area.”
To that end, the County of Simcoe’s Warden Cal Patterson recently directed senior housing personnel “to urge the Province to recognize the significant need in Simcoe County for affordable housing when it is considering future allocations”. “The Alliance is very pleased by Warden Patterson’s continued commitment to affordable housing for our County, he has been a friend of the Alliance as mayor of Wasaga Beach and now we are thankful of his efforts as Warden”.
“As the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness, we are Simcoe focused” continues Lester “and we do recognize that the other municipalities that are experiencing high growth are also dealing with a crisis in housing and homelessness. We are not calling for extra housing in Simcoe County at the expense of other high need areas; we are advocating that all future housing be focused on the parts of the Province that need it most and Simcoe County must be in that category.”
The need for Social Housing originated in 1946 when the Federal Government was challenged to house returning soldiers from World War II and their families. During the following 50 years, public and social housing was developed, funded by the Federal and Provincial governments. In 2002 the responsibility for social housing was transferred to the municipalities from the Provincial government.
“The problem of transferring social housing to the municipalities is that housing in almost all other major countries is a federal program. Canada is the only major country without a national housing strategy. The creation of additional housing being borne by property taxes alone is unrealistic” says Lester. “We need the Federal and Provincial governments to continue to contribute the capital funds to add more needed housing for low income families. We join with Warden Patterson in the call for future funding to be provided to the areas of highest need – and we certainly list Simcoe County as a high need area.”
Sheila Storey, Executive Director of Shelter Now in Midland echoes that need. “We opened the doors to our 20 unit transitional housing complex in July. We are now full to capacity and all of our programs are working well as we hoped but the hardest part is still to find affordable housing for our clients to move into once they leave the program”.
The County of Simcoe in conjunction with the Federal and Provincial governments has recently announced the creation of 108 new affordable housing units to begin construction in 2010 in Orillia and Angus. “These are steps in the right direction from all levels of governments towards reducing the housing and homelessness crisis in Simcoe County” says Trevor Lester, Chair of the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness. “We are certainly encouraged by these new units and continue to encourage our local political leaders at all levels to advocate for additional units for this area.”
To that end, the County of Simcoe’s Warden Cal Patterson recently directed senior housing personnel “to urge the Province to recognize the significant need in Simcoe County for affordable housing when it is considering future allocations”. “The Alliance is very pleased by Warden Patterson’s continued commitment to affordable housing for our County, he has been a friend of the Alliance as mayor of Wasaga Beach and now we are thankful of his efforts as Warden”.
“As the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness, we are Simcoe focused” continues Lester “and we do recognize that the other municipalities that are experiencing high growth are also dealing with a crisis in housing and homelessness. We are not calling for extra housing in Simcoe County at the expense of other high need areas; we are advocating that all future housing be focused on the parts of the Province that need it most and Simcoe County must be in that category.”
The need for Social Housing originated in 1946 when the Federal Government was challenged to house returning soldiers from World War II and their families. During the following 50 years, public and social housing was developed, funded by the Federal and Provincial governments. In 2002 the responsibility for social housing was transferred to the municipalities from the Provincial government.
“The problem of transferring social housing to the municipalities is that housing in almost all other major countries is a federal program. Canada is the only major country without a national housing strategy. The creation of additional housing being borne by property taxes alone is unrealistic” says Lester. “We need the Federal and Provincial governments to continue to contribute the capital funds to add more needed housing for low income families. We join with Warden Patterson in the call for future funding to be provided to the areas of highest need – and we certainly list Simcoe County as a high need area.”
Sheila Storey, Executive Director of Shelter Now in Midland echoes that need. “We opened the doors to our 20 unit transitional housing complex in July. We are now full to capacity and all of our programs are working well as we hoped but the hardest part is still to find affordable housing for our clients to move into once they leave the program”.
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