Halton Region announces climate change champion contest winner

Last February, Halton Region kicked off its air quality health promotion program for 2011 by asking residents to describe why they were climate change champions. The submissions have been judged and the winners selected.

“Congratulations to our Grand Prize winners,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “Brenda and Blake Poland have definitely taken steps to reduce their impact on the environment. Through initiatives such as this campaign, our air quality program, waste management diversion efforts, corporate initiatives to reduce energy consumption and other related programs, Halton Region is also addressing the issue head on to ensure that Halton is sustainable for residents today and in the future.”

As contest winners, the Polands will have the opportunity to star in a Climate Change Champion video, the fifth in a series, which will be aired on Daily WebTV later this fall. The grand prize package also included a Home Energy Assessment, an Energy Efficiency Home Starter Kit, a Halton Hikes Trail Guide and Pedometer, a Family Pass to the Halton Region Museum, a copy of the 20/20 Home Energy Planner and a copy of the children’s book A Farewell to Featherwagons.

“With this integrated communications campaign, our intent is to engage residents in climate change action and encourage them to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint—promoting an understanding of the connection between air, climate and human health,” explained Dr. Bob Nosal, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “The Polands understand this connection well and have come up with more than 55 ways to cut their energy consumption at home and on the road.”

Halton’s campaign supports the Region’s priority to report and assess the impacts of air pollution on human health in the region. It includes four short videos which aired on Daily Web TV this spring – Energy Reduction at Home, Energy Reduction on the Road, Active Transportation, and Air Quality and Your Health – that all featured climate change champions employed by the Region. The Grand Prize winning entry video will be the first to feature a member of the community.

“We have been concerned about climate change for years and have been taking many steps to reduce our carbon footprint and energy use,” said Mr. Poland. “I look forward to sharing our experience with others.”

Brenda Taggart from Burlington and Deanne Mousseau from Oakville were the secondary prize winners. They each received a prize package including a Home Energy Assessment, Halton Hikes Trail Guide, Family Pass to the Halton Region Museum, and a copy of the 20/20 Home Energy Planner.

In addition to education and awareness, Halton Region’s air quality program includes airshed modeling, air monitoring, policy development and planning application reviews. Visit www.halton.ca/airquality to learn more about the campaign, watch the climate change champion video series and learn how saving energy is good for air quality, your health and the climate, or dial 311, 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-442-5866 or TTY 905-827-9833.

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