2022 GREEN LEADER
PROGRAM Recipient Announcement
In partnership with Waste Management of Canada and the Town
of Petrolia
April 22, 2022
The Green Leader Program is part of Waste Management and the Town of
Petrolia’s ongoing efforts to encourage the development of local community
engagement and environmental solutions that build sustainable communities. The program
is centered around a grant opportunity that is available to applicants living,
working, and learning in the Town of Petrolia or benefitting Petrolia and its
residents.
Waste Management and the Town of Petrolia are pleased with the number of
businesses, organizations, and institutions that applied for this funding
opportunity in the 2022 intake. The
program is designed to support initiatives that highlight the following sustainability
goals:
Environmental Goal:
- The Green Leader program supports organizations and
initiatives that preserve and/or enhance natural resources
and/or help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Community Goal:
The Green Leader program focuses on local initiatives that support employees, enhance our environment, promote education, and improve the safety and livability of our communities.
Each
year, a committee of community members look over the applications and grade
each application on the above criteria and rank the applications with assigned
dollar value recommendations. There is
an available funding amount of $15,000 available for the projects. Each applicant may request up to $15,000 in program/project funding.
This funding is a one-time, non-repayable, fully funded grant. Applications
are due each year on March 30. Waste
Management and the Town of Petrolia would like to thank our volunteers for
their assistance in the selection of this year’s recipients.
“Earth
Day is the perfect day for this annual announcement as it brings community
attention to the issues facing the earth and through this program, it is a nice
opportunity to do our part. Residents
are encouraged to visit earthday.org to learn more about what they can do for
our planet. We are very grateful for this partnership with Waste Management for
the betterment of our community and for our earth.” Said, Chief Administrative
Officer/Treasurer Rick Charlebois.
2022 Successful Projects:
Hillcrest Public School (School Council) – $5,000
Project Summary
Outdoor gardens and compost stations are elements planned as part of a
larger multi-phase schoolyard beautification project that includes the addition
of outdoor classroom spaces, new playground equipment and a walking path. The vision for the current project is to
create an applied learning environment that provides teachers and students with
a hands-on learning opportunity for select scientific curriculum and to
increase students’ food literacy (i.e., understanding the impact of food
choices on one’s health, environment, and economy).
The funds requested will be used to build 5 garden boxes, create a composting
station in the school yard, in addition to, the purchase of necessary tools to
tend and maintain the gardens (e.g., watering cans, small spades, seeds, stakes
for taller plants, etc.). This will
create a natural field-based learning opportunity for teachers and students for
delivering several science curriculum topics, including “growth and
changes in plants,” “energy in our lives,” “daily and
seasonal changes,” and “soils in the environment.” In
partnership with Hillcrest staff, School Council also plans to develop a food
waste program as part of Hillcrest’s compost system and will utilize funds to
also purchase compost bins for the school.
Working in partnership with the administrative and teaching staff, education
will be delivered alongside the program to increase students’ food
literacy. More specifically, increase
students’ awareness and understanding on how reducing their
“food-print” (e.g., the amount of food they put in the landfill)
helps the environment (e.g., reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which
contributes to the warming of the planet).
The Rotary Club of Petrolia – $5,000
Project Summary
On property owned by the town, just south of their works yard on Centre
Street, last year work was started to prepare some land for a community garden.
This initial phase has been designed with 12 plots available to community
members and groups to utilize on a seasonal basis to grow and harvest fresh
vegetables. Besides citizens that have
applied for a plot, L.C.D.S. will have a plot this year to help support their
clients.
The plan is to erect a shed for the gardeners to store some of their
garden tools, provide a watering system as well as a compost facility for the
site. Soil preparation will be critical
this spring to get things moving in the right direction so investing to topsoil
and compost type materials is on the to do list.
Petrolia Heritage Advisory Committee – Special North Street Cemetery
Project – $2,500
Project Summary
Re-forestation has a big impact on enhancing this natural site, and will
not only beautify the area, but it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and
welcome native trees back to a previously cleared property.
This application is to assist with the re-forestation of the North
Street Heritage Cemetery. This funding would permit the planting of native
trees along the historic roadway at the site.
IODE Margaret Stokes Chapter – $2,500
Project Summary
The plan is to enhance the natural area in Bridgeview Park by adding a
nature trail so that we can be a part of the preservation of the area and
participate in tree planting and other projects that will reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. We will encourage the trail
to be a learning opportunity for area schools with signage also.
We would like to develop or upgrade, and dedicate a trail to the Queen’s
Platinum Jubilee year, running from Bridgeview Park up through the woods to end
at The Petrolia Discovery.
A sign would be placed at the beginning of the trail, and we would like
to include smaller signs throughout the trail to describe some of the history
of the area. A bench would be placed halfway through the trail, as well as
boardwalks where necessary.
Previous Successful Applicants:
2021
The Petrolia Discovery Foundation Inc. – approved for $10,000
The Petrolia and Area Kiwanis Club – approved for $5000
2020
Parents For-Parks – approved for $15,000
St. Clair Conservation Authority – approved for $10,000
The Petrolia and Enniskillen Agricultural Society– approved for $5,000
