Esquimalt Sustainability Update

Esquimalt is participating in two environmental initiatives:

1. Bike to Work Week: May 30 - June 5, 2011

2. Plastic Bag Free Initiative

1. Bike to Work Week: May 30 - June 5, 2011

Bike to Work Victoria's annual celebration begins on Monday and continues all throughout the week. The event highlight is riding up to a Bike to Work Week Celebration Station (Map) for some treats to fuel your ride and for a chance to win prizes. Visit the Celebration Station in Esquimalt Memorial Park onTuesday, May 31, 2011 from 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm (across the street from the Municipal Hall). B2WW Victoria is still looking for a few volunteers at the Esquimalt Station, if you are interested please contact: marsha@biketowork.ca.

For more information on Bike to Work Week, please visit: http://www.biketowork.ca/victoria/btww

2. Plastic Bag Free Initiative

The Township of Esquimalt is pursuing an initiative to make itself a plastic bag free community. The Township is developing a marketing campaign to increase resident and local business participation, as well as highlighting Esquimalt’s position as a progressive, environmentally responsible community.

The plastic bag free campaign is being developed by a group of Royal Roads University students in Environmental Science as a major project. In order for them to determine the best possible message to deliver to residents and businesses, it is important to first understand the consumption habits specific to Esquimalt.

Online Survey
Click here to take our short questionnaire on plastic shopping bags

Local Business Input
Local business are invited to attend a business information session to provide input on the development of the campaign.

A presentation, followed by further discussion, will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2011, beginning at 7 pm at the Esquimalt Municipal Hall.

Beginning June 3, 2011, businesses who are unable to attend the session can view the presentation and submit an input form online at www.esquimalt.ca/plasticbagfree

For more information, please contact:
Marlene Lagoa

Sustainability Coordinator
Township of Esquimalt

vote for veggies!

Climate change demands creative solutions. As a way to support education and action on reducing food-related GHG emissions in the capital region, the CRD Climate Action Program has partnered with Lifecycles Project Society to apply for a $25,000 grant from the Keg Steakhouse. If successful, this project will build 5 new school community gardens, launch a food and climate change educational campaign, and give away 500 vegetable seedlings to households in the region. Both omnivores and vegetarians can support this exciting project – and we need your help to win!

This grant is based on popularity. Help show the Keg that citizens in the capital region have an appetite for action! Once you register an email address, you can vote for our project once a day between now and June 14, 2011. Feel free to circulate this note to interested colleagues and neighbours who would cast a ballot for this important project.

Visit http://www.thekegthanksamillion.com/en/phase2/projects/show/p/539

Help us plant the seed to a low-carbon future... it only takes a minute and the impacts will last a lifetime.

Educational forum on Sewage Treatment Plant

Dear Residents of Esquimalt,

As many of you know, the Capital Regional District is planning to locate the CRD's Sewage Treatment Plant at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt.

This is a very controversial plan as many experts view it as severely short-sighted and inadequate, financially irresponsible and a mismanagement of tax dollars, as well as more harmful than helpful to our environment and the natural beauty of our scenic harbour. For your calendar notes next week, please know that you are encouraged to attend an important and informative community forum on CRD Sewage Treatment co-hosted by the Esquimalt Residents Association and other community groups from across Greater Victoria.

The details are:

Educational Forum: “Understanding Wastewater Management in Victoria – Do we have the RIGHT plan?”

Forum Details: 7-9 pm, Thursday May 26, 2011 at SJ Willis High School Auditorium, 923 Topaz Ave., Victoria. More info is available at: http://www.smartsewage.webs.com

Please attend and ensure your voice is heard!

Tim Morrison,

Co-Chair, Esquimalt Residents Association

beds are available

We have built 5 beds last weekend. 3 more beds to go, and we are just waiting for our soil delivery. Contact us if you are interested in helping out..

10 easy tips to reduce food waste

This is a great check list to reduce food waste. Click for the website here.

Harvesting, Storing, and Cycling H2O in your Garden workshop

Harvesting, Storing, and Cycling H2O in your Garden

With Geoff Johnson.

Location : Fairfield Community Association, 1330 Fairfield Road, in the portable

Details: 2 pm - 4 pm, $20

Despite their many ecological benefits, home food gardens can be thirsty places. However, with good ecological design water conservation and food production need not conflict. In this class we’ll look at how to use a combination of practical approaches and methods to reduce your garden’s demand for water while increasing it’s on-site supply.

RVSP to uahub@lifecyclesproject.ca.