Hometown heroes sought
The Hometown Heroes Award Program was established in 2004 by Earth Day Canada (EDC) and recognizes and celebrates environmental leaders who foster meaningful long-term community awareness and action.
Individual Hometown Heroes can win a cash prize of $10,000 to donate to a local environmental group or cause of their choice. Group Hometown Heroes can win a cash prize of $10,000 to support their work. Small Business Hometown Heroes can win a cash prize of $5,000 which must be used by the business to make an operational change that results in the business lessening their environmental impact. The winning business will also have permission from EDC to use the award and EDC logo for one year to help market and promote the business or an approved product.
Hometown Heroes nominations must be received by April 1. To nominate someone go to www.earthday.ca/hometown/en/index.php.
Leaders wanted for trip of a lifetime
The Rivershed Society of B.C. is looking for environmental leaders between the ages of 19 and 35 who are up for a challenge. They are currently accepting application for the 2013 Sustainable Living Leadership Program (SLLP), a three-week field course spanning the length of the Fraser River from headwaters to ocean.
The program will take place from Aug. 1 to 25. Participants will journey 1,400 kilometres by canoe, raft, van and on foot from the Fraser’s headwaters near Valemount to where it meets the shores of Vancouver.
Now in its tenth year the program allows participants to hike through 2,000-year-old ancient cedar groves, paddle through the Robson Valley and ride white water rapids in the Fraser canyon. Traditional First Nations fisheries will be observed, working organic farms will be visited, and the impacts of urban and industrial development on salmon habitat will be examined.
“There is no better way to learn about sustainability than to travel along the river, seeing first hand how the issues affect Fraser River communities,” says Fin Donnelly, the program founder and Member of Parliament for New Westminster-Coquitlam and Port Moody.
People with an interest in sustainability or community development are encouraged to apply. Participants must be 19 years of age or older and physically fit. Community volunteer experience is an asset. Application deadline is May 31. For more information or to apply visit www.rivershed.com.
