THE RURBAN FRINGE

Calling All Canadian Communities!

Does an initiative in your community merit national recognition? 
The 2011 FCM Sustainable Community Awards celebrate excellence in sustainable community development by highlighting the best municipal initiatives that link environmental, social and economic goals. 
Eligible initiatives include municipally-led sustainable development programs and projects. 
Municipalities of all sizes, from all provinces and territories are encouraged to apply.  Awards will [...]

Village of Gold River Creates YouTube Video in Bid for Energy-From-Waste Plant

Residents of the Vancouver Island community of Gold River have put their overwhelming support for a proposed energy-from-waste facility into a video on YouTube. 

The video, along with a Letter of Support signed by 318 village residents over a three-day period last week, requests that the Board of Metro Vancouver and BC’s Minister of Environment, Barry [...]

Green Streets Program Funding Open!

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation has just announced a new partnership with Tree Canada that includes title sponsorship of its Green Streets program over the next three years.
“Green Streets is the only national tree program that works with communities, and it fits perfectly with our goal to preserve and enhance the environment at a grassroots level,” [...]

Wind Turbines Not a Health Risk

Whew.  And here I was lying awake at night thinking about those giant, wicked wind turbines … evilly whirring away, plotting humanity’s downfall.
But seriously, though, an international panel of health experts has released a report based on a review of a large body of scientific literature on sound and health effects, and specifically with regard to sound [...]

‘Tidy Towns’ Initiative Encourages More Than Neatness

In an effort to foster environmental responsibility, civic pride, and community beautification, Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) developed a unique initiative for communities large and small:  Tidy Towns.
Tidy Towns is a competition.  Yet whether a community wins or loses, the benefits of being involved far outweigh any short-term glory. 
“By promoting clean, ecologically sound, heritage-aware communities, Tidy Towns [...]

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