Mohawk Racetrack to Host Special Waste Drop-off Day

Mohawk Racetrack to Host Halton Waste Management Services "Special Waste Drop-off Day"

Once again Mohawk Racetrack will be hosting the Halton Waste Management Services "Special Waste Drop-off Day" on Saturday, October 23rd from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Holtz Environmental Services Ltd. will be set up and operate a temporary Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Depo and Toronto Recycling Inc. will be accepting electronic equipment such as televisions, computer monitors, computers, printers, stereos, VCRs and many other electronic materials for recycling.

The event will be open to the public from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Mohawk Racetrack is located on Guelph Line just north of Hwy.401.

Partners in Project Green Establishes Sustainable Hospitality Consortium

Partners in Project Green Establishes Sustainable Hospitality Consortium
-Six Leaders in Toronto’s Hospitality Sector Work Together to Find Sustainable Solutions -

(TORONTO – August 11) Partners in Project Green (PPG), an initiative led by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), has established a new Sustainable Hospitality Consortium. This is the first of its kind in the GTA. The Partners in Project Green Sustainable Hospitality Consortium is a facilitated team of organizations in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone that are committed to attaining World Class Environmental Sustainability Performance. A survey by the Hotel Association of Canada this year showed an increasing awareness of environmental issues among hotel guests and an increased importance to the promotion of eco-friendly practices to their guests. The hospitality sector in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone, 12,000 hectares in the Greater Toronto Area that includes the entire Toronto Pearson International Airport as well as portions of the Region of Peel, City of Toronto, City of Mississauga and City of Brampton, had a total energy consumption of 2,505,000 GJ in 2008. Members of the Hospitality Consortium are striving to reduce their consumption by leveraging each other’s strengths through sharing, learning and improving to achieve accelerated results in their sustainability programs.

Toby Lennox, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority stated that “The hospitality sector is an important and long-standing employer in the Pearson Eco-Business zone. This resource group will bring together hospitality companies to share best practices, learn from each other and drive down costs while accelerating sustainability initiatives for employers such as hotels and others in this sector located in the vicinity.” Mr. Lennox added, “The Partners in Project Green Sustainable Hospitality Consortium is another great example of how the Pearson Eco Business zone is creating a competitive advantage for business through collaboration with the surrounding community.”

Members of the Partners in Project Green Sustainable Hospitality Consortium are committed to environmental sustainability for their organization. Members include: the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Delta Toronto Airport West, Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Airport, International Centre, Sandalwood Suites Hotel Toronto Airport and Woodbine Entertainment Group.

"Woodbine Entertainment Group is committed to environmental sustainability throughout its operations,” said Jane Holmes, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Woodbine Entertainment Group, Founding Business Partner and Ambassador of Partners in Project Green. “The PPG Sustainable Hospitality Consortium facilitates dialogue between like minded hospitality operators to share and develop best practices for our industry."

Each member of the consortium will have full ownership over the direction of the consortium through the creation of a vision and an annual strategic plan, while all administration for the team is the responsibility of Partners in Project Green. Sharing, learning and improving are facilitated through consortium events, individual member company coaching days, and facility assessments. Membership privileges include sustainability diagnostic for measurement and development of individual members, access to the High Performance Consortium Network (a national network) and access to specialized resources.
“The International Centre is committed to ‘greening’ our business and working with others to share resources and best practices,” said Michael Prescott, CEO, International Centre. “The PPG Sustainable Hospitality Consortium was conceived by our Director of Operations and Sustainability, Trevor Lui, who is engaging our partners in the community to ensure that the Pearson Eco-Business Zone receives international recognition.”

Each member of the PPG Sustainable Hospitality Consortium are already leaders in their sector when it comes to striving to be green and have accomplished the following:

o Between 2004 and 2008 the Greater Toronto Airports Authority saved approximately $13 million on electricity and $730,000 on heating and cooling through various energy saving initiatives

o The Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Airport is on track to become Canada’s first LEED Certified Hotel, which sets it as a flagship leader in green building

o The International Centre has implemented a vigorous Sustainability Program, and works with Ontario farmers to provide local food options for events

o Delta Toronto Airport West has successfully achieved a 4 key rating under the Hotel Association of Canada's Green Key Eco-Rating Program which is a direct result of the hotel's commitment to sustainability through its recycling and energy savings programs


o Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) has aggressive energy management practices in place, which included a $2 million dollar retrofit of their boiler systems, resulting in savings of approximately $500, 000 every year, and WEG was awarded the Recycling Council of Ontario’s Gold Minimization Award in 2009 for its commitment to sustainability

o Sandalwood Suites Toronto Airport has partnered with LiveClean to calculate their carbon footprint, find ways to reduce that footprint, and offset what they can't avoid


About Partners in Project Green
Partners in Project Green, an initiative led by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, is a growing community of businesses working together to green their bottom line by creating an internationally-recognized Eco-Business Zone around Toronto Pearson. Through new forms of business-to-business collaboration, Partners in Project Green delivers programming that helps businesses reduce energy and resource costs, uncover new business opportunities, and address everyday operational challenges in a green and cost-effective manner. For more information, visit www.partnersinprojectgreen.com

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Media contacts for information and registration:
Rowena Calpito, Supervisor, Media Management, Toronto and Region Conservation
Tel: 416-661-6600 ext 5632, Mobile: 416-358-3446 E-mail: rcalpito@trca.on.ca

Clyde lights the way at Woodbine

TORONTO, July 5 – In keeping with their commitment to environmental sustainability initiatives, Woodbine Entertainment Group today announced the installation of Clyde, a sustainable, solar and wind-powered hybrid LED light pole, at Woodbine.

Part of a pilot project, Clyde, one of a number of the Sustainable initiatives of Perennial Solutions Inc., stands just on the outer edge of the Woodbine employee parking entrance, an optimal spot for people to view the pole.

A commemorative plaque is displayed on the pole to show passersby of its significance.

The purpose of the project is for WEG to investigate the use of alternative energy sources and to realize its commitment of reducing our energy consumption from traditional sources.

John Marhong, Director, Infrastructure and Energy Efficiencies, with WEG, notes projects like this are pivotal for WEG in recognizing that long-term economic sustainability is dependent on working closely with its partners.
"WEG is committed to investigating and testing innovative solutions, and to implement proven technologies to realize it corporate sustainability objectives,” said Marhong. “The objective is to not only to reduce WEG's carbon footprint, but to maintain a state-of-the-art operating facility."

Armando Cappuccitti, President of Perennial Solutions Inc., (PSI) is proud to be associated with WEG and their willingness to embrace projects such as this.

“At PSI we realize that forward thinking sustainable solutions can be operationally effective as well as cost efficient. Clyde is a shining beacon announcing to the world that WEG is leading the way in this truly sustainable initiative of harnessing the power of the sun and wind.”

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Milton's Chris Hadfield Public School Unveils The Stream of Dreams

Under a bright sunny sky the students and faculty unveiled Chris Hadfield Public School's "Stream of Dreams" mural last week.

The mural is meant to raise awareness for the need to protect watersheds and fish habitat and will also leave a lasting environmental legacy on the school’s culture.

The students painted a thank you card to everyone who helped to make the project a reality.

Woodbine Entertainment Group provided the funds to help pay for paint and supplies.

For more information on Stream of Dreams projects go to http://www.streamofdreams.org/index.php?pgid=1

Bet On Green

MILTON, May 15 – Horse racing greats Sandy Hawley and Mark MacDonald made a winning appearance at the Trashfusion Design Contest and Community Expo Tour on Saturday, May 15 at the Milton Mall. Fans had the opportunity to meet and speak with legendary rider, Sandy Hawley who signed copies of his book, Ride of A Lifetime, and Canadian Driver of the Year Mark MacDonald who was also on hand to sign autographs.

WEG takes their fashion for (eco) passion to the Community Expo Tour

Key horse racing personalities will be at the Trashfusion Design Contest and Community Expo Tour on Saturday, May 15th at the Milton Mall.

Green businesses and organizations from Milton and beyond will be on hand to provide lifestyle options for citizens of Milton and its surrounding communities to focus on steps to “greener” living through education, sharing and discovery.

“Woodbine Entertainment Group is a leader in the horse racing industry and is striving to be a leader in green sustainability” said Jane Holmes, Woodbine Entertainment Group’s (WEG) Vice President of Corporate Affairs.

WEG will have a display booth set up from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. to promote its on-going commitment to environmental sustainability.

Fans will also have an opportunity to meet and speak with legendary rider, Sandy Hawley, who will sign copies of his book, Ride of a Lifetime from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Canadian Driver of the Year, Mark MacDonald¸ will also be on hand from 10:00 am to 11:00 am for autographs.

Local artists, groups and fashion designers will provide a unique portrayal of the use of recycled materials as they take a thought-provoking and artistic approach to saving our planet. A fully produced runway show, open to all artists, designers and community members, gets underway at 2:00 pm.

Mohawk Racetrack Employees Join Spring Clean Up

Employees from Mohawk Racetrack rolled up their sleeves in support of today's Nassagaweya Clean Up. The country roads surrounding the Village of Campbellville and Mohawk Racetrack are litter free thanks to the hard work of the many volunteers who came out in support of this annual event.



Photo courtesy of Michael Burns Photography