Author: nlened

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-NL partnership with National Geographic Will Lead to Development of Geotourism Guide
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Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-NL partnership with National Geographic Will Lead to Development of Geotourism Guide

(Photo: Creative commons - flickr.com/spoon mushroom)

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter (CPAWS-NL), will develop a MapGuide of the province’s eastern region with an investment of $102,388 from the Provincial Government. The project, in partnership with National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Tourism, will create a geotourism website and companion hardcopy booklet.

Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place, its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. It encompasses adventure and nature-based travel, eco- and agri-tourism, cultural and heritage travel.

“Geotourism is a growing sector that holds tremendous economic potential for the development and expansion of new and existing sustainable tourism products and experiences in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. “This project will further highlight our abundant cultural and natural attributes while spotlighting businesses and sites that subscribe to the principles of geotourism.”

This initiative will build on the eastern region’s tourism sector, which has received international recognition for its contribution and sustainability. In 2010, National Geographic’s Traveler magazine rated the Avalon Peninsula as the top coastal destination in the world citing the balanced approach taken in developing the tourism industry while maintaining the province’s natural and cultural integrity.

“Geotourism is an essential component of the growth and development of the overall tourism strategy in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. “This partnership will further promote our great province and add to the economy of the region.”

CPAWS is a national non-profit charitable conservation group working to protect Canada’s wild ecosystems in parks, wilderness and similar natural areas, in order to preserve the full diversity of habitats and their species. The Newfoundland and Labrador chapter was formed in 2003 and currently has over 150 members and volunteers throughout the province.

“The Geotourism MapGuide will celebrate the area’s abundant scenic, cultural and historical attributes and attract visitors seeking authentic travel experiences,” said Suzanne Dooley, Co-Executive Director of CPAWS-NL. “It will generate a printed MapGuide and an interactive website to promote and enhance the region’s natural, cultural and historical attractions to draw visitors seeking authentic travel experiences as well as encourage a sense of pride in local communities.”

Tanya Edwards, Co-Executive Director of CPAWS-NL echoed her colleague’s enthusiasm regarding the value of the initiative.

“This project addresses the need to preserve the region’s cultural and environmental assets while stimulating economic development in rural communities,” said Ms. Edwards. “Residents of the region will provide information for the online and print MapGuides during a three-month nomination period to begin late September.”

This initiative was funded through the Regional/Sectoral Diversification Fund. This program through Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador has $5 million available for investment. Administered by the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, the program provides non-repayable contributions to economic development agencies for initiatives that address regional and sectoral development and diversification.

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Rennies River Duck Race

23rd Annual RBC Rennie’s River Duck Race!

 

Join in this St. John’s tradition and sponsor a Duck for just $10!

Then On September 25th, join the festivities and cheer on your duck as it dives off the Stephen Hearder Bridge and races to finish line at King’s Bridge Road!

The first three ducks ‘across the line’ win prizes for their sponsors!

This year the RBC Rennie’s River Duck Race Prizes is offering the opportunity for you to treat yourself…to a family trip for 4 to Western Newfoundland!

1st Prize – Win a trip to Western Newfoundland – Flights compliments of Provincial Airlines, Accommodations, and Family activities

2nd Prize – Limited Edition Print – “Fourteen Racers” – Randy Dawe Photography & Framing

3rd Prize – RBC Blue Water Visa Gift Card- $250.00

Tickets are available at your local RBC branch and at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium.

Call them today to Sponsor your Duck!  709-754-3474

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Regional Student Organizer (Volunteer):Inside the Bottle Regional Student Organizer Internship (5 regional positions available)

[From http://www.polarisinstitute.org]

Campaigns/Organizing Job Description: For more than 6 years, the Polaris Institute has worked in collaboration with labour, environmental, youth and social justice groups, on a multi-year campaign to build support for our public water systems and challenge the social and environmental impacts of bottled water [see our site http://www.insidethebottle.org]. The Inside the Bottle campaign has provided tools and services such as, corporate research, rapid response analysis and web-based actions, to municipal governments, university/college campuses, high schools and community water groups. Campuses are running campaigns to urge their administrations to end the sale of bottled water on campus and provide more access to tap water for students. Students are playing a critical role in Canada and already 13 campuses have committed to ditch-the-bottle and back-the-TAP!

In this internship program, interns will take on significant projects to advance the Inside the Bottle campaign by building a team of activists on their own campus and in their region. Regional organizers will work in their targeted region with remote support from Polaris Institute’s Campaigns Coordinator in Ottawa. Organizers will develop water programs and targets while simultaneously coordinating and working with other student leaders on campuses in their region. The internship will include direct skills trainings on grassroots campaign planning, strategy, and tactics, student outreach, and advocacy.

For full job description please visit:

http://www.polarisinstitute.org/regional_student_organizer_volunteercoordinatrice_%C3%A9tudiante_r%C3%A9gionale_b%C3%A9n%C3%A9vole

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Rennie's River Duck Race Fundraiser – Rennie's River Development Foundation

Now in its 23nd Year, Quidi Vidi / Rennie’s River Development Foundation Annual Fundraiser – The RBC Rennie’s River Duck Race –was launched at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium on Thursday, July 28th, 2011. An annual tradition each September, Rennie’s River in St. John’s, is the scene of  3,600 yellow rubber ducks ‘racing’ their way down the river to the finish line on Kings Bridge Road. The first three ducks ‘across the line’ win prizes for their sponsors! This year the RBC Rennie’s River Duck Race Prizes is offering the opportunity for you to treat yourself…to a family trip for 4 to Western Newfoundland!

1st Prize – Win a trip to Western Newfoundland – Flights compliments of Provincial Airlines, Accommodations, and Family activities

2Nd Prize – Limited Edition Print – “Fourteen Racers” – Randy Dawe Photography & Framing

3rd Prize – RBC Blue Water Visa Gift Card- $250.00

Ducks can be sponsored for only $10.00, with tickets available at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium and all RBC Branches in the St. John’s Area.
Call 722- 3825 today for your duck!

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Youth Leadership Training with Canadian Youth and the GO Project

Time: 10:00p – 2:30p, Friday, July 29, 2011
Location:  St. Paul’s Church, Robin Hood Bay, St. Philip’s Beach
Description:    MI Ocean Net will be hosting a special event with the ‘GO Project’ and youth from across Canada on Friday, Jul29.11.  The day will start with a motivating and empowering discussion on some truths about sustainability, followed by a guided tour of the Robin Hood Bay facilities, and finishing the day with a cleanup of St. Philip’s Beach.  MI Ocean Net volunteers are invited to join in the beach cleanup at 12:30p, Friday, July 29 on St. Philip’s beach.  Bring some friends, join us on your lunch break, and we’ll help make a difference TOGETHER!

Schedule:

10:00a:  MI Ocean Net’s empowering “Our Wake Up Call” slideshow and discussion

11:15a:   Guided tour of Robin Hood Bay facilities

12:30p:  Cleanup of St. Philip’s Beach

 

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Three Cheers for Composting

As part of the 3rd annual Seeds to Supper Folk Life Festival several events are taking place throughout the month of August hosted by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Name of Event: Three Cheers for Composting!
Date: August 20th, 2011
Start Time: 10:30am
End Time:11:30am
Cost: Free
Location: MUN Botanical Gardens Mount Scio Road.
Website: www.mun.ca/botgarden
Contact Name: Anne Madden
Contact Email: bgprograms@mun.ca
Description of event: Growing healthy plants, including our food, starts with healthy soil. At MUN Botanical Garden we make our own – with fabulous results. All organic material (anything produced by a living organism) is recycled through a combination of natural biological and chemical processes. When we compost, we utilize natural processes. This presentation will introduce the practical steps of starting composting, indoors and out. The indoor presentation will be followed by a short walk in the garden to view some compost bins.

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The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador – Root Cellar Project

Root Cellars of Newfoundland and Labrador
Do you know where there is a root cellar, somewhere in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Map it! You’ll need to be logged in to your Google account to add a spot on the map. If possible, we’ll visit your root cellar in person and add it to the digital root cellar we are building as part of Memorial University’s Digital Archive Initiative. Got a memory about a root cellar that no longer exists? Map that too!

Rules are simple:

* Root cellars only
* Don’t move other people’s pins
* Don’t be a jerk

We’ll delete anything that we feel doesn’t fit.

Hit the “Edit” button, which should be visible if you are logged in to your Google Account. Select the blue pin from the menu. Stick it where your root cellar is (or was) and tell us about it.

To join the project visit : http://tinyurl.com/rootcellarmap
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Fundraiser: Salmon and Trout Restoration Association of Conception Bay Central Inc

Salmon and Trout Restoration Association of Conception Bay Central Inc (STRACC) has partnered with The Town of Holyrood and SAEN.org for STRACC’s 2011 major project.  The North Arm River Project is underway with the support and hard work of STRACC’s Conservation Corps Green Team and SWASP placements who are again this year doing the site preparation of the walking trail, picnic sites and the area where STRACC will construct the 2nd Outdoor Classroom/Interpretive Center.

To finance such projects in addition to STRACC’s monthly clean up/tree/reed planting projects, education programs such as the Fish Friends salmon hatching project recently completed at Roncalli Central High STRACC has launched our 3rd annual Gov. NL Licensed Lottery. STRACC has printed 5000 tickets under license # 11-10154200LT, tickets are $5 each, 1st prize is $2500, 2nd prize is $1000 and the 3rd prize is $500 with all proceeds going toward project/program undertaken by this entirely volunteer staffed non profit group.

To get your tickets email them at  straccgroup@live.ca or call Arch @ 229-6686

Cosmetic pesticide ban coming in 2012
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Cosmetic pesticide ban coming in 2012

As of 2012, Newfoundland and Labrador will join the maritime provinces, Quebec and Ontario in banning the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides. That announcement was made last Thursday by Environment and Conservation Minister Ross Wiseman, following many years of dedicated activism by a number of concerned citizens and organisations.

Most recently, efforts by NLEN member organisation the Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides–NL, served to highlight the unnecessary environmental and human health risks posed by cosmetic pesticide use, and rally public support for a ban.

Cosmetic pesticide use will continue for the remainder of the 2011 spray season. For residents of the Northeast Avalon region, please consult or subscribe to the daily Spray Advisory to learn if weather conditions permit spraying, and to gather tips on how to care for your lawn using natural techniques.

Read news release from the Department of Environment and Conservation: Ban Implemented on Cosmetic Pesticides for Lawn Care

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Evergreen Recycling Card

Have you heard about the Ever Green Recycling Card? It’s recycling made easy, and it’s FREE!

If you live in the St. John’s area the Ever Green Recycling Card allows cardholders to skip lineups at Ever Green depots and track earnings online on Ever Green’s website, www.greencan.ca.

Pick up your free card at any 4 Ever Green locations: Blackmarsh Road, Torbay Road, Cowan Avenue or Elizabeth Avenue. Once you obtain a card, it must be registered on www.greencan.ca. In 3 simple steps, your card will be ready to use immediately!

Swipe you card at the depot and place bar coded stickers on each of your bags. You will be in and out in 15 seconds! Within 24 hours, your money will be deposited into your online account. Once a minimum balance of $50 is reach, you can request to have a check mailed to you or you can pick it up at main office located on Blackmarsh Road.

The Recycling Card is just that simple! Sign up today & follow Ever Green Environmental on Facebook and Twitter.