Lonny Balbi, Q.C., is an avid cyclist, noted humanitarian and environmental sustainability advocate. It was these three passions that led him to create Calgary’s most recognizable cycling-themed environmental support event, Bike to Work Day. As the founder and inspirational leader of this annual event, Mr. Balbi devotes countless hours of his own time, as well as the resources of Balbi & Company Legal Centre, the law practice he …
The Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce
The Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce is Alberta’s first net-zero commercial office building, which opened in the Edmonton community of Summerside in February 2015. Since then, it has been dubbed Edmonton’s “crown jewel” of sustainable construction, as well as a model of a triple bottom line commercial building – capturing the essence of sustainability by measuring its impact on the world in three parts: profitability, social/human, …
Root For Trees
Root for Trees, an enhanced tree planting program, works to preserve and expand Edmonton’s urban forest through partnerships with corporations, community groups, and individual residents. Edmontonians are invited to participate in tree-planting events where they are provided with all the materials required for an exciting and educational day in nature. Volunteer groups involved in planting events create and enhance the vegetation cover throughout parks, along roadways, and in …
Alberta Conservation Association
This year, Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) celebrates 20 years of conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife populations and their habitat for Albertans to value, enjoy and use. While the core of their work in fisheries, wildlife and land has remained consistent, how they do their work has evolved over their two decades – from adopting drones and solar-powered off-site watering technologies to building positive long-term partnerships with …
Muttart Conservatory Rain Water Harvesting for Irrigation and Plant Health
The Rainwater Harvesting Project endeavors to raise awareness and build credibility relating to plant irrigation. Showcased at the Muttart Conservatory, harvested rainwater is stored in cisterns under ebb and flow tables for the purpose of indoor irrigation to greenhouses and public gardens. The outcomes support the City of Edmonton’s strategy to reduce potable water demand and runoff from buildings and hard surfaces. In 2016, Muttart Conservatory cisterns received …
Leaving the Land the Way You Found It
Katch Kan emerged in 1994 in response to the environmental challenges in the energy sector. Its Rig Safety System and Zero Spill System assists sustainable development by protecting and preserving the land, water, and personnel in the oil and gas industry. These innovative systems work together to optimize the health and safety of those involved in upstream oil and gas projects while minimizing pollution and maximizing operational results. …
Recycling Without Limits
In 1995, the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta (CPAA) established a clothing donation program to generate revenues that would provide funding support for the valuable services offered to its members. Through a partnership with Value Village, donations of gently used clothing and small household items dropped off at bins placed around the community are exchanged for revenue. In 2008, that partnership was expanded to include the ABCRC with …
Implementation of the Bow River Phosphorus Management Plan
The Bow River Phosphorus Management Plan (PMP) is a pilot initiative, bringing together a multi-disciplinary group of stakeholders to address point and non-point phosphorus loadings in the Bow River reach between the Bearspaw and Bassano Dams. This initiative uses a ‘shared responsibility’ approach whereby all contributors are involved in identifying and implementing a strategy to manage the cumulative impacts of existing and new activities. The shared solutions are …
Sustainable Me
Understanding that worrying climate and environmental statistics cause a feeling of hopelessness and desperation amongst youth, producers Terri Wynnyk and Jamie Pratt and writer Katherine Koller set out to create Sustainable Me. The video series presents positive ideas and hope to its viewers by giving them creative, actionable examples of ways to engage with sustainability. Over the course of a month, the team recorded in over fifty locations …
Wild Rose Consulting Inc.
Ann Smreciu is a champion of native plants. For more than 30 years she has worked to re-establish Alberta’s native plants on disturbed lands, from dams and utility corridors to landfills and mine spoils. At the outset of her career, relatively few species could be considered for such projects because supplies of viable seed were non-existent or extremely limited, and little was known about their …