FHS Student, City Business Win Mayor's Environmental Awards
Fredericton (January 26, 2009) - A Fredericton High School student and a company that specializes in energy efficient and environmentally-friendly products were named the latest winners of the Mayor's Environmental Award.
"On behalf of my Council colleagues, I am happy to honour two more deserving recipients that are helping in our effort to reach our goal of meeting Kyoto targets by 2010," said Mayor Brad Woodside. "It is only fitting that we recognize the people and businesses that are helping us achieve our goal."
Taryn McKenzie-Mohr, a 17-year-old, Grade 12 student at Fredericton High School, received the monthly award for December 2008 while Grün-Sol Technologies was presented with the January 2009 award.
In December, Ms. McKenzie-Mohr was one of three Frederictonians selected to represent Canada at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Poznan, Poland. There, she was part of a youth delegation poised to influence leaders and make connections with other countries, all in the effort to tackle the challenges brought about by climate change, and encourage government and business to start making a greater effort.
Ms. McKenzie-Mohr is actively involved in both her school in the community, as a member of the Junior Board of CISV Fredericton Chapter, a youth representative on the provincial Citizenship Task Force, an organizer of the Student Vote at FHS, a member of the FHS student council, and a participant in the Model UN program. She was trained last April by Al Gore and The Climate Project Canada to present the former U.S. Vice President's award-winning documentary on global warming "An Inconvenient Truth." One of her goals is to educate and mobilize youth with respect to the climate crisis.
"For your outstanding contribution to bettering our community, and encouraging others to make a difference and act on climate change, it is my privilege to present you with the December 2008 Mayor's Environmental Award," said Mayor Woodside.
Grün-Sol Technologies is a new local small-business, aimed at providing energy efficient and environmentally friendly products and solutions to residential and commercial customers.
The Grün-Sol team is active in promoting sustainable solutions in the community, such as grey-water recycling, solar water heating, solar thermal heating and ventilation, wind energy systems. The company also provides energy management consultation
They are advocates for the City's First to Kyoto Green Matters campaign and were one of the pilot businesses that signed on as a leader in the City's Green Shops program.
"Grün-Sol Technologies is a promising innovator in green technologies in the City, and their continued commitment to working with partners to ensure quality products, service and installation is second to none," said Mayor Woodside. "They are continuously encouraging other local businesses to reduce their environmental footprint by choosing alternative energy sources."
The company recently installed a wind turbine at the Carman Creek Golf Course and a grey-water system at the Woodstock First Nation.
Accepting the award on behalf of the company were Shawn Wilkie, Bob Rock, Troy Burke and Candice Green.
Winners of Mayor's Environmental Awards are chosen based on their environmental efforts in the community, and on the recommendation of Council and City staff. The monthly awards program began in January 2008.
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Media Contact: Alycia Morehouse, Climate Change Coordinator, City of Fredericton - 460-2777.
