Sudbury’s Environmental Champions Building Sustainable Businesses
Green Economy North Awards Celebrate Successful First Year
SUDBURY – Melanie Cropp is one of Sudbury’s Environmental Champions. As the leader of the Bet on Green team at OLG Slots, Melanie co-ordinates her workplace’s efforts to be more sustainable, and to reduce their environmental footprint.
When Richard Eberhardt, Program Manager for Green Economy North, received her nomination from her team, he knew she would be in the running.
“We weren’t entirely sure what the call for nominations would bring, but we knew what we were looking for,” said Eberhardt. “Melanie’s leadership has a direct impact on her organization. She is helping to engage her peers, and is incorporating environmental action into their work routine.”
Green Economy North launched on Earth Day 2016, and has been working to connect with environmental champions in businesses and organizations throughout Greater Sudbury. The program celebrated its successful first year at a ‘Green Gala’ at College Boreal on April 20th, a unique event that brought businesses, environmental, and community leaders together to celebrate sustainability.
Green Economy North called for nominations for a 2017 Environmental Champion in early March. Rebecca Danard, Executive Director of reThink Green, was very impressed with the immediate response. “It was a real demonstration to us of how many dedicated individuals are leading change in our business community,” said Danard. “In the end, we decided we couldn’t choose just one – and so we are awarding Environmental Champion to three amazing leaders.”
2017 Environmental Champion awards were presented at the Evening of Recognition to:
> Melanie Cropp, Bet on Green Leader, OLG Slots
> Skye Little, Owner, HiaMedia Inc.
> Ricky Lemieux, President, Rock-Tech
Awards were also presented to leading members of the Green Economy North program.
Most Engaged Green Team was awarded to Al Vardy, of Raintree Financial, Sandra Mews of Sandra Mews and Associates, and Erica Lagios of Eat Local Sudbury for their work at the 176 Larch St. Project Site. Since joining Green Economy North, the landlords and tenants have been working collaboratively to improve the sustainability of the building in an innovative new model.
Sustainable Business of the Year was awarded to Towneplace Suites General Manager Xavier Icardo and Facility Manager Kevin Moffat.
“Sustainable Business of the Year is Green Economy North’s ‘Best in Show’.” Said Eberhardt. “It goes to a business which has worked to reduce its carbon footprint through planning, operational improvements, capital investments and staff engagement. Under Xavier and Kevin’s leadership, Towneplace Suites has an active green team looking for ways to operate more efficiently. We are proud to be working with them on these goals.”
Green Economy North is a Sudbury-based business support program for organizations looking to set and achieve sustainability targets. Over their first year they established memberships with almost 20 businesses, including Glencore’s Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations, the Sudbury Theatre Centre, and Third Line Studios architects.
The first Green Economy North annual report was released Thursday along with their Evening of Recognition, and contains sustainability profiles for businesses in the program. It is available at: www.greeneconomynorth.ca.
The site for the Sudbury working-group of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.
The Sudbury working-group of The Media Co-op was formed to create independent media in the North, to speak to our issues and outlooks on our communities as well as the world around us. Independent media provides an avenue for people who are wishing to gain critical perspective on the issues that matter most to us, and to give a voice to those people and stories that you won't find in the mainstream media.
The Sudbury working-group site is no longer being updated and has been archived.