MONTREAL,
Que. -- July 14, 2010 -- To celebrate the
International Year of Biodiversity, the
Biosphère invites Canadian families
and people of all ages to discover "BioKits,"
a series of biodiversity exploration guides.
Attractive, colourful
and fun, the BioKits developed by the Biosphère
are now available in five versions: Urban,
Nature, City of Montréal, Île
Sainte-Hélène and Cap Tourmente
National Wildlife Area (NWA).
Urban BioKit users are
invited to use all five of their senses
to look at the biodiversity of their city
in new ways. The Nature BioKit takes you
on a journey of discovery through the wilder
environments of the country. Users of these
two BioKits will have the chance to share
their discoveries online and evaluate the
biodiversity of the places explored.
The City of Montréal
BioKit features ten major parks on Montréal
Island. Points of interest are highlighted,
and their GPS coordinates can be captured
on a GPS navigational device. The Île
Sainte-Hélène and Cap Tourmente
NWA BioKits offer a GPS-guided adventure
in which you are the hero. These BioKits
can be rented at the Biosphère and
the Cap Tourmente NWA.
"By inviting Canadians
to take the time to appreciate biodiversity
and to better understand its importance,
the Biosphère aims to raise awareness
about the value of this biodiversity, its
beauty and the services it can provide.
Our hope is that the BioKits encourage people
to preserve nature by making informed consumer
choices," said Jean Langlais, director
of the Biosphère.
New BioKits will be
developed during the year for other Canadian
cities. For more information on the BioKits
or to download them free of charge, visit
the Environment Canada website, at http://www.ec.gc.ca/biotrousses-biokits.
As an environmental
museum, the mandate of Environment Canada's
Biosphère is to encourage citizens
to take action and get involved in environmental
issues. In addition to presenting special
exhibitions and events, the Biosphère
develops educational and outreach products
for a diverse clientele across Canada and
is a recognized clearinghouse for environmental
information.
+ More
Government of Canada
Invests in Community Environmental Project
in Chicoutimi - le Fjord Region
SAINT-FULGENCE, Que.
-- July 19, 2010 -- The Honourable Jean-Pierre
Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs,
Minister of State (Agriculture) and Member
of Parliament for Jonquière-Alma,
announced funding from the EcoAction Community
Funding Program for a new environmental
project in Saint-Fulgence, Quebec. In total,
$24,846 in federal funding will support
local action to reduce pollution, improve
air and water quality, and protect wildlife
and natural habitat.
"As part of the
International Year of Biodiversity, this
project is one in a series of measures that
demonstrate the importance we place on protecting
our living environment for the well-being
of future generations," said Minister
Blackburn.
"This government
is committed to addressing the environmental
priorities of Canadians," said Minister
Prentice. "We are proud to support
community groups across the country willing
to take concrete action through on-the-ground
environmental projects that will achieve
a more sustainable Canada. Your actions,
large or small, will help to protect the
abundance and variety of life that is part
of our natural heritage."
Environment Canada contributed
$24,846 to the introduction of buffer strips
around Roger Lake and Laurent Lake, a project
meant to encourage shoreline residents to
adopt behaviours that will improve water
quality in these lakes and prevent blue-green
algal blooms. As part of this project, it
is expected that 6000 shrubs will be planted
and 5800 square metres of shoreline protected.
"Adopting good
practices is the key to success," said
Marc Hudon, chair of the Saguenay ZIP committee.
"We must face this challenge together
in order to be able to continue benefitting
from our bodies of water and to prevent
the death of our lakes by blue-green algae."
The EcoAction Community
Funding Program is a Government of Canada
initiative that supports projects that rehabilitate,
protect or enhance the natural environment,
and that builds the capacity of communities
and individuals in support of a more sustainable
Canada. The project announced today will
assist locally based non-profit organizations
in initiating actions that result in reductions
in greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner water,
and the protection of nature at the local
community level.
More information about
the EcoAction Community Funding Program
is available on Environment Canada's web
site at the following address: www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction.
