Smog fighters in Central Alberta will be honoured on Wednesday by Parkland Airshed Management Zone.
Six organizations and individuals will receive Action HERO Awards for their efforts to reduce ground-level ozone, a component of smog.
Awards will be given out at the first floor lobby, Red Deer Provincial Building, at 12:30 p.m. to the following winners:
l Red Deer Transit for diligent work to improve its service. Improvements include increasing snow clearing from bus stops to make them more accessible year round; installing more bus shelters; launching a “Pets on Board” trial to allow riders to travel with their animals; implementing Google Maps to help people learn how to get where they want to go by bus; purchasing buses that consume less fuel and emit less carbon dioxide; and developing a new regional transit service that will connect Lacombe, Blackfalds and Red Deer effective Aug. 25.
l Mountain View Regional Waste Management Commission for recycling tonnes of agricultural plastics into reusable baler twine and other products; working in conjunction with the Mountain View County incentive program that pays residents to bring in their agricultural plastics.
The program provides farmers with an alternative to burning or disposing of the agricultural plastics in landfills thereby significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and prevents pollution that can affect the health of humans and livestock.
l Red Deer Lodge for being the first hotel in Central Alberta to install an electric car charger. The equipment, installed June 2013, is available to guests and the public free of charge.
l Bonnie Denhaan for spearheading an idle-free campaign at Sunnybrook United Church and who has been an advocate for environmentally responsible actions at the church. She also participates as a member of the public at Parkland Airshed Management Zone meetings.
l Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (Alberta Health Services) for being committed to an idle-free zone since 2013 with the installation of signs throughout its property, and joining the City of Red Deer’s idle-free coalition.
l Weber Physiotherapy for posting a sign at its clinic that reads, “Please respect the environment and turn your engines off!”
The Action for a Healthy Environment by Reducing Ozone (Action HERO) award program was established in 2010 as part of the Parkland Airshed Management Zone (PAMZ) Ozone Management Plan.
PAMZ is a non-profit made up of industry, local government, non-government environmental organizations and Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.
PAMZ was formed in 1997 to monitor and manage air quality within the Parkland region.
Reducing emissions through energy reduction, alternative energy sources, recycling and reducing vehicular or industrial emissions all play a part in helping the environment.
For more information visit www.pamz.org.