Mayor Akbal Mund congratulated winners of the 2016 Sustainability Awards during the Regular Open Meeting of Council on Monday.
“This year’s winners help make our city a wonderful place to live, work and play,” said Mund. “Together, they contribute to Vernon’s sustainability through environmental stewardship, economic viability and social inclusiveness.”
Sustainable Business: Venture Training and Ed Columbus – Venture Training is a community based, non-profit business organization that proudly supports adults with development disabilities with social, educational and vocational skill building since 1955. Ed Columbus has a passion for environmental stewardship, creating and facilitating numerous recycling programs, and establishing strong community recycling partnerships with local corporations during his 27 years of service with Venture Training. Venture Training provides services for more than 200 participants, offering 16 distinctive interactive programs that empower individuals to use their strengths with hands-on skill-building opportunities to enrich quality of life.
Community Sustainability: Allan Brooks Nature Centre (ABNC) is committed to promoting the enjoyment of nature and increasing awareness of habitat conservation through environmental education and nature-related activities in the Okanagan region. ABNC engages youth, educators, industry professionals and community stewardship groups through nature programs and environmentally related opportunities. ABNC programs were delivered to approximately 2,800 school-aged children in 2015.
Youth Initiatives: Corbin Kelley actively volunteers in a variety of sustainability-related initiatives. As a student of the Vernon Community School, Corbin was instrumental in getting the Free Breakfast program at Clarence Fulton Secondary School up and running. Corbin also volunteered for multiple Earth Day celebrations in Vernon through event planning and volunteering team coordination, as well as assisting in multiple transportation demand management outreach initiatives. Corbin is also actively engaged in our local community through volunteering with the MLA’s office and is an active member of the Advisory Planning Committee with the City of Vernon. Corbin has shown exemplary commitment in his contribution to the sustainability in the local community.