News Release
HRM Issues Challenge to Other Atlantic Centers
(Monday, April 9/2001)-- Mayor Peter Kelly, on behalf of Halifax Regional Council, has issued a challenge to the Mayors of other major communities in the Atlantic Provinces to participate in the first-ever Earth "Car Free" Day on April 19th.
The goal of "Car Free" Day is to spark interest in, and create support for, the thousands of celebratory events being planned around the world that day.
Regional Council plans to encourage as many HRM residents as possible to show their support for this environmental awareness effort by using means other than the combustion-engine vehicle to get around that day; whether its going to and from work, the shopping mall or performing other tasks or errands.
Those residents who plan to participate in Earth "Car Free" Day will be asked to contact
the HRM Corporate Call Center at 490-4000 (7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, and up until 10 a.m. on April 19th) and advise the municipality of what means of alternate transportation they plan to use that day, e/g walking, cycling, public transit, car pooling, etc.
To compare HRM's participation rate to other communities in the region and to make "Car Free" Day a truly Atlantic Provinces event, Halifax Regional Council has issued an official challenge to other major centers in the region to better, or at least tie, their citizen participation rate on "Car Free" Day on Thursday, April 19th.
Letters of Official Challenge were sent to the Mayors of Sydney, Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, Charlottetown, Summerside and St. John's, Newfoundland.
A number of events and photo opportunities involving Mayor Kelly and various members of Halifax Regional Council are planned for "Car Free" Day to create greater awareness of the need to protect the environment for future generations and to encourage citizens
to choose means other than the combustion-engine vehicle as a mode of transportation, e.g. walking, cycling, public transit, car pooling, etc.
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Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
Councillor Sheila Fougere
Chair, HRM Bikeways Task Force
(902) 490-4050
