News Release
Mayor Kelly Highlights $100,000 Design Competition
(Monday, August 16/2004)-- The Harbour Solutions Project and restoration of Point Pleasant Park provided the backdrop in Halifax this morning for the launch of world adventurer Gary Sowerby's "Mission Green" trek across Canada.
Mr. Sowerby, a Halifax resident and one of Canada's best-known adventure travellers and a world record-setter, will lead the journey as he searches out 85 local environmental initiatives across Canada. Garry hits the road in General Motors' advanced technology vehicles.
Among the guests at today's launch at Point Pleasant Park were Mayor Peter Kelly, Service Nova and Municipal Relations Minister Barry Barnet and local businessman Jim Spatz.
Mayor Kelly said partnerships were the foundation of environmental projects and he used the examples of Harbours Solutions, a partnership between the three levels of government; and, the restoration of Point Pleasant Park, a partnership between the municipality, its citizens and private sector donors.
Mayor Kelly paid special tribute to Jim Spatz, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Properties Limited, a leading owner and operator of residential real estate in the Halifax area, who has generously offered $100,000 to fund the consultation process and competition to attract design proposals for Point Pleasant Park from across Canada and internationally.
HRM and Southwest Properties will form a working group of stakeholders, experts and interested citizens to develop the process for selecting a winning submission from among top professionals in their field. The overall planning process will include workshops to solicit input from the public. HRM staff will submit a proposal to Halifax Regional Council for approval later this year.
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Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
