News Release

Sullivan's Pond Tree Planting Commemorates Earth Day

(Tuesday, April 22, 2008)- Earlier today Councillors Gloria McCluskey and Bill Karsten joined partners from the Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative to celebrate Earth Day with the planting of trees at Sullivan's Pond in Dartmouth.

First launched as an environmental awareness event in 1970, Earth Day is celebrated each year in Canada on April 22nd and involves over 6 million Canadians. It's about improving the state of the environment and taking positive environmental action.

"I am so pleased to see a row of shade trees being planted in this beautiful park replacing trees lost to Hurricane Juan in 2003.", states Councillor Gloria McCluskey, Dartmouth Centre. "Sullivan's Pond Park is part of the historic Shubenacadie Canal system and lakes, as well as host to the 2009 World Canoe Championships."

"Everything in the environment is interconnected from how we manage solid waste to our energy choices, and Earth Day provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate our environmental accomplishments.", says Councillor Bill Karsten, Portland-East Woodlawn.

The tree plantings also provide an opportunity for the HRM based founding partners of the Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative to symbolically reconfirm their commitment to a sustainable HRM.
The ACSI is the only regional, multi-sector sustainability project in North America. It is a collaborative grassroots project that supports project partners in better understanding the challenges and opportunities of sustainability and in moving their respective organizations toward more sustainable solutions.

"As the first year of the Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative comes to a close, it's great to have this tree-planting ceremony both to celebrate Earth Day and to re-affirm our commitment to sustainability in Atlantic Canada," says the Director of the Centre for Rural Sustainability and Sustainability Partner coach, Dr. John Colton. "It is a great way for our ACSI partners to celebrate the work of the last year together."

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Contact :

Councillor Gloria McCluskey, District 5 - Dartmouth Centre, 490-7033

Councillor Bill Karsten, District 7 - Portland-East Woodlawn, 490-7032

Clare Levin
Project Coordinator, Atlantic Canada Sustainability Initiative
coordinator@atlanticsustainability.ca
(902) 830-1120
www.atlanticsustainability.ca

John Colton
Chair, Centre for Rural Sustainability
john.colton@acadiau.ca
(902) 585-1160
www.ruralsustainability.org