Ladysmith has become something of a perennial when it comes to being named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers by Mediacorp.
For the fifth year running the town has been among the top 65 employers published in the Globe and Mail on Earth Day – April 22 – for it’s commitment to going green.
Things Mediacorp cited that gave the TOL a distinctive green hue included:
• An ongoing program of growing vegetables in former Town flower beds, and donating the crops to the Ladysmith Food Bank.
• Installation of two electric charging stations in the community.
• A Community Sustainability Vision and Action Plan.
• Ladysmith’s formal adoption of The Declaration of the Right to a Healthy Environment and its membership in the David Suzuki Foundation’s Blue Dot Initiative.
“One of the things we are most proud of this year is that the award now recognizes organizations whose green culture has a proven sustainability impact outside the organization,” said Mayor Aaron Stone.
“Even more important than making our own environmental footprint smaller and smaller, is showing leadership that makes a difference throughout our community and beyond.”
Other employers on the list include BC Hydro, The Body Shop, Mountain Equipment Co-op, TELUS Corporation, Nature’s Path Food and RBC.
The Town is just one of four ‘Greenest Employer’ municipalities across Canada, and by far the smallest, joining the City of Calgary, City of Vancouver and City of Ottawa.
In its tenth year, Canada’s Greenest Employers is an editorial competition that recognizes the employers who lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness.
The winning employers, selected by the editors at Canada’s Top 100 Employers, are evaluated on their: unique environmental initiatives or programs; whether they have been successful in reducing their own environmental footprint; how involved employees are in environmental programs; and whether their environmental initiatives have become linked to the employer’s public identity and attract new people to the organization.
The 2016 award will soon join Ladysmith’s other Canada’s Greenest Employers awards on display in the showcase at the Frank Jameson Community Centre. Full details on the Canada’s Greenest Employers program can be found at www.canadastop100.com/green.