Certified Litter Free & Green Events in Thunder Bay
Congratulations to the following event organizers for their outstanding efforts in making their events green and litter-free. They are saving resources and landfill space and helping make Thunder Bay clean, green and beautiful.
Event |
Organizers |
Date |
Description of Actions |
2012 Northern Ontario First Nations Environment Conference |
The AdVenture Group |
October 1-4, 2012 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Ensuring giveaways are environmentally-friendly (eco-friendly USB sticks, 100% stone paper notebooks, reusable bottles, organic cotton lanyards) -Downloading presentations & handouts on zip drives -Informing sponsors of green intentions & asking for their cooperation and assistance -Linen-free event (with the exception of reusable napkins) -City transit buses will transport delegates from Victoria Inn to Fort William Historical Park -Most delegates will be accommodated at Victoria Inn (eliminates need for transportation to the event) -Speakers will use last year's materials for presentations |
Bay Street Film Festival |
Bay Street Film Festival Inc. |
September 6-9, 2012 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Encouraging participants to bring their own paper, pens, reusable mugs, & water bottles -Ensuring giveaways are environmentally-friendly -Recognizing those who "walk the talk" and rewarding them with environmentally-friendly giveaways -Providing water in pitchers & washable glasses for speakers and on meeting tables; using reusable linens -Downloading presentations & handouts on CDs or zip drives and emailing to participants after the event -Encouraging food vendors to sell drinks to people who have brought refillable beverage containers and charging more for drinks sold in single-use containers; ensuring single-use tableware is biodegradable or recyclable -Encouraging food vendors to use large containers for cream, condiments, sugar, etc. instead of individual packets -Having volunteers mingle among the crowd to collect litter -No tickets - using reusable passes & lanyards -"Coin" ballots in recyclable containers rather than paper for people's choice award voting and will donate change to the tree stewardship program -Printing fewer programs and emphasizing web schedule/social media -Head office bullfrog powered Having announcers remind patrons to look for volunteers and dispose of trash in appropriate bins -Picking up litter during the event -Posting signage near food vendors and bins -Providing coffee mugs from the Salvation Army that people can take with them -Will cater lunches for workshops at Hall via Hoito using their dishes -Encouraging participants to choose lodgings close to the site and to walk, bike, carpool and use public transportation or shuttle services - billet people near venues so they can walk -Using caterers who commit to using local foods; serving fair trade coffee -Only using local businesses when purchasing products and services for the event -Having green displays at the event to educate attendees about what they can do to help the environment -Offering a discount to people who bring last year's festival passes and lanyards back |
Lake Superior Day 2012 |
EcoSuperior |
July 15, 2012 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Provided the water bar so attendees could re-fill their reusable water bottles -Ensuring single-use containers are biodegradable or recyclable -Having volunteers collect litter and recycling among the crowd -Making announcements to remind attendees about where to properly dispose of waste -Picking up litter during the event -Ensuring there is adequate signage near waste stations -Served a locally-sourced Superior fish dinner -Supported local businesses as much as possible when purchasing products and services for the event -Had information displays at the event to help educate attendees about water protection and conservation |
Benny Birch's Birthday Party |
St. Joseph's Foundation of Thunder Bay |
June 8, 9, 10, 2012 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Setting up a collection of food scraps with vendors, which will be composted -Encouraging food vendors to provide drinks for attendees in reusable containers an charging more for those sold in single-use containers -Ensuring single-use containers are biodegradable or recyclable -Encouraging vendors to serve condiments in bulk rather than individual packets -Collecting name tags to be used at future events -Having volunteers collect litter and recycling among the crowd -Making announcements to remind attendees about where to properly dispose of waste -Picking up litter during the event -Ensuring there is adequate signage near waste stations -Encouraging the use of public and active transportation to travel to the event -Supporting local businesses as much as possible |
2012 Franco-Festival |
Association des francophones due Nord-Ouest de l'Ontario (AFNOO) |
May 26, 2012 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Entering attendees who walk, bike, or use public transport to get to the festival in a draw for a prize -Arranged complimentary bus service for attendees (they simply show their Festival ticket to the driver) -Entering attendees who bring their own water bottle in a draw for a prize -Selling reuseable water bottles and reserved the water bar rather than selling water in plastic bottles -Entering attendees who bring their own plates and cutlery in a draw for a prize -Making announcements regarding the event's green priorities and direct attendees to waste stations -Locally-sourced menu -Vendors will use a compost bin -Food service in biodegradable containers with biodegradable cutlery -Offering a discount on food for attendees who bring their own coffee mug, water bottle, cutlery, or plates -Vendors will serve condiments in bulk containers -T-shirts made for volunteers will be reused at future events |
2012 OBIAA Conference |
Thunder Bay BIA |
April 22-25, 2012 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Environmentally-friendly giveaways in delegate tote bags (reusable water bottles) -Limited the amount of paper provided -Worked closely with the venue to ensure bulk condiment service, as well as reusable dishes, cutlery, and linen -Made announcements regarding the event's green priorities -Provided water stations at which delegates could re-fill their reusable water bottles -All delegates stayed at one location -Complimentary shuttle service provided for delegates to travel to offsite events -Local foods menu |
Lake Superior Day |
EcoSuperior |
July 17, 2011 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Had the MC make announcements reminding attendees to use litter and recycling bins -Encouraged the use of reusable water bottles -Local foods menu -Had environmental information displays set up during the event |
2011 Bike Rodeo |
EcoSuperior |
June 12, 2011 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Disposable-free catering -Encouraged the use of reusable water bottles -Asked volunteers to pick up any litter that may have been dropped -Had the Active Transportation information display set up |
World Junior Trials (Nordic Skiing) |
Lappe Nordic Ski Club Big Thunder Nordic Ski Club |
January 6-9, 2011 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Venue uses washable, reusable dishes & cutlery. Other vendors using biodegradable dishes & cutlery, or recyclable containers. -Prizes and gift packages include reusable bottles and local products. -Encouraging use of reusable water bottles and cups. -Signs being made to identify where to put reyclables, compostables, etc. for each disposal station. These signs will be donated for use in future events. -Used e-mail registration to cut down on paper use. -Collecting food scraps for composting. -Volunteer Green Team will be keeping site clean and providing directions at disposal stations. -Encouraging car-pooling. -Announcers will be reminding patrons to do their part to make the event litter-free and green. -Serving fair trade coffee and supporting local businesses. |
Go Green Expo |
Earthwise Thunder Bay |
September 10-12, 2010 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Encouraging participants to bring their own water bottles. -Awarding prize ballots to those who are "caught" disposing of their waste properly (i.e. recycling) -Providing the City's Water Bar for water-refills; water pitchers and glasses for speakers -Collecting name tags for re-use -"Green Team" to pick up litter -Sponsoring a tree through the TSP -Caterers to use local food; supporting local businesses; fair trade coffee. -Plenty of "green" displays |
World Junior Baseball Championships |
Thunder Bay International Baseball |
July 23-Aug 2 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Encouraging use of reusable water bottles, cups; will have City water bar on site -Participants will be staying close to sites, at Lakehead University,and will be shuttled by bus. Umpires will be car-pooling. -Green Team will be encouraging attendees to reycle (passing around blue bags); and picking up any litter during event. -Announcers will be promoting litter prevention and recycling during event. -Several trees are being planted. -Pro-active landscape planning is reducing water-use and mowing requirements. -A bicycle lock-up area will be provided; transit options will be promoted. |
Lake Superior Day |
Ecosuperior |
July 18, 2010 |
All Essential steps, plus: -Encourage participants to bring their own reusable mugs and water bottles. -Use giveaways & prizes which are environmentally friendly. -Set up a composting collection for food scraps. -Encourage food vendors to sell drinks to people who have brought their own refillable beverage containers (travel mugs, etc.) and to use containers that are biodegradable or recyclable (not plastic or styrofoam). -Encourage food vendors to use large dispensors for cream, sugar, condiments, etc. instead of individual packets. -Have volunteers, announcers and signage to promote litter prevention & recycling. -Use caterers who commit to using local and organic foods. Serve fair trade coffee. -Support local businesses as much as possible. -Have "Green Displays" to help educate attendees about what they can do to help the environment. |
3Rs 102-103 Waste Regulations Workshop |
ZWATeam (Partnered with the City of Thunder Bay, Victoria Inn, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Health-Care Housekeepers' Association) |
March 25, 2010 |
All Essential steps taken, plus: -Reusable bags, CTB Green Guide and other "green" giveaways. -Green displays -No disposables used -Compost collected -Presentation and handouts on Zip Drives -Host is a leader in energy & conservation programs (Victoria Inn) -Announcements re. waste/litter -Promotion offered to stay on site -Sponsoring a tree through the TSP -Serving fair trade coffee -Supporting local businesses; promoting local "green" services and products |
Page last updated on Thursday, September 27, 2012
