For Immediate Release
ST. CATHARINES, January 17th, 2012 – Ontario Environment Minister, Hon James J. Bradley, will review local efforts to encourage the use of rain barrels. Bradley will see beverage barrels, previously used to transport Coca-Cola’s concentrate, which have been modified by RainBarrel.ca for use by private homeowners. In the spring, the barrels will be sold to the public by Garden City Optimists, a local St. Catharines-based service group, as a fundraiser for the organization.
Minister Bradley will be meeting with representatives of Coca-Cola Canada, RainBarrel.ca, and Garden City Optimists at 11:30 am, Tuesday, January 17th at First Grantham United Church in St. Catharines.
Rain barrels capture and store rain water collected from roofs through downspouts. They provide a clean water source which is free of chlorine and fluoride, and is ideal for flowers, vegetables, lawns, shrubs and trees. By reducing the draw on public water sources and diverting clean water from sewer systems, they reduce costs involved in water management for both local governments and individual homeowners.
According to the Environment Ministry, storm water management is critical for preventing pollution from entering our streams, rivers and lakes. The site recommends homeowners “use a rain barrel to gather water for gardens and lawns. This takes the strain off our storm drainage systems.”
Coca-Cola Canada Sustainability Director Dave Moran says “Water is the primary ingredient in our beverages and we recognize our responsibility to protect this precious resource and making a positive difference in our local communities. Converting our concentrate barrels into rainwater harvesting containers is an important step in our ongoing efforts towards water conservation.”
RainBarrel.ca reclaims food grade barrels previously used to import fruits and vegetables, or in this case, concentrate, to be reused as rain barrels. The company partners with local non-profit organizations to run fundraising truckload sales events for many communities in Ontario. Last year RainBarrel.ca worked with more 100 nonprofit partners, resulting in $17,000 in net proceeds for a wide variety of Ontario charities.
Garden City Optimists, based in St. Catharines, is already scheduled for their sale on Saturday, April 14, 2012, and the proceeds will support their many projects throughout the community. All orders must be placed online in advance at www.RainBarrel.ca/GardenCity or by calling 905-545-5577.
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About Garden City Optimists – The Garden City Optimist Club (GCOC) was founded in 2007 and is located in St. Catharines, ON. The Garden City Optimist is a group of phenomenal women who are interested and dedicated to helping youth and community projects within St. Catharines. For more information contact Lynne Twocock at 905-935-5724
About RainBarrel.ca – RainBarrel.ca reclaims food grade barrels previously used to import fruits and vegetables to be reused as rain barrels. Partnerships with non-profit organizations result in fundraising truckload sales events for communities across Ontario including Alliston, Barrie, Blenheim, Belleville, Curve Lake, Haldimand County, Hamilton, Jarvis, London, Manotick (Ottawa), Mississauga, Newcastle, Niagara Falls, Norfolk County, North Bay, Norwood, Orillia, Oshawa, Ottawa, Pembroke, Russell, Simcoe, St. Thomas, Stoney Creek, Sudbury, Tara, Thunder Bay, Toronto and Winona. More communities are being added each week. RainBarrel.ca retails a variety of garden centre items from its Stoney Creek facility. For more information, please contact Larry Pomerantz, [email protected], call 905-545-5577 or visit www.RainBarrel.ca.
About Coca-Cola Canada – Coca-Cola Canada operates in all ten provinces, employing 6,300 people in more than 50 facilities, including seven production facilities, across Canada. We offer a wide variety of non-alcoholic brands; these beverages include sparkling soft drinks, still waters, juices and fruit beverages, sports drinks, energy drinks, coffees and ready-to-drink teas. We’re proud to offer some of the most popular brands in Canada including Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Coke Zero®, Sprite®, Fanta®, Nestea®, PowerAde®, Minute Maid®, Dasani® and vitaminwater®. Coca-Cola in Canada is represented by Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada and Coca-Cola Ltd. Dave Moran: 4164246127, [email protected]
About the Ministry of Environment – Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has been protecting Ontario’s environment for over 30 years. Using stringent regulations, targeted enforcement and a variety of innovative programs and initiatives, the ministry continues to address environmental issues that have local, regional and/or global effects. The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for protecting clean and safe air, land and water to ensure healthy communities, ecological protection and sustainable development for present and future generations of Ontarians.
[Presentation of rain barrels will be held 11:30 AM Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at First Grantham United Church (next to Ina Grafton Home for the Aged) 415 Linwell Road, St. Catharines, Ontario L2M 2P3]