Did you notice all the smog alerts the last couple weeks and that thick yellow haze that hung over the city?
Now York University’s staff, faculty and students can do something about the smog, even if it's only for one week. That's because York University has registered in Pollution Probe's Clean Air Commute 2005, which is taking place June 20-24.
This year, there are more great reasons to participate. You'll be entered into a GTA-wide draw for one of three great grand prizes:
- An amazing $5,000 trip to the Arctic & Davis Strait with G.A.P. Adventures.
- A 2-month lease of a Honda Civic hybrid car.
- A 3-day trip from "Canadian Canoe and Kayak Trips Wilderness Adventures".
On top of these grand prizes, you could also win the York University draw for a snazzy new Raleigh Mountain Bike. Then you could clean air commute every day!
How can you take part in the Clean Air Commute?
During the week of June 20-24, make sure to clean air commute to work or school as often as you can. Take public transit, bike, rollerblade, carpool, walk, do anything but drive alone. Fill out a Clean Air Commute Diary Card (available here) and send it back to Charles O’Hara, manager of Smart Commute-North Toronto/Vaughan (formerly the Smart Commute Association of Black Creek) at the end of the week. Even if you can only clean air commute for one day, you can still fill out your card and win some prizes. And if you are already a "clean air commuter", that's great – you should be rewarded for doing the right thing.
If you prefer to submit your diary card by e-mail, contact Charles O'Hara at oharac@sc-bc.ca, and he will send you an Excel version of the diary card that you can fill out and submit online. Alternatively, you can also pick up a Clean Air Commute Diary Card from York’s Parking & Transportation Office located in Room 222, William Small Centre, Keele campus. After the commute is over, send the completed diary card to Room 120, William Small Centre, Keele campus or you can fax your card to ext. 55879.
When you participate in the Clean Air Commute, your efforts will count towards Canada's "One-Tonne Challenge" of reducing individual greenhouse gas emissions, getting us closer to our Kyoto Protocol targets. Check out the One Tonne Challenge Web site.
If you have any questions about the Clean Air Commute, please contact Smart Commute-North Toronto/Vaughan at ext. 70690 or e-mail oharac@sc-bc.ca.
And make sure to visit the Pollution Probe Web site for more tips and ideas on fighting pollution in our city.
Smog Fact: One busload of passengers saves 70,000 litres of fuel and more than 175 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year.