2012 Green Toronto Award Finalists Announced

(3BL Media) March 9, 2012 - The City of Toronto and Green Living Enterprises are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2012 Green Toronto Awards. The City's environmental awards of excellence recognize the individuals, organizations and companies helping to lead the way to a cleaner, greener Toronto.

"I am delighted to see so many Toronto residents, organizations and businesses greening our city in so many innovative ways," said Councillor Norm Kelly (Ward 40 Scarborough-Agincourt), Chair of the City's Parks and Environment Committee. "We are inspired by their commitment and success."

Each winner will receive an award and $5,000 to further their work on the environment or donate to an environmental charity, courtesy of award sponsors.

Winners will be announced at the Green Toronto Awards ceremony on Friday, April 13 at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage at the Green Living Show, Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. The public is welcome to attend and there is no fee for admission.

2012 Green Toronto Award finalists

YOUTH LEADERSHIP – Natalie Rizzo; Martin Schmidt; Canadian Youth Climate Coalition. The Youth Leadership Award recognizes residents 24 years and under for their leadership in greening Toronto.

LOCAL FOOD – Not Far From the Tree; Real Food for Real Kids; Toronto Green Community. The Local Food Award recognizes leadership in producing, managing and promoting local food.

GREEN BUSINESS – Organic Meadow Co-operative Inc.; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre; Compugen Finance Inc. The Green Business Award recognizes excellence in green practices, strategies and products.

COMMUNITY PROJECTS – Friends of the Rouge Watershed; Lotherton Pathway Community Garden & Family Tree Project; FutureWatch Environment & Development Education Partners. The Community Projects Award acknowledges leadership in the greening of our communities.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS – Fashion Takes Action; Ocean Wise; The Clean Train Coalition. The Environmental Awareness Award recognizes leadership in environmental education and awareness.

ENERGY CONSERVATION – ecobee; Noel Cheeseman; Kraft Foods Cadbury Plant. The Energy Conservation Award recognizes leadership in energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

GREEN DESIGN – Centre for Green Cities; Levitt Goodman Architects Ltd.; Mariclaro Canada Inc. The Green Design Award recognizes design that reduces the environmental impact of products and buildings, including residential homes and green roofs.

LEADERSHIP – The YMCA of Greater Toronto; Chris Winter; Rosemarie Powell. The Leadership Award recognizes leadership that delivers results above and beyond the norm.

WATER EFFICIENCY – Blue Drinks Toronto; Water-on-Wheels; Smart Watering Systems Inc. The Water Efficiency Award recognizes leadership in sustainable managing water resources and water conservation.

The Green Toronto Awards are proudly supported by media partners: The Toronto Star, Citytv and NOW Magazine.

More information about the Green Toronto Awards is available at http://www.toronto.ca/greentorontoawards.

Green Living Enterprises is a full-service, one-stop solution for green marketing, product and program development, custom publishing, and event management. Green Living Enterprises, an authentically green company, also includes Greenlivingonline.com and The Green Living Show, North America's largest green consumer show, dedicated to easy and workable solutions for leading a sustainable lifestyle. For more information, visit http://www.greenlivingonline.com/torontoshow.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.7 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Media contacts:

Valerie Cassells, Senior Communications Coordinator, City of Toronto, 416-392-8306, vcassel@toronto.ca

Annette Borger, Green Living Enterprises, 416-988-7086, aborger@green-living.ca

Media accreditation for the awards event is now open – contact Annette Borger or Valerie Cassells.