GM Expands Watershed Education Program
GM GREEN is longest-running conservation education program by any automaker
2014-10-24
Back
Print
|
|
Word
|
Add This|
OSHAWA, Ont. – General Motors launched its watershed education program in seven new communities across Canada this year, the largest international expansion in the initiative’s 25-year history. The GM Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN) now comprises 53 GM facilities, including all of the company’s U.S. and Canadian manufacturing plants.
GM GREEN is the longest-running conservation education program by any automaker, impacting 150,000 young people through hands-on learning since its inception in 1989.
GM GREEN encourages community engagement by helping youth better understand their impact on local watersheds. It’s a collaboration of partners, from the nonprofit Earth Force that manages the program, to local schools and conservation groups in communities in which GM operates.
“This program is a model for how the public and private sectors can come together to make a meaningful, lasting impact on the environment and in our communities,” said Lisa Bardwell, Earth Force president and CEO. “Through GM GREEN, we are investing in two of our most precious resources – our children and watersheds.”
Through GM GREEN, employees mentor approximately 10,000 students each year in water monitoring events, classroom visits and student-driven watershed improvement projects. Students retrieve, test and analyze water samples, then channel findings into a sustainable action plan addressing water quality issues locally. GM Canada’s Oshawa Assembly facility has been participating in GM GREEN since the late 1990s.
The new GM GREEN sites span four Canadian provinces:
- St. Catharines Powertrain – St. Catharines, Ontario
- CAMI Assembly – Ingersoll, Ontario
- Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre – Woodstock, Ontario
- GM Cold Weather Development Centre – Kapuskasing, Ontario
- Pointe Claire (Montreal) Parts Distribution Centre – Pointe-Claire, Quebec
- Langley Parts (Vancouver) Distribution Centre – Langley, British Columbia
- Edmonton Parts Distribution Centre – Edmonton, Alberta
“Our commitment to the environment isn’t just about reducing the impact of our operations; it’s about getting the next generation of leaders excited about how they can help preserve natural resources and be a positive force in their community,” said Cathy Clegg, GM North America Manufacturing vice president. “We work hard to serve and improve the communities in which we live and work around the world.”
Partnering with a local community group helps to enhance the GM GREEN program. As such, many of the facilities have created partnerships to assist in offering the GM GREEN program in their area.
“Virtually all of our facilities are proud to participate in the GM GREEN program,” said Kevin Williams, President and Managing Director of GM Canada. “The program is one way that our employees are serving and improving the communities in which we live and work in Canada.”
CAMI Assembly and Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre have partnered with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. The Edmonton Parts Distribution Centre has partnered with RiverWatch, a group that offers a floating classroom experience by taking students down local rivers on rafts and teaching water related curriculum throughout the trip. The Langley facility has partnered with the Langley Environmental Partners Society, a local nonprofit dedicate to protecting and restoring the local environment, with a focus on education.
More than 3,200 GM employees have been involved in GM GREEN over the past quarter century.
GM is committed to conserving water throughout its operations. Between 2005 and 2010, the company reduced water use per vehicle produced by 32 percent and committed to another 15-percent reduction by 2020. Employee dedication to community outreach further makes an impact in protecting this critical resource.
For more information on GM’s environmental commitment, visit its sustainability report and environmental blog.
About General Motors in Canada
Headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario, General Motors of Canada Limited (GMCL) employs more than 9,000 people across the country and is a recognized leader in green manufacturing. GMCL markets the full range of fuel-efficient Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles and related services through Canada’s largest automotive dealer network. More information regarding GMCL models can be found at www.gm.ca, or by following @GMCanada on Twitter.
###