Toronto - In a hopeful sign of things to come in corporate Canada, BMO Financial Group recently announced that it has achieved carbon neutrality relative to its energy consumption and transportation emissions across the company, worldwide. This fulfills a commitment made by the bank in September 2008. "Special thanks go to our employees who've made sustainability a priority at BMO," said Bill Downe, President and Chief Executive Officer. "They have made meaningful contributions to reduce carbon emissions by changing workday habits and routines. Those efforts, combined with the purchase of renewable energy and our investment in high quality carbon offsets got us to today's announcement. We are proud to be doing our part for a sustainable future for everyone." "This represents ... continue reading.

March 23, 2010, Calgary - ECO Canada's annual Environmental Employer of the Year Awards recognizes companies in the environment industry for their commitment and dedication to human resource (HR) excellence. These awards are unique in that winning organizations are selected based on the evaluation and feedback of their employees-a true testament to a company's efforts in aligning HR practices to support and strengthen workplace culture. This year's winners include SENES Consultants Limited (large company category) and The Natural Step Canada (small-medium sized category). To encourage ongoing refinement and review of HR policies and practices, ECO Canada introduced its HR Commitment Award in 2009. This award recognizes returning participants who demonstrate significant improvements in staff satisfaction. This year's award goes to ... continue reading.

Vancouver - The Green Business Bureau (GBB) announced today the launch of their new web-based program designed specifically to help Canadian businesses become more sustainable. The new service will assist entrepreneurs, executives and employees of businesses across Canada committed to the environment and sustainable business practices by showing them how to reduce their environmental footprint while saving money and differentiating their businesses.The Green Business Bureau's easy-to-use and cutting-edge web-based tool provides businesses a road map to implement eco-friendly practices in the workplace that will have a real impact on the environment and their business. Take a quick tour of site's key features.At the core of the GBB program is an innovative system of green initiatives specifically designed to yield the ... continue reading.

Ottawa - In light of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's invitation for input on the upcoming federal budget, the Green Budget Coalition (GBC) is today highlighting its three priority budget recommendations, whose adoption could stimulate over 8,000 new jobs in renewable energy, ensure clean sources of drinking water for millions of Canadians, and help Canada meet its commitment under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to establish national and regional systems of protected areas."These are prime opportunities for Canada to shine on the world stage during the International Year of Biodiversity and in the lead-up to the G8 and G20 Summits," said Barry Turner, Chair of the Green Budget Coalition and Director of Government Relations, Ducks Unlimited Canada.The Green Budget ... continue reading.

By Karran Finlay (guest contributor) Incorporating eco-efforts into your every day business practices can not only save you money, but it can positively affect your brand. This is true for any sized company; in fact big corporations are initiating some of the most talked about “green” efforts. Microsoft’s Convergence Tradeshow in March 2009 was the first U.S. event to be certified under BS 8901 – a British sustainable management standard developed for the events industry. Microsoft’s eco event practices attracted delegates but also ensured that Microsoft was moving in the right direction to achieve their sustainability goals. Suncor Energy is also investing in clean, renewable energy sources. They have four wind power farms in operation with a total capacity of ... continue reading.

By Karran Finlay (Guest contributor) More and more companies are taking the initiative to "green up" their meetings, yet others are stuck in the “thinking about it” phase. It’s not always easy to ensure sustainable practices, but it can be easier than you think (and it doesn’t have to cost you more). I’ve put together a few “green meeting” tips to keep in mind when planning for a successful (and more sustainable!) meeting: Research venues that are LEED certified in your area (or look for those that have sustainable practices). A great blog site that lists venues in various cities is “Green Destinations”. The specific blog that speaks to this can be found here: Green Destinations Blog Have meeting programs, ... continue reading.

Toronto - Today Aviva Canada Inc. announced the launch of the Aviva Community Fund - a unique competition that will seek to lead, empower and support positive change in communities from St. John's to Victoria. Supported by a significant $500,000 pledge from Aviva, the Aviva Community Fund provides a forum where individual Canadians can band together to really make a difference today. Running until December 16, 2009, Canadians can submit ideas and vote for things that they would like to change at a local or national level; whether it be constructing a new playground in your neighbourhood, revitalizing a local community centre or providing much needed support to a national charity - the possibilities are endless. The most popular ideas, ... continue reading.

BOSTON, MA – Green Century Capital Management, Inc. (“Green Century”), the Boston-based investment advisor to the environmentally-responsible Green Century Equity Fund, announced today that it believes that Costco Wholesale Corp.* (“Costco”) has made significant progress in disclosing information about key sustainability issues, including  the seafood sold in its stores. “We applaud Costco for releasing its first sustainability report and for committing to increase disclosure of its greenhouse gas inventory and its objectives and strategy for procuring seafood in a sustainable way,” stated Emily Stone, shareholder advocate for Green Century. “We are especially encouraged to see that the company has a seafood purchasing strategy that gives consideration to the ‘condition of fish stocks’ and to the ‘protection and respect of the ... continue reading.

Media Release by Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR): Toronto, ON - Leading Canadian companies are calling for world leaders to complete an ambitious, robust and equitable deal on climate change at the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen this December. The Copenhagen Communiqué, a global campaign by prominent business leaders, urges world governments to adopt the same level of coordinated response on climate change that was exhibited earlier this year at G20 negotiations on the economic downturn. The Communiqué is sponsored by The Prince of Wales' Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change and the University of Cambridge. Canadian partners and signatories Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR), WWF-Canada, LoyaltyOne (Air Miles Reward Program), and Mountain Equipment Co-op are calling on ... continue reading.

Ontario's hottest new eco adventure is now sending thrill-seekers zipping through the Carolinian forests of Norfolk County.Long Point Zip Line Canopy Tour, Observatory & Eco Adventures launched this past spring and has quickly become a major eco attraction in a region that boasts the largest remaining forest cover in Southern Ontario. In fact, Norfolk County is known as Canada's Forest Capital, a small rural county only 90 minutes south of Toronto, that is gaining a reputation as an eco gem.While visiting the site, you'll also learn about native plant, animal and bird life in this ecological paradise overlooking the marshes and bays of Long Point. The Point is one of the world's longest sandspits, jutting more than 30 km into ... continue reading.