Philanthropist Carol Newell will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 11th Annual PEAK Awards Gala May 13. Carol, heiress to the Newell Rubbermaid fortune and founder of Endswell Foundation and Renewal Partners (and SharedVISION’s February cover girl!), has given tens of millions of dollars to companies committed to social justice and environmental sustainability. womeninfinance.ca; endswell.org; renewalpartners.com

Dag Falck, organic program manager at Nature’s Path Foods, received the Canadian Health Food Association’s Organics Achievement Award last month. Nature’s Path, based in B.C., is North America’s largest organic breakfast cereals manufacturer. Dag and other luminaries in the Canadian natural health and organic industry were honoured last month by the CHFA for their outstanding contributions to the sector. chfa.ca; naturespath.com

Vancity wants your business to go green—and will help you get there. Canada’s biggest credit union became the first bank in North America to go carbon neutral last month thanks to a rigorous emissions-reduction program. Now, Vancity has announced it will pay for 25 small- to medium-sized businesses to participate in Ecotrust Canada’s Climate Smart Workgroups, launched last year in partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation and the Pembina Institute, to help organizations reduce their CO2 emissions. ecotrustcan.org; vancity.ca

Students at Vancouver’s York House School took top honours in the Rogers Phones-for-Food High School Challenge last month. York House beat out four other schools to collect the most old cellphones for recycling—and thus diverting them from the landfill. Proceeds from sales to the remanufacturing industry go to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. As for the kids, they were awarded $3,000 for their graduating class’s commencement activities. rogers.ca; think-food.com

Metro Vancouver is eager to hear your trash talk. The City is seeking input on two waste management plans, one for the region’s yearly 3.6 million tonnes of solid waste, and the other for the 440 billion litres of sewage we produce per annum. Fire off your comments by May 23 to icentre@metrovancouver.org, or post to Metro Vancouver, Public Involvement Division, 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C., V5H 4G8. metrovancouver.org

Help on greening your home is now just a click away, thanks to the B.C. Real Estate Association. The organization has launched its online Green Tool Kit to educate both consumers and real estate professionals on the benefits of greener homes. The site also provides suggestions for homeowners on how to make sustainable renovations, and offers links to juicy rebates and incentives. greentoolkit.ca

Call the landlord! Happy Building, a new business in town, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in apartment buildings by giving owners greater control over energy consumption. Happy Building’s wireless thermostat, designed to heat parts of a building based on occupancy instead of heating the whole building at once, eliminates unnecessary energy use, the company claims, by 30 to 40 per cent. happybuilding.com 

We’ve ditched plastic bags in favour of more sustainable options, yet those spontaneous stops at the supermarket ensure a few still creep into our homes. You can’t relegate them to the Blue Box, but you can take them to London Drugs and other stores for recycling. To find a participating retailer near you, visit myplasticbags.ca (click on “Stores Collecting Bags”).

Got some dirt? Give it up. E-mail editor@shared-vision.com.

Oprah has turned the world onto Eckhart Tolle, the Vancouver-based author and spiritual teacher. Oprah, always the star-maker, picked Eckhart’s latest book, A New Earth, for her book club; Tolle has also joined her for a free 10-week internet seminar. In the three years since A New Earth came out it has sold a half-million copies. Now with the “Power of Oprah,” Penguin, the publisher, is printing a million copies a week to meet demand. eckharttolle.com

Women with breast cancer can now navigate their way through the disease on the internet. Created by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (BC/Yukon Region), the new website offers an interactive online navigation map that allows women to equip themselves, in the privacy of their own homes, with the tools to make informed decisions about how to proceed through their journey with breast cancer. Each stage is accompanied by short videos of survivors talking about their experiences and offering advice. breastcancernavigationmap.com

Betty Krawczyk has been named “one of the 150 people who have shaped B.C.’s story” by Victoria’s Royal B.C. Museum. Krawczyk, the 79-year-old environmental crusader who did 10 months’ hard time for protesting highway construction on West Van’s Eagleridge Bluffs, is also running for mayor of Vancouver under the Work Less Party banner. bettysearlyedition.blogspot.com

Vancouver Film Studios is the first facility of its kind in Canada to go carbon neutral. After a year of planning and preparation, VFS now boasts, among other initiatives, energy-efficient light replacement programs for offices, reduced temperatures in vacant stages, LCD screens (in place of plasma screens), and a composting program for kitchen scraps. To achieve carbon neutral status, VFS corporate practices underwent rigorous analysis by Go Neutral Now Consulting. vancouverfilmstudios.com; goneutralnow.com

Derek Gent is the new executive director of the Vancity Community Foundation. Gent was an investment manager at Vancity Capital for the past seven years. Before that, he was the first manager of social responsibility and community at Coast Capital Savings. Gent steps into his new role April 1.

Vancouver-based neurologist Dr. John Stewart is donating part of his pay to build healthy communities in Africa. By signing up for Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief’s Third Annual World Health Day Challenge, Dr. Stewart pledged to donate a portion of his income to support development work in rural African communities. Dr. Stewart is one of 25 doctors and health practitioners in Canada who’ve risen to the Challenge. World Health Day is April 7. cpar.ca

A new store in Kits invites you to indulge in some feel-good spending. The recently opened The Bright Side is Canada’s first “Genuine Neighbourhood Shoppe” (a store that originated in New England) and it carries exclusively the “Life is Good” brand of organic cotton clothing, sustainable housewares, non-toxic, recyclable doggie toys, and much more. Visit 3036 W. Broadway, lifeisgoodvancouver.com .

Tickets are on sale for the brand-new Pemberton (music) Festival July 25-27. Headliners include Nine Inch Nails, Jay-Z, Coldplay, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but what we really love about this fest is its commitment to being green: cars arriving with four or more people will park for free, Pemberton Valley-grown food will be served throughout the 360-acre festival site, and a farmers’ market, where local growers can sell their goods directly to concertgoers, is in the works. pembertonfestival.com

Vancouverites yearning for simpler times and greener transportation will get the best of both worlds when they hop a streetcar to get between Granville Island and Second Avenue. As part of the preparations for the 2010 Winter Games, the City has approved the replacement of rail tracks between Granville Island and the future Olympic Village SkyTrain station. The City is also hoping to develop a Downtown Streetcar Demonstration Project, using modern streetcar equipment, for the Games. vancouver.ca/streetcar

Want to be Power Smart? Then let BC Hydro light the way towards cutting energy use in your home. Till April 30, Hydro is offering in-store discounts on compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) and ENERGY STAR light fixtures. To find participating retailers, see bchydro.com/powersmart/cfl/cfl8605.html .

Got some dirt? Give it up. E-mail editor@shared-vision.com.

Last month in our Visionary section, Romi Chandra (left)proposed to his partner, Spencer Herbert. “When he finished the article,” says Romi, “he was very shocked and surprised. He turned to me and said, ‘You know, reading the article is one thing, but are you going to ask me something?’ In my nervousness, I had forgotten to actually ask... so I did, and he said yes without hesitation.” Aww, we love a happy ending.

B.C. has become a North American leader in the fight against global warming with the introduction of a carbon tax. As part of the province’s 2008 budget, released Feb. 19, the carbon tax will apply to activities that have a substantial impact on the planet, including heating our homes, and producing and burning gasoline, propane, coal, etc. In a nutshell, the more you pollute, the more you pay. bcbudget.gov.bc.ca

Katherine Soucie, the talent behind the cutting-edge Sans Soucie clothing line, was recently named the winner of the 2008 Design Green Project. Katherine takes sustainable fashion to new heights by using recycled nylon (as in pantyhose) to create her one-of-a-kind dresses, separates, and incomparably adorable knee socks. sanssoucie.ca

In other award news, Mountain Equipment Co-op received accolades last month for its social and environmental leadership. The member-owned retail co-op of outdoor goods and services was chosen as the overall winner of the Conference Board of Canada/Spencer Stuart 2008 National Awards in Governance, for its implementation of a sustainability strategy to ensure its short- and long-term success. mec.ca

Speaking of MEC, the co-op wants your old clothes. MEC has introduced a garment recycling program at all 11 of its stores across Canada, with still-serviceable threads going to local shelters. The only catch is your donated duds must be over 90 per cent polyester. No sweat for those of you with a fondness for ’70s leisure suits. mec.ca

Calling all students with a passion for the planet: wanna make a movie about the environment—and maybe win 500 bucks? As part of the Second Annual Environmental Film Festival, the Green Ideas Network and the City of Surrey are launching a Student Video Contest. Entries are due by March 30, so get the camera rolling. Details: naturematters.surrey.ca (click on “events”)

Vancouver’s own shakti mhi has written a book. The founder of Prana Yoga College and creator of the hatha yoga DVD The Yoga Experience invites you to explore your own authentic enlightenment experience in The Enigma of Self-Realization (Essention Publishing, $24). To purchase, visit shaktimhi.com/book-for-sale .

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the spiritual teacher celebrated for introducing meditation to the West, died at his home in the Netherlands Feb. 5. The Maharishi, also known as the “Giggling Guru,” rose to international prominence after the Beatles visited his ashram in 1968. He was believed to be 91.

In an effort to meet the goals of its “Zero Waste Challenge,” Metro Vancouver imposed new recycling and disposal restrictions this year. To get the poop on what exactly is banned from the trash (including all blue box recyclables), visit rcbc.bc.ca. For more info on other waste reduction initiatives, see metrovancouver.org .

The Haven Institute turns 25 this year. Situated on Gabriola Island, The Haven is a leading-edge residential training centre that offers courses on personal and professional development. “The 25th-anniversary year is a moment of passage,” says John Shields, executive director. “My hope is that it is not a door or a gate between past and future, but a transition way that brings the best of the past into the present, as a gift to the future.” haven.ca

Finally, dear reader, new letters to the editor sparked by our February issue are on our website at shared-vision.com .

Got something you’d like to share? E-mail letters@shared-vision.com.

Congrats to Pivot Legal Society, which raised a whopping $18,000 during its fifth annual silent and live auction last month. The 350-person, sold-out event was—thanks to comic burlesque team Screaming Chickens—the sexiest party this town has seen all year. Pivot Legal is a local non-profit that advocates on the behalf of marginalized persons on the Downtown Eastside. pivotlegal.org

Friends and colleagues of Carol Newell, new Member of the Order of Canada, gathered last month at Vancouver’s Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar to honour the millionaire’s appointment for her leadership in championing environmental sustainability. In true form, Newell credited others with helping her direct $60 million—the bulk of her inherited wealth—to “heal the Earth and one another.”

Vancity has awarded $265,000 to 10 non-profits through its annual enviroFund program. The grants range from $6,000 to $40,000 and go to groups who are creating imaginative solutions for environmental issues in their communities. The largest grant goes to the Stanley Park Ecology Society, which will receive $40,000 to help repair the damage inflicted on the park by windstorms last year. vancity.com

In other Vancity news, the credit union was recently named as the company with the highest number of female and non-white executives in Canada. Toronto’s Corporate Knights (Magazine) Leadership Diversity Index, which identifies the top 10 Canadian companies that have achieved the greatest visible minority and female representation in both the boardroom and the CEO’s suite, ranked Vancity at No. 1 with nearly 72 per cent.

Gregor Robertson, MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, is demanding more stringent legislation to regulate toxins in B.C. Robertson introduced two Private Member’s Bills Nov. 14 that would ban toxic substances already prohibited in other provinces and countries, and mandate that suppliers and producers warn consumers if their products contain toxic chemicals or genetically engineered food. Cross your fingers. gregorbc.ca

Victoria’s Dr. Abram Hoffer has been co-awarded the Dr. Rogers Prize for his groundbreaking work in orthomolecular medicine, the practice of preventing and treating disease by providing the body with optimal amounts of various natural chemical substances. Hoffer, 89, shares the $250,000 prize with Dr. Alastair Cunningham of Toronto. drrogersprize.org

Vancouver Opera has set the wheels in motion to encourage opera-goers to use public transportation to get to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Patrons who present their transit tickets or monthly pass at the theatre will receive a voucher that gets them 10 per cent off their next full-priced ticket to a Vancouver Opera production. See vancouveropera.ca for details.

Urbanthinkers, a Vancouver-based sustainable transportation group, wants you to save a tree this holiday season and opt for using fallen boughs and branches instead to spruce up your living room. “For over 10 years we’ve been able to find great ‘trees’ after an autumn storm or heavy rainfall,” says Arthur Orsini, Urbanthinkers’ project coordinator. “Last year’s windstorms offered a bonanza of choices.” urbanthinkers.ca

B.C.-based Earthcycle Packaging and the Oppenheimer Group took home a sustainability prize for their fully home-compostable four-pack of organic kiwifruit. The companies received the honour at the Produce Marketing Association 2007 Fresh Summit International Convention and Exposition in Houston, Tex. The four-pack will be distributed to retail outlets throughout the U.S. earthcycle.com; oppyproduce.com

Got a tip? Give it up. E-mail editor@shared-vision.com.

Greg Smith and Marlene Dowle of Delta were the lucky winners of the “Living La Vida Eco” contest, comprised of a one-night stay for two at Victoria’s Sooke Harbour House, an Organic Islands Festival package, and other green goodies. “SharedVISION Magazine is good food for the mind—thank you for the gourmet experience for the rest of me,” said Marlene.

Vancity has launched a bike sharing “experiment.” Participants borrow one of 45 bright red cruisers for three weeks before passing it along. Sounds like a great idea, though cyclists who have to tackle the city’s hills reportedly rue the one-speed! weallprofit.vancity.com, changeeverything.ca. In other Vancity news, Tamara Vrooman is new CEO.

Dag Falck, organic program manager at Nature’s Path Foods in Richmond, was recently appointed Canada VP to the Organic Trade Association (OTA). The OTA represents organic interests in Canada and the U.S. ota.com, naturespath.com.

Your kids are doing it, your uncle’s doing it, and even SharedVISION’s doing it—“facebooking,” that is. Join SharedVISION’s new Facebook group at facebook.com.

The City of Vancouver has appointed Melina Scholefield as its new sustainability manager. Scholefield has been in transportation planning and design in Vancouver for the last seven years, and most recently worked on EcoDensity. city.vancouver.bc.ca/sustainability.

Student group Bring A Bag Everywhere (BABE) is lobbying the City of Vancouver to introduce a $0.15 “lifecycle charge” on single-use bags. Look for their petition at ipetitions.com/petition/bringabageverywhere or search “getting rid of plastic bags” on Facebook.

Buying or selling? Want to do it green? Macdonald Realty and the Offsetters Climate Neutral Society are offering carbon-neutral home sales and purchases. Offsetters will invest directed funds into carbon dioxide emission-reducing projects. macrealty.com, offsetters.ca.

Grist recently named Vancouver one of the 15 greenest cities in the world. Find out why at grist.org. Do you agree? Send your thoughts to letters@shared-vision.com.

Learn waterproofing and drainage construction when Green Roofs is in Vancouver on August 15. Green Roof Design 301 takes place at the BCIT Downtown Campus. An understanding of roof design and technology is required. For info, visit greenroofs.org.

In addition to Free Geek (freegeekvancouver.org) and the Electronic Recycling Association (era.ca), you’ve now got one less excuse to hang on to that monitor from 1995. Encorp launches its electronics recycling program on August 1 (encorp.ca).

Congratulations to Suzette Amaya of Samaya Entertainment, who was selected as one of 12 role models for the National Aboriginal Role Model Program.

Ethical Bean Coffee joins a handful of other roasters in going carbon neutral. The Vancouver company has invested in carbon offsets for production of its fair trade certified organic coffee, balancing all emissions for warehouse-to-store activities. They’ve also applied for LEED gold standard certification for their roasting facility.

Got a tip? Email editor@shared-vision.com.

Jason Mogus, CEO of Communicopia (communicopia.net), is fresh from a NYC trip where he was bestowed with a Webby Award for his company’s development of the UN Foundation website “Nothing But Nets.”

Just because Vancouver doesn’t get its own Live Earth event doesn’t mean we can’t be part of the fun. Watch live coverage of the worldwide concert—which includes The Police, KT Tunstall, Roger Waters, and Alicia Keys—at Robson Square on July 7, 12 noon to 9 p.m. You can also participate in an outdoor music festival and eco-village. Info: globalhabitatfestival.com.

A motley group of high-impact social change leaders recently had a think fest on how to work together for a more just and sustainable world. This is the second year for the Social Change Institute at Hollyhock Centre on Cortes Island (hollyhockleadership.org), bringing together 100+ mostly BC-based non-profits and companies to generate solutions.

Salt Spring Island Grade 12 student Fiona Munro has won a $1,000 CBC Leadership Challenge Award for creating a student-led Sustainability Board and a climate change program at her school. Fiona credits The Minerva Foundation for BC Women’s Learning to Lead program for inspiration.

Tzeporah Berman, founder of Forest Ethics, appears in Leonardo DiCaprio’s new documentary The 11th Hour (11thhourfilm.com). She’s interviewed along with over 50 scientists, thinkers, and leaders who discuss the state of the environment. The film will be in theatres this fall.

It all started with two moms who wanted to do something for the planet. Wheels for Change (wheelsforchange.ca) is a group of cyclists who are journeying from Nelson to Victoria, collectively aiming to cycle 40,000 km. They’ll pass through Vancouver on July 21.

Meet people and eat gourmet vegan cuisine at some of Vancouver’s finest restaurants with Earthsave’s Dine-Outs. A recent outing included a meal at South Granville’s Star Anise. Non-vegetarians welcome. Information: earthsave.ca/dineouts.

Check out Michael Moore’s film Sicko, about the U.S.’s health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, now playing at a theatre near you.

Smart Growth BC recently presented its “Smarty Awards” for excellence in leadership, planning, policy, development, and engineering in B.C. Congratulations to Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden architects + urbanistes / S.R. McEwen Associated Architects, the District of Maple Ridge, Parklane Homes, and Gordon Price.

Joel Solomon of Renewal Partners recently spoke at the Vancouver Board of Trade, as part of 30 Days of Sustainability.
Photo: Dave Roels / Vancouver Board of Trade

Congratulations to Kelowna’s Summerhill Pyramid Winery. The organic vineyard won six prizes in the 2007 All Canadian Wine Championships, including Best Sparkling Wine of the Year. Info: summerhill.bc.ca.

Dr. Lisa Palleson-Stallan (Lotuswear),Dr. Tara Cullis (David Suzuki Foundation), Donna Wilson (VANOC Sustainability), and Bonnie Fenton (Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition) are among the nominees for the 2007 YWCA Women of Distinction Award (ywcavan.org).

Sierra Club BC and the BC Sustainable Energy Association have been shortlisted for the $1 Million Vancity Grant. Their project Solar For Schools will introduce solar energy to B.C. schools and neighbourhoods. More info at sierraclub.ca/bc/.

The Environmental Youth Alliance
(EYA) Green Workplace Program has won the One Day Award for Leadership on Climate Change and Energy Consumption, City of Vancouver Youth Awards. Info: eya.ca, vancouveryouth.ca.

New Westminster’s Boucher Institute
of Naturopathic Medicine was recently named one of the Best Medical Schools in North America by the Princeton Review—one of just two BC schools selected. Info: binm.org.

Film star and eco-activist Daryl Hannah was one of the attendees at Hollyhock’s Media That Matters conference last month. dhlovelife.com, mediathatmatters.org.

Rumour has it that Roots will be opening its long-anticipated eco-friendly Vancouver location on West 4th at Arbutus at the end of this month. Info: roots.ca.

Get in shape and get outside with the GVRD’s outdoor yoga, poi spinning, and tai chi classes, offered at Burnaby Lake Regional Park and Deas Island Park (Delta). Details: gvrd.bc.ca/checkitout.

Business Objects recently launched a new carbon reduction challenge initiative. The company is asking employees to submit ideas on how it can reduce its carbon footprint. Business Objects also donated $10,000 to Evergreen. Info: businessobjects.com.

The Gaining Ground Urban Development Leadership Summit,held June 4-6 in Victoria, is one of North America’s premier events for business, policy, and education. This year’s conference is on sustainability,
and keynote speaker is Paul Hawken (author of Natural Capitalism). Info: gaininggroundsummit.com.

You’ve probably seen them around the neighbourhood: lawn signs that state, “Next election I’m voting for real action on climate change. Please reduce emissions now.” Get your own from Voters Taking Action on Climate Change: vtacc.org.

Got some dirt? Send an email to editor@shared-vision.com and we’ll do our best to include it in the next issue.