Smart Commute GTA & Hamilton held its third annual Employer of the Year awards November 17th in the historic Distillery District in Toronto. Smart Commute 404-7 is proud to announce AMD as winner of the Smart Commute “Employer of the Year” for Markham & Richmond Hill area. With programs to help employees carpool, take transit, cycle and telework, AMD has helped lead the way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing healthy transportation choices. AMD has a demonstrated history of climate protection efforts, including the production line, operations, and the internal AMD Go Green Commuter Program. With more than 1,220 participants across the AMD North American sites, AMD considers the Go Green program to be a success. AMD is currently working on plans to bring this program to interested sites worldwide, starting with Bangalore, India. In addition to the participation of AMD Canada in programs with Smart Commute 404-7 in Markham (i.e. Clean Air Commute, Bike to Work Day, Carpool Week, and Car Free Day), AMD also holds employee events across North America to further promote commuting solutions, such as AMD Bike/Walk month in May and Commute Solutions month in September. Since the inception of AMD Go Green in July 2007, AMD employees in Markham have avoided driving more than 775,000 kilometres, conserving up to 78,000 litres of gasoline and preventing as much as 182,000 kilograms of CO2 emissions. This collaboration with Smart Commute 404-7 allows AMD to take advantage of synergies between the organizations and work to achieve their common goals. Richard Conohan, AMD's Supervisor, BDC Facilities, Security & Site Services, accepts the Smart Commute award on behalf of AMD-Markham.  With Richard (from left) are Smart Commute 404-7 Assistant Manager Basil Marcello, Markham Councillor Gordon Landon, Smart Commute 404-7 Project Manager (acting) George Flint, Project Assistant Jennifer Maestre, Mr. Conohan, Commuter Options Advisor (Markham) Wincy Tsang, Administrative Assistant Lucy Chen, Awards MC Christine Diakos, and Commuter Options Advisor (Richmond Hill) Paul Bradbury.  Ten workplaces from Hamilton to Newmarket to Ajax were recognized for their outstanding efforts to help employees get to work by walking, cycling, taking transit, carpooling and telework instead of driving alone in their areas. Other Smart Commute GTA & Hamilton Employers of the Year include Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Veridian, University Health Network, Power Stream, Hatch, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Maple Lodge Farms, City of Burlington, and McMaster University. Winners were selected by an independent panel of community members from various sectors across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Nominations were evaluated on the employer’s commitment to the program, leadership in their communities, innovation and results. Media contact: Paul Bradbury Smart Commute 404-7 905-884-1961 ext 24 pbradbury@smartcommute404-7.ca Reducing Traffic is Just Good Business. Honourable Mention Award Winning honourable mention, at the Awards Night, was URS, an industry leading, multi-disciplinary consulting engineering firm, active members of SC 404-7 since 2008.  URS supports and promotes transportation demand management (TDM) through a dedicated Carpool Zone group, telework and compressed work week, and flex-time hours.  Great supporters and particicpants in annual events, including Clean Air Commute and Bike-to-Work Day, URS also brings a wide array of knowledge and experience to SC 404-7's Advisory Committee.   Joining the above group - URS Senior Transportation Engineer, Kevin I. Phillips, P.Eng. (accepting the Honourable Mention Award for URS) and Smart Commute 404-7 Advisory Committee Chair, Dave Richardson (top left) MMM Group.  MMM Group was presented the Employer of the Year Award in 2008. Smart Commute is a joint venture between Metrolinx (a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario), area municipalities, and sponsors such as chambers of commerce and boards of trade.  More than 120 employers with 300,000 employees have signed on to the Smart Commute program.  Members of the public access services such as the Carpool Zone online ridematching service. Tour this website for more information about Smart Commute. Backgrounder - Smart Commute Awards Smart Commute Awards were introduced in 2007 to officially recognize employer members or partners who have put forth exceptional effort in implementing their Smart Commute programs. The award will recognize outstanding commitment, leadership, innovation and results. Smart Commutes from across the GTHA nominated their top employers and ten local ‘Employers of the Year’ were selected: • Smart Commute 404-7 – AMD • Smart Commute Durham – Veridian • Smart Commute Toronto-Central – University Health Network • Smart Commute Northeast Toronto – Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre • Smart Commute North Toronto, Vaughan – PowerStream • Smart Commute Central York – Southlake Regional Health Centre • Smart Commute Mississauga – Hatch • Smart Commute Brampton-Caledon – Maple Lodge Farms • Smart Commute Halton – City of Burlington • Smart Commute Hamilton – McMaster University A regional ‘Employer of the Year’ was selected from the ten local winners to recognize the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area’s top Smart Commute employer. The 2009 winner was Hatch from Smart Commute Mississauga. In addition, a Smart Commute Champion award was given to an individual who has shown exceptional dedication to the program. The 2009 recipient of the award was Nancy Grieveson from Exhibition Place in Toronto. For more information on the successes of the recipients, visit www.smartcommute.ca/awards. Smart Commute Awards Review Panel The Smart Commute Award winners were selected by an independent review panel comprised of community members from various sectors across the region. This year’s panel was chaired by the Director of Oakville Transit, Barry Cole and consisted of representatives from the following: • Durham Sustain Ability • Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation (TCAT) • Direct Energy • Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Congratulations to AMD, 2009 Smart Commute Employer of the Year for the Markham, Richmond Hill area!

Car Free Day September 22, 2009 World Wide Event   Did you join people from 1500 other countries around the world in celebrating International Car Free Day?    Smart Commute 404-7 Car Free Day Promotion! Smart Commute 404-7, in partnership with York Region Transit (YRT/VIVA), encouraged employees within Markham and Richmond Hill, who currently drive to work, to pledge to be "car-free" on Car Free Day, September 22nd.  SC 404-7 provided FREE round trip YRT/VIVA tickets to 56 qualified employees of currently active SC 404-7 companies.     Car Free Day Mini Contest Employees working within Markham and Richmond Hill who participated in Car Free Day on September 22nd, were invited to enter the Smart Commute 404-7 Car Free Day "Mini Contest." Participants sent a photo of commuters being "car-free" (for example, at a bus stop or on a bicycle) or provided a story of their car-free experience.    Our Car Free Day Mini Contest winner was Bruce Block, Senior Municipal Inspector, Engineering and Public Works Department, Town of Richmond Hill.  Bruce's son is the lucky recipient of the 21 speed bicycle prize that his Dad won for his contest entry (see the Blog Page for details). To submit your story and photos to the Blog Page, upload details to the Smart Commute 404-7 Facebook Site or email them to admin@smartcommute404-7.ca with "Blog" in the subject line.   Share your commuting experiences!  Make the roads safer and less busy (and save commuting costs too).

 

York Central Hospital Online with SC 404-7 ON DISPLAY AT YCH   York Central Hospital began Spring early, this March, with a  Smart Commute 404-7 survey of commuting habits and preferences.  SC 404-7 events will be featured in the coming months, to increase awareness of cost savings and the environmental benefits of alternative commuting.   The Hospital is located on the corner of Major MacKenzie Avenue and Trench Street, in one of the busiest traffic areas of Richmond Hill.  Patient and visitor accessibility is vital, and the facility's redevelopment department is playing a key role in the process.

Oscar Morales, from the SPD department and Gilbert Wu, MD, joined SC 404-7's Paul Bradbury, in the York Central Hospital Atrium to discuss routes to the complex.

Markham Stouffville Hospital Bike Tune-up
A brilliant summer day's activity was also a safety-plus success, as dozens of Markham Stouffville Hospital staffers brought their environment-friendly bicycles to a free Smart Commute 404-7 Bike Tune-up. The event, in August 2009, promoted biking to work.  Employees from MSH received information on bike safety and other smart commuting alternatives, as well as receiving bike tune-ups. The Hospital staff recently participated in a commuter survey to help redevelopment plans for the busy complex.

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CANADA DAY & SMART COMMUTE 404-7	20,000 visitors at the annual Richmond Green Canada Day celebrations visit Smart Commute 404-7
Richmond Green Sports Centre & Park 1300 Elgin Mills Road East Richmond Hill	Councillor Vito Spatafora and Smart Commute 404-7's Paul Bradbury chat with Hon. Bryon Wilfert, MP for Richmond Hill and Mrs. Wilfert at the 2008 Home Show. Join us at the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce Home Show - Canada Day '10!

Commuter Options Advisor Paul Bradbury & Project Assistant Jennifer Maestre staff the Smart Commute 404-7 display.

Administrative Assistant Lucy Chen is surrounded by visitors at the 2009 Home Show.

June 14 - 18, 2010

Clean Air Commute 

- Clean Air Commute is the #1 rated event by Smart Commute's participating employers -

Commuter Engagement

·         Commuters are encouraged to log their ‘clean air commutes’ either online or by hard copy diary card during the week of June 14-18

§         Eligible activities include walk, cycling, taking transit, carpooling, teleworking, driving a scooter or motorcycle, driving a hybrid car, driving a tuned-up vehicle or driving a natural gas vehicle.

·         Commuters who register and complete the diary card for at least one day are eligible to win prizes randomly drawn from among their fellow workplace registrants or all registrants in the GTHA.

Ahhhhhhhh!!   Clean Air Commuting is a great way to add nothing to greenhouse gas emissions. Every year, Canadians produce an average of five tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by driving cars, heating and cooling their home, washing and drying clothes, and using other appliances. In fact, transportation accounts for 25 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. While climate change is one of the most serious issues facing our country and our planet, the good news is that individuals can help protect the climate by reducing their personal greenhouse gas emissions with a few simple changes: • Drive 10% less, by walking, cycling, carpooling or using public transit: can save 0.2 to 0.8 tonnes • Use gasoline enhanced with 10% ethanol: can save 0.1 tonnes • Maintain your vehicle according to the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule: can save 0.3 tonnes • By using energy more efficiently, you’ll not only contribute to cleaner air, you’ll save money year after year.   The winner of the Raleigh Bike at the Sheraton Parkway hotel was Banquets Supervisor, Javaid Farooqui.  Javaid is presented with the bike by Carole-Anne Williams, coordinator for the program at the Hotel.  Javaid regularly takes public transit from his home in downtown Toronto to the Hotel in Richmond Hill. iTRANS Consulting Inc. Raleigh bicycle winner Robyn Reich is congratulated by Smart Commute 404-7 coordinator, Paul Bradbury in the iTRANS staff lounge HSBC winner Elisa He with Alice & Harinder Coulson   An excellent Clean Air Commute display at Scholastic Canada!     TESTIMONALS “I had not anticipated how much fun it would be riding in with other employees. This has meant getting to know my colleagues better, which improves work relations, and learning about other areas of the company.  Plus, the drive goes by very quickly.” – “Vanpooler” Laura Safrance, Enbridge Gas Distribution “Practically speaking, cycling to work has definitely saved on gas, emissions and costs, as well as allowing me to get my daily exercise. Hopefully programs such as the Clean Air Commute will continue until such time as it becomes almost second nature.” – “Cyclist” Paul Nishikawa, City of Pickering “Walking to work never really crossed my mind, because I thought it would be too much of an inconvenience.  The Clean Air Commute was the main reason that I decided to change.  Otherwise I might not have tried doing the walk.” – “Walker” Patrick Blady, MMM Group Board of Directors Edward J. Babin, Chairman Jennifer Hooper Marjorie Lamb Ian Morton Scott Mulligan Dianne Saxe Advisory Board Robert Bateman Joel Bell Sherry Brydson Charles S. Coffey Hon. David Crombie Dr. John R. Evans Hon. J. Trevor Eyton Rick George Buzz Hargrove Marifé Hernández Bell Hon. Henry N.R. Jackman Dr. Joseph MacInnis Michael MacMillan Dr. John C. Polanyi Maurice F. Strong John. H. Tory Champions Jennifer Corriero Atom Egoyan Michael Furdyk Frank Gerstein Don McKellar Rob Sandolowich Pollution Probe's Olivia Nugent presents Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce a 100% Participation Award.  Accepting for the Chamber - Smart Commute 404-7's Paul Bradbury By teleconferencing, walking, bicycling or carpooling to work, participating companies and their employees save thousands of kilos of vehicle emissions!

Special thanks to last year’s commuting champions! They proved that nothing is possible by participating in Pollution Probe’s Clean Air Commute. Acuity Funds Ltd.     AIM Trimark Investments         Allstream             BA Group Transportation Consultants                 Bell Canada                     Bentall Real Estate Services                 Bereskin & Parr, Intellectual Property Law             Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP BMO Bank of Montreal - GTA North Commercial Banking      Brandes Investment Partners & Co.         Bruce Mau Design             CAA South Central Ontario                 Canada Law Book                     Canada Life Campus                         Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited                             CESO/SACO                                    CH2M HILL CIBC Mellon (Toronto and London Branches)      Cineplex Entertainment LP            Citi                City Formation International                     City of Burlington                         City of Hamilton                             City of Mississauga                                 City of Pickering                                            City of Toronto                                            City of Vaughan                                                 CLB Media CPPI - Canadian Petroleum Products Institute     DeBeers Canada Inc.         Direct Energy              Doner Canada                  du Toit Allsopp Hillier                      du Toit Architects                          DuPont Corporate Centre Emond  Montgomery Publications      Enbridge Gas Distribution          Environment Canada - Downsview               Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Financial Services Commission of Ontario     Flextronics Automotive Inc         FNX Mining Company Inc.             G.A.P Adventures                Gartner Lee Limited GE Canada Corporate Headquarters at Meadowvale     Genuine Health         GlobeScan Incorporated             GO Transit                 Golder Associates Ltd.                       Greater Toronto Airports Authority                            Halsall Associated Limited Halton Region     Hatch Ltd.          Hewitt Associates - Toronto             Hill and Knowlton Toronto                  HSBC Bank Canada - Direct Channels East                      Hubell Canada LP                          Husky Injection Molding Systems                               Hydro One Inc.                                   Hydrogenics Corporation                                        IBM Canada                                                  ICF International                                                       ING Canada                                                  iTRANS Consulting                                         Jacques Whitford Ltd.                                   Janssen-Ortho                        Kao Brands Canada Inc.                 Knoll North America Corp.           LCBO Mackenzie Financial Corporation      Manulife Financial           Maple Lodge Farms                McMillan LLP                       Media Profile                             Metrolinx                                 Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services - George Drew Complex    Ministry of Culture          Ministry of Economic Development and Trade               Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure                   Ministry of Government & Consumer Services               Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing       Ministry of Research and Innovation Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship       Ministry of the Environment             Ministry of Transportation                 MMM Group Ltd.            Montgomery Sisam Architects Morgan Meighen & Associates Ltd./Investment Managers     North York General Hospital         Nuclear Waste Management Organization Office of the Premier and Cabinet Office     Ontario Energy Board         Ontario Medical Association Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and the Conservation Bureau (a division of the OPA)         Ontario Power Generation               ORTECH Environmental/Power         Owens Corning Insulating Systems - Toronto Oxford Properties (Mississauga Executive Centre)         Parc Downsview Park Inc.              Parsons                  Pearson Canada                       PowerStream                  R.C.M.P. - Toronto North Detachment              RainMaker       RBC Insurance - Burlington Region of Peel       Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce              Ricoh Canada (Yonge St. location) Ricoh Canada Inc. (Head Office - Explore Drive location)       Ricoh Canada Inc. (Superior Blvd. Location)               Rivet                     Ryerson University                            Sanofi Pasteur                                   SAS Institute (Canada)                                         Scholastic Canada Ltd.                        Seneca College, Seneca @ York Campus                  Shell Canada           Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Smart Commute Peel           SNC - Lavalin ProFac                 Sobeys Ontario                        St. Lawrence Cement                               Stikeman Elliott LLP                        Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre            TBWA/Toronto TD Commercial Banking, York Region Commercial Banking Centre       Teknion             The Brainstorm Group                 The Cartwright Group Ltd.                         The Clean Air Foundation                 The Corporation of the City of Oshawa The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company     The Neptis Foundation         The Regional Municipality of Durham The Regional Municipality of York & York Regional Police     The Salamander Foundation          The Taligent Group                 Ticketmaster Canada          Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Toronto Hydro Corporation     Town of Ajax         Town of Aurora             Town of East Gwillimbury                 Town of Markham                     Town of Milton                          Town of Newmarket                                Town of Oakville                                      Town of Richmond Hill                                                Town of Whitby                                      University Health Network                                University of Toronto Mississauga                         Veridian Connections Inc.                   Wilson Vukelich LLP             World Vision    Xerox Canada York Catholic District School Board     York University         Zurich Canada Jeff Hagan of iTRANS won a back pack for having the highest pollution savings score for the week. David Schleihauf, of iTRANS Consulting won a lunch kit for using the most efficient means of Smart Commuting most often throughout the week

All employees who participated in 2009's Clean Air Commute were entered in Pollution Probe's special draw for a chance to win one of the following three Grand Prizes:

• 7-day Norwegian Cruise Line Caribbean Cruise. A truly relaxed, resort-style experience with the complete flexibility of Freestyle Cruising, courtesy of Cruise Holidays of Etobicoke/Mississauga, Encore Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines.

• A Dell laptop computer - ideal for teleworking needs.

• A 3-day wilderness canoe or kayak trip from “Canadian Canoe and Kayak Trips Wilderness Adventures.”
   

• PLUS each participating organization received a Raleigh Mountain Bike to use as a draw prize for employees who participated in Clean Air Commute 2008. To build excitement about the Commute, we delivered these prizes to participating workplaces so it could be displayed for the month of June - a great incentive to get people thinking about cleaner ways to commute!