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Oct 30: Victoria Project Receives Award

Victoria Project Receives Environmental Award for Climate Change

Victoria, October 30, 2002 - The Sierra Club of B.C. has been awarded a $25,000 EnviroFund award from Vancity Credit Union to improve air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through working one-on-one with Victoria residents.

Victoria Get Cool! The Climate Change Project aims to encourage people to take a closer look at the choices they make and the resulting environmental impact of those choices. Outreach workers will work with 25 participants to help show them how to make environmentally sensitive choices and make a direct connection as to how their choices result in cost-savings and emission reductions. The participants will become models of economic and environmental sustainability and be showcased through the Sustainable Living Bus.

The Sustainable Living Bus is a travelling display and education centre made from a converted schoolbus, powered by solar, wind, and propane energy. Inside are a variety of interactive, hands-on displays about transportation, household chemicals, water use, waste, energy, and eco-recreation. The bus will travel to Victoria-area community centres and public events.

Vancity's EnviroFund was established in 1990 to support environment projects in the communities the credit union serves. Over the years, the EnviroFund has donated $902,000 to community groups. The funds come from Vancity's VISA card program, which donates five per cent of profits from its Gold, Silver and EnviroFund credit cards to the EnviroFund.

This year, Vancity was looking for projects focusing on air quality and transportation, water, wetlands or watersheds, or hazardous wastes and toxins in the environment. To find out how to submit an application for a 2003 EnviroFund grant, visit vancity.com/grants or call 604-877-7620.

Vancity is Canada's largest credit union, with $7.5 billion in assets, 282,000 members, and 39 branches throughout Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Victoria. Vancity owns Citizens Bank of Canada, serving members across the country by telephone, ATM, and the Internet. Both Vancity and Citizens Bank are guided by a commitment to corporate social responsibility, and to improve the quality of life in the communities where we live and work.