Rexdale, one of Toronto's
priority neighbourhoods, just became home to a new program that aims to fill a whole lot of economic and social priorities in one swoop: youth employment, local business assistance and sustainability, just for a start.
Cool Rexdale is simple enough -- it offers Rexdale businesses that need to replace their roofs a hand in installing a green roof. The installation itself will save the business money on energy bills while greening the local environment, but the program goes further than that. By taking advantage of government incentives and Clinton Foundation negotiating power, building owners are offered discounts of up to $100,000 on building materials.
Meanwhile the program also serves the at-risk youth of Rexdale by providing jobs for them as pre-apprentice roofers.
Brian Denney of Toronto and Region Conservation sums it up in
an announcement, saying, "The Cool Rexdale Program is exciting because it helps businesses
realize the financial benefits of reduced energy costs, while having a
positive impact on the environment, and ensuring that local residents
share in the benefits of the emerging green economy."
Toronto and Region Conservation is just one of a laundry list of partners in the project under the banner
Partners in Project Green, though the Greater Toronto Airports Authority is leading the charge since the area falls under Pearson Airport's Eco-Business Zone.
Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Partners in Project Green