Shifting Gears Workplace Travel Wise awards presented at closing ceremony
The ninth annual Shifting Gears Workplace Challenge, which took place during May, came to a close on Friday, with the awarding of the workplace Travel Wise awards. Workplace coordinators and other organizers met at noon at the Silver Bean to hear how the 2012 Workplace Challenge went and to find out who had won the Travel Wise awards.
Bikes gather at the Silver Bean for the closing of the 2012 Shifting Gears Workplace Challenge
Attendees heard from speakers Keith Riel (from City Council), Donald Fraser (from P-BAC) and Brianna Salmon (Peterborough Moves Shifting Gears Coordinator) as they spoke of the benefits of the program and highlights of the 2012 challenge.
Donald Fraser then Councillor Keith Riel speak at 2012 Shifting Gears Closing Ceremony
There were over 35,000 alternate trips taken by program participants in May which prevented the generation of over 38 thousand kilograms of CO2. Over 1,500 employees at over 100 workplaces took part. Notable for the 2012 program was a proportional shift from car pooled trips to cycling and walking (over 100,000 kilometres!). More people are opting for human-powered transportation to get to work.
The company award winners in each category are:
- Micro (0-10 employees):
Winner: B!ke & The Toy Shop (tie)
Honourable Mention: Firehouse Gourmet & Trent Institute for Watershed Science - Small (10-24 employees):
Winner: CIBC Wood Gundy
Honourable Mention: Wild Rock Outfitters - Medium (25-250 employees):
Winner: Ontario Public Service: Trent University & Trent Metals Ltd. (tie)
Honourable Mention: Peterborough Family Resource Centre - Large (>250 employees):
Winner: Walmart
Honourable Mention: Ontario Public Service: Robinson Place
Shifting Gears Program Coordinator Brianna Salmon outlines highlights of 2012 Program
Congratulations were also in order for Kent Keeling of the City of Peterborough, who won the individual participant award—a $750 gift certificate for Resorts of Ontario!
All-in-all, the 2012 Shifting Gears Workplace Challenge was a big success, with more people choosing more often to opt out of the “one-car, one-driver” option and take alternate forms of transportation.
Thanks go out to Patagonia for helping fund this community program. If you agree, let them know.