Travel Wise Workplace awards presented at Silver Bean Closing Ceremony
The eleventh annual Shifting Gears Workplace Challenge, which took place during May, came to a close on Friday with the awarding of the Travel Wise Workplace awards. Challenge organizers and workplace coordinators met at noon at the Silver Bean Café to hear how the 2014 Workplace Challenge went and to find out who had won the awards for 2014. Mayor Daryl Bennett was on hand, showing support and presenting the awards.
Xtracycle Free Radical longtail at the closing of the 2014 Shifting Gears Workplace Challenge
In introducing the awards, Peterborough Moves Shifting Gears Coordinator Brianna Salmon spoke of the benefits of the program including improved health for participants as well as the economic benefits of the program to participants and the City in general. The US Centers for Disease Control points out we need 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week. Participants in the Workplace Challenge averaged 100 minutes of physical activity per week—all without hitting the gym or taking time out of their normal day.
There were plenty of bikes on hand at the Silver Bean for the closing of the 2014 Shifting Gears Workplace Challenge
This year was the second year that outstanding workplaces had the opportunity to compete against each other in the Master’s Class Category—a category for workplaces who had won their respective size category three or more times in the past. New this year was the award in the School Category. A couple of friendly rivalries continued. B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop and The Toy Shop, who used to challenge each other in the Micro category continued that tradition in the Master’s category. Ontario Public Service: Robinson Place managed to wrest the Large Employer category award from Fleming College, who had, in turn, taken the award from 2012 winner Robinson Place in 2013.
The award winners in each category are:
- Micro (0-10 employees):
Winner: The Food Forest Café
Runner-Up: The Silver Bean Café - Small (10-24 employees):
Winner: 100.5 Kruz FM / 101.5 The Wolf
Runner-Up: Hatch Ptbo - Medium (25-250 employees):
Winner: Peterborough Public Library
Runner-Up: Peterborough Family Resource Centre & Peterborough County‐City Health Unit O’Carroll Office (tie) - Large (>250 employees):
Winner: Ontario Public Service: Robinson Place
Runner-Up: Fleming College - Master’s Class :
Winner: B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop
Honourable Mention: The Toy Shop - Schools:
Winner: Adam Scott CVI & PS
Mira Crowe of Trent University was the Grand Prize draw winner of a $750 gift certificate from Resorts of Ontario. In accepting her award, Mira noted how many people at Trent could be involved in Shifting Gears and vowed to join in the organizing for next year’s event. Look out for Trent in 2015!
The 2014 Shifting Gears Workplace Challenge was a big success with people choosing more than ten thousand times not to take the “one-car, one-driver” option for their commute. Some important numbers from the Challenge:
- Total workplaces participating: 113
- Total kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions avoided by avoiding single driver trips: 20,881 kg
- Total number of trips made using active modes of transportation (walking, cycling, skateboarding): 10,695
- Distance Travelled using walking or cycling: 42,775 km
- Total Minutes of Physical Activity logged during the challenge: 243,932 minutes
- Average minutes of physical activity gained per person per week on the daily commute: 101 minutes
Bike transportation is more than just moving people
Congratulations to all the winners and the participants (all of whom were winners). A big round of thanks to all the organizers of this great event especially the ringleaders who help make Peterborough Moves a reality.
The campaign is a partnership between the City of Peterborough, GreenUP, Wild Rock Outfitters, the Peterborough County‐City Health Unit, Student Car Share, and B!KE.
For more information check out the Final 2014 Report and coverage at the Peterborough Examiner.