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Remote Ontario First Nation Communities get first
Energy Conservation Kits
Thunder Bay, September 7, 2007
The delivery phase of “Mana-cha-toon
Wash-ti-ni-gun,” or the “Conserve the Light,” project
began this morning at Thunder Bay Airport. A Wasaya Airways plane
was loaded with Energy Conservation Kits (ECK) prepared for delivery
to remote First Nation communities without road access.
This initiative is part of the Provincial Energy Efficiency & Conservation
Measures for Aboriginal Communities (EEMAC) program launched in
Thunder Bay at the Mana-cha-toon Wash-ti-ni-gun (Conserve the Light)
Gathering last May. The Gathering was attended by over 130 representatives
from 65 First Nations communities; EEMAC is funded by the Ontario
Power Authority (OPA).
The first load of 4000 kits are going to the residents living
in (Bob Shine will provide community names) remote communities
in Northern Ontario. Next week’s flights the ECK will be
transported on a regular Hydro One flight used to transport service
technicians into remote locations. The first flight was witnessed
by Thunder Bay–Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro and MPP for Thunder
Bay-Superior North Michael Gravelle, Hydro One representative Bob
Shine, (insert Wasaya rep name and title) and the EEMAC Core Committee
who have provided guidance and supported the program since inception.
(Agnes Hardy- Biinjitawabik Saugeen Anishinabek Elder, Adrienne
Fox-Keesic, Wawatay Communications-Radio Director, Bill Perrault,
Seven Generations Education Institute, Roy Morris- Director of
Kwayaciiwin Resource Center, Solomon Beardy - Elder Sachigo First
Nation, Jon Del Ben, Recorder and Clarence White, Elder Whitefish
Bay First Nation), Nishnawbe-Aski Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler
and EEMAC Project Manager Charles Fox,
Charles Fox observed, “After these kits have landed, ECK
delivery will rollout to the 23,000 on-reserve homes in over 100
communities across Ontario. The kits include easy-to-install compact
florescent light (CFLs) bulbs, faucet aerators, pipe wraps, fridge
and freezer thermometers, low flow shower head, an outdoor timer
for Christmas lights or your car in the winter and other devices
that will result in immediate reductions in energy use. Electricity
conservation is critical for many remote communities with power
often provided by diesel generators that require fuel delivered
by aircraft or winter roads, both expensive procedures.”
The OPA is working directly with First Nation communities on
a range of initiatives including long-term systems planning, and
is committed to ensuring that First Nation communities have access
to the tools to participate in Ontario’s growing culture
of conservation, in a manner that complements First Nations values
and heritages.
In addition to the distribution of the EC Kits, five Ontario
First Nation communities, Anishininaabeg of Naongashiing and Stanjikoming
(both near Fort Frances), Slate Falls (near Sioux Lookout), and
Sheshegwaning and Sheguiandah (both on Manitoulin Island) are undertaking
community energy retrofits and benchmarking projects.
For more
information, please contact:
•
Don Huff, e|c|o/Huff Strategy, 416-972-7404, (on-site Friday -
cell: 416-805-7720)
•
Charles Fox, Charles Fox Consulting Inc., 807-622-8008 Photos of the event and kit are available from Brent Kulba at
416-972-7401, kulbab(a)huffstrategy.com.
Details about the scheduling of other local deliveries, and
information on the retrofits projects, are also available. About The Ontario Power Authority
In pursuit of its mandate of ensuring an adequate, long-term supply
of electricity for Ontario, the OPA creates and implements conservation
and demand management programs, ensures adequate investment in
new supply infrastructure, performs long-term, electricity system
planning, and facilitates the development of a more sustainable
competitive electricity system.
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