Mayor Bevilacqua celebrates Earth Hour at City Hall
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Environmental
sustainability woven into Vaughan’s city-building
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua issued the following statement to mark the 12th annual Vaughan Earth Hour event.
“Each year, we gather with like-minded communities across the world to observe Earth Hour to raise awareness for climate change and empower citizens to do their part.
“The City of Vaughan is
dedicated to championing a healthier and greener environment that will continue
to elevate the quality of life for all residents, businesses and visitors.
“Our commitment to
environmental sustainability is woven in every aspect of city building — from
North Maple Regional Park, Vaughan’s most ambitious park development with
900-acres of beautiful green space — to Edgeley Pond and Park, one of the
city’s state-of-the-art initiatives that will be the largest open space in the
Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, the city’s emerging downtown.
“The City of Vaughan is committed to environmental initiatives that will continue to reduce our carbon footprint.
“More than 21,000 trees
have been planted across Vaughan as part of the City’s tree replacement plan to
restore the city’s tree canopy.
"This summer, we will
also be commencing the LED streetlight retrofit project that will help conserve
energy and reduce electricity costs.
“I am also proud to
share that the City added its first electric vehicle, a Nissan Leaf, to its
fleet, which was on display at yesterday’s event.
“This vehicle will have
a charging cost of $117 per year and will reduce emissions of a single fleet
vehicle by 97 per cent. It’s an example of City investments that contribute to
environmental stewardship and to our commitment to reducing greenhouse gases in
our community.
“The 2018 Citizen
Satisfaction Survey results report that 97 per cent of residents agree the
quality of life is good in Vaughan.
“Our residents are also
happy with the services provided by the City, including the maintenance of
parks and green space, as well as the off-road, multi-use nature trails
available across Vaughan.
“To ensure
sustainability for future generations, we continue to be focused on initiatives
that safeguard our environment.
“We each have a shared responsibility
to protect our climate for generations to come.”
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