April 2009
Bigger Grants
Well Worth It!
By Jane Oldale
I am EcoSuperior’s Water Guide for the
Well Aware Program. Over the past two
summers I have visited over 90 rural
homeowners, talking with them about their
wells. The home visits help well owners
identify priorities for action to protect their
drinking water source. The visits, which
are voluntary, confidential, and non-regu-
latory, guide well owners through a self-
assessment to help them identify and
address potential risks to their well water.
For a number of years I had been hav-
ing problems with my own shallow dug
well. The water often looked and smelled
bad, and samples showed the water was
unsafe to drink.
Older dug wells often do not provide
protection from surface water and other
debris gaining entry. This can result in total
coliform counts, occasionally even E coli
if a bird or animal leaves droppings on or
near the well. As the well ages and the
concrete weathers, vulnerable areas around
the lid and between the tiles are more like-
ly to let surface water in. Water is only
supposed to enter a well from the bottom
after being filtered by the soil.
Continued on page 2
for Homeowners
Homeowners thinking about
taking advantage of the home
renovation grants available now
have an even greater incentive
to get started. A March 30
announcement from the federal
government declared that all
federal grant amounts have been
increased by 25%. Just days
later, Ontario followed suit and
announced that the province
will match the new higher
grants.
“It’s great news for anyone
planning renovations,” says
EcoSuperior Executive Director
Ellen Mortfield. “Adding insu-
lation, replacing furnaces or air
conditioners, new windows —
all of these improvements are
eligible for even more generous Improving your R-12 attic to R-50 not only makes your home
grant amounts. Plus, many of more comfortable but also nets you $1500 in grants. Cost of
these improvements also qualify materials or a contractor can also be claimed under the new
for the new renovation tax cred- Renovation Tax credit, up to 15% of the total cost of this and
it as well.” other home improvements
In anticipation of the increased demand for the home energy evaluations, EcoSuperior
is adding a third energy advisor to their staff. All of our advisors are certified by Natural
Resources Canada, with years of renovation experience. We completed energy evalua-
tions on nearly 500 homes last year, and are currently booking appointments into early
May, with Don Rutledge, Ken Piccinin and Ryan Whatley.
It’s important for homeowners to realize that they need to have the home energy eval-
uation done before any renovations are started. We need to measure the home’s current
energy consumption in order to get an accurate measure of improvement that can be
achieved. The initial evaluation provides a comprehensive report and recommendations
to the homeowner, to help guide renovation plans. It also provides an energy rating for
the home, on a scale of 0 - 100.
The net cost to the homeowner for the service, including pre- and post-renovation
evaluations is $350. Grants are available only until March 31, 2011. The homeowner has
18 months to complete renovations after the initial evaluation. Further information is
available at www.ecosuperior.org
Inside
• Medicine Cabinet Clean Up Month • EcoDriver Rally
• Spring Up to Clean Up • Story Contest
• EcoMentors • Coming Events
1
 ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 2
Community
Partners
The many community programs and
projects that you will read about in this
newsletter would not be possible with-
out the efforts of those who finance
and contribute to EcoSuperior’s activi-
ties. Through contributions of ideas,
connections, expertise and financial
support, the following organizations
have played a major role in our suc-
cess. We extend our sincere gratitude
to the individuals within these organi-
zations that have helped us along the
way.
• City of Thunder Bay
• Environment Canada
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit
• Ontario Ministry of the
Environment
• DriveWise Driver Education
• Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources
• Ontario Power Authority
• Ontario Ministry of Energy
• Ontario Power Generation
• Green Communities Canada
• Ontario Trillium Foundation
• Union Gas
• AbitibiBowater
• The Chronicle-Journal
• Dougall Media
• NewCap Radio
• Zero Waste Action Team
• ReCool Canada
• Shell Environment Fund
• EarthWise Thunder Bay
• Volunteer Thunder Bay
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• North Shore Steelhead Association
In addition to the list above, we must
thank the many local businesses who
make it possible for people to make
the right choices; the local media that
help us spread the word, and many
volunteer and committee members
who provide invaluable assistance.
2
About Eco-News
EcoNews is produced by EcoSuperior Environmental Programs. Look for our regular editions in
your Chronicle Journal every spring and fall. All the articles are written by EcoSuperior staff unless
otherwise credited. We are a non-profit organization, providing public education in the areas of water and energy conservation,
waste reduction, pollution prevention and urban greenspaces. Our program area includes the city of Thunder Bay and the Lake
Superior Basin. If you would like to comment on our programs, please contact us: 212 Miles Street East, Thunder Bay,
Ontario, P7C 1J6 • Telephone: 807-624-2140 • Facsimile: 807-622-0005 • www.ecosuperior.org • info@ecosuperior.org
Well Worth It!
Continued from page 1
Last July I hired a local contractor licensed by the Ministry of the
Environment to work on dug wells. He upgraded my well, bringing it up
to today’s standards. This involved excavating around the well and
removing a damaged tile, and adding another half tile to finish the well
above grade, as the old well was finished barely above ground level.
He used rolls of sealant (green nontoxic adhesive caulking) between
tile joints and poured bentonite clay in the annular space (the area around
the outside of the well casing) to seal the exterior. The well cap was
upgraded to a green plastic dome inset into concrete. This cap is gasket-
ed to keep insects and debris from entering the well. It is easy for one per-
son to manage, allowing access to the inside of the well for inspection
and repair.
After a few dry months in late summer, followed by heavy late fall
rains, my water was still not looking good in early winter. Settling of the
ground after the major excavation has taken several months. Not instant
gratification, for sure! However, by February the water had cleared up
considerably. Three tests taken this March have shown no significant evi-
dence of contamination. There are no filtration systems in place, I did not
install an ultra-violet light to kill bacteria, and I have not had to use chlo-
rine bleach in the well. It is always better to remove the source of the con-
tamination than to treat the water. I will continue to test my water regu-
larly, at least three times a year, especially during the upcoming spring
Soil is sloped away from the well for proper drainage, and a new runoff when wells are most vulnerable. I am now able to use the water for
manufactured well cap provides easy access while sealing out poten- all household purposes.
tial contaminants. A drink of water, straight from the tap, never tasted so good!
Well Aware guided self assessments will be available starting in May. There is a fee of $10 to
help cover mileage costs. (Mileage fee can be waived if you sign up a neighbour on the same day.)
Visits are available to residents of rural Thunder Bay and in the townships of Neebing, Oliver
Paipoonge, Gillies, O’Connor, Conmee, Gorham, Ware, and Shuniah.
All those who have a Well Aware visit will have their names entered in a draw to win a dual-
flush toilet installed by Axels Water and Plumbing Centre. Low-flush toilets are great for rural
households relying on well water. Reducing water use not only conserves well water, but it is bet-
ter for septic systems and saves energy used to pump water too.
Well Aware is a project of Green Communities Canada and has received funding support from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
Our local partners include the City of Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.
Choose the Tap
Did you know that nearly 1.5 million barrels of oil—enough to run 100,000 cars for a whole year—are used to make plastic water
bottles every year? And even more fuel is used to transport all those cases of bottled water around the world. Plus, the majority of those
plastic bottles never get recycled—they go straight to landfill. Invest in a good quality water bottle and fill up at the tap. If you don’t
like the taste, choose a water bottle with a built-in filter.
The paper you are reading is manufactured by your friends and
neighbours who work at AbitibiBowater Inc. – Thunder Bay Operations
It contains 30% recycled content.

ThrustSSC – Land speed record holder.
Do something
about the price of gas!
Join us for EcoDriver Rally 2009
The current land speed record is 1,228
km/h, in a vehicle with two Rolls Royce jet
engines and a fuel use rate of 5,500 L/100
km. Definitely not the vehicle you want to
drive between gas stations! Gas prices go up
and down, but the fact is that the steady
trend is up. Currently 90 cents a litre sounds
okay, but only 4 years ago when gas was 70
cents, the price of 90 cents sounded insane!
When gas prices do take a dip, it’s not for
long, so it’s a good idea to get the best fuel
efficiency from your vehicle so you can keep
costs down. And improving your fuel effi-
ciency also helps out the environment. But
do you know how to maximize your vehi-
cle’s fuel efficiency? Find out, with
EcoSuperior’s ecoDriver program.
We can show you tips for driving tech-
niques and recommended maintenance as
well as easy ways move beyond single pas-
senger transit. We can provide a fun presen-
tation for your office group or church or
community group. But having ideas present-
ed to you is only part of the education.
Actually getting behind the wheel and test-
The “Green On Jean” team of Hugh & Ellie were the winners at our November 2008 EcoDriver Rally,
achieving a mileage rate 27% higher than the NRCan rating for their 2001 Hyundai Accent.
ing the techniques is the best way to learn.
And here’s an opportunity for you to do just
that.
On Saturday May 30, 2009, EcoSuperior
and DriveWise will kick off Environment
Week by hosting our 2nd annual ecoDriver
Rally. Register your rally team (families
and backseat drivers welcome!) and vehicle,
then meet us at the rally start (Westgate High
School). You’ll be provided with a list of
checkpoints you must visit — but you
choose your own route, keeping in mind the
fuel efficiency tips we’ve provided. We use a
device called a Scan Gauge to measure your
fuel consumption for the trip. The team that
beats their vehicle’s fuel efficiency rating by
the highest percent wins the coveted Green
Key Award. Lots of prizes, lots of fun! Plan
to join us May 30. Entry fee is a donation to
the City of Thunder Bay Tree Stewardship
Program. Registration will be available at
www.ecosuperior.org in early May.
For more information on the ecoDriver
program or Rally please contact Derek
Tessier @ 624-2655.
ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 3
What’s for sale?
Drop into our resource centre 212 Miles Street East for the following items. We are open
weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Blue Bags Aimer’s Organic Seeds
Get set for a year’s Start growing your own with a full line of
worth of recycling vegetable, herb and wildflower seeds, all
with rolls of 50 from certified organic growers. While you’re
clear blue bags here, browse through our library for more
for just $10.
No packaging
— ready to use!
information on organic gardening.
Composters
Rain Barrels
Plastic rain barrels are instock now, and
The Earth Machine composter is available to
city residents for just $25. We can also help
you out with advice on any composting
available to Thunder Bay residents with a
current water account for $40.
questions or problems.
Kill-A-Watt Meter
Outdoor Water Saver Kits Borrow this device for a one-week term to
Just $10 for a top quality sprayer nozzle, test appliances and find out the operating
rain gauge, faucet timer, hose repair end, and cost and electricity consumed. A $20 deposit
moisture meter. is required, returned to you when you return
the meter.
That’s right, EcoSuperior is
now on Facebook. Keep up to
date on EcoSuperior hosted
events, sessions, and programs
throughout the year. Just
search for EcoSuperior on
Facebook and become a fan!
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3
 ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 4
Mountain of Butts
By Heather Donaghy
For my family, Spring Up to Clean Up
has been an annual event for us since 2000.
It’s a family tradition. Every year, all four
of us – Mom, Dad, my little sister Bonnie
and I – get out our black and blue bags and
gardening gloves and trek out to the
Hillcrest hill, conveniently located right
behind our house, and spend the next few
hours trying to undo the damage that
everybody else caused from the year
between. We usually cover the slope of the
hill, the crest of the hill, the park and the
Sunken Gardens. This year, Mom was
telling us about this contest and I got an
idea. The parking lots at the top of the hill
are always absolutely covered by cigarette
butts, so many we usually ignore them
because it’s just a lost cause – we’d never
be able to pick them all up. But, I said,
“Why don’t we gather up as many cigarette
butts as we can and make them into a pic-
ture that we can send in to show how gross
this is?” Everybody else thought it was a
great idea and we decided to do our regular
clean-up, and then come back with brooms
and take the (enclosed) picture of the butts.
Renovating?
Roofing?
New construction?
Moving or
Spring clean up?
577-0411
10% off with this Ad
4
Spring Up to Clean Up
Photo and Story Contest
We want to see and hear about your spring clean-up experience. Send us a photograph (digital or film) or
drawing from your clean-up, along with a short story (about 500 words) describing your event or something you
experienced during your registered clean-up. Entries will be judged on quality and creativity.
The winning entries will be posted on the EcoSuperior website and in the EcoNews next spring. The two winners
(one adult and one youth) will each win a Mountain Bike donated by Tim Hortons.
If you have any questions, please call Karen at 624-2148. E-mail your entries to karen@ecosuperior.org, or mail to:
Spring Up Contest, c/o EcoSuperior,
101-212 Miles Street East, Contest Sponsors:
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7C 1J6
Read on for one of the great entries
submitted last year by Heather Donaghy…
So we set out, at about 11 am, and
started on the hill. It was a big job, and we
split up – Dad and Bonnie went in the
direction of Hillcrest Park, and Mom and
I went towards the Sunken Gardens. To
make a long story short, we met up at
around 1:30 at the Sunken Gardens, with
several large bags each and many other
pictures of the garbage-strewn wasteland
we were cleaning.
Then we went back to the house to
drop off the bags and Bonnie and Dad,
who were tired and didn’t want to help
with the picture. So it was just Mom and I.
We grabbed a fresh garbage bag for the
butts – we weren’t going to sweep them
up and then just leave them there, obvi-
ously – and the brooms and dustpan and
were off, back up the hill.
We swept both parking lots, even
though we could only take a picture of the
butts in one of them. When we got to the
second to take the picture, only about half
of the butts ended up getting put in the pile reached over the top of the curb and still an hour ago as we went), threw that bag in
in the end, because it would’ve taken had a pretty big base! It was gross. We with the others, and went inside to wash
hours to get them all, there were so many. swept it up into the bag, headed back our hands.
But, what a pile it was! It was a stack of home (we picked up the garbage that had And that is the story of the enclosed
nicotine, paper, gravel and other stuff that somehow accumulated since we’d been by picture, the Mountain of Butts.
We’ll deliver a temporary bin to your location
… when your project is finished, our drivers
will remove the bin and the contents in it!
“Think Outside the Bank”
142 S. Algoma Street • Phone: 345-7612 • Fax: 345-8939
www.baycreditunion.com

13th Annual Spring Up
to Clean Up: May ‘09
Spring is just around the corner, which means litter will
soon be appearing everywhere. Spring Up to Clean Up gives
us all a great opportunity to show our pride and do our part
to keep Thunder Bay clean, green and beautiful.
Registered Spring Up groups receive clean-up supplies,
draw prizes and public recognition. Last year over 10,000
citizens cleaned up 225 areas around the city, including
parks, roadsides, recreation trails, school grounds and neigh-
bourhoods.
The 13th annual Spring Up to Clean Up takes place dur-
ing the month of May and is kicked off with the 20-Minute
Makeover on May 1st, when we invite busi-
nesses, City facilities and other government
offices to clean up litter around their
neighbourhoods. It’s amazing what
many hands can accomplish in
such a short period of time, and a
few minutes of effort can make a
big difference to your customers!
This community event is
funded by the City of Thunder
Bay Transportation & Works depart-
ment and delivered by EcoSuperior
Environmental Programs. We would
like to thank our sponsors for this
year’s event: Tim Hortons,
Ontario Power Generation
and Acklands.
Spring Cleaning?
Check it Out Before You Throw it Out…
If you have ever wondered if we really are a wasteful soci-
ety, a trip to your local landfill site is all it takes to confirm it.
Mountains of stuff, much of it in usable or at least fixable con-
dition…some things in their original packaging…never even
used! All of this material is destined to be buried, never to be
seen again in our lifetime. It can be pretty depressing. We used
to think we were just burying garbage, but now we’re beginning
to realize that we are actually dumping a lot of valuable
resources, many of which are in limited supply.
So when you are doing your spring cleaning this year,
remember you can make a big difference by doing some sorting
and making a few phone calls or deliveries. Here are some tips:
Have a yard sale: Who couldn’t use a little extra cash these
days? Organize your own yard sale or join one that has been
planned already.
Share your unused bicycles with Bicycles for Humanity,
Thunder Bay: B4H-TB salvages well over 1000 bicycles each
year from Thunder Bay and surrounding area. Eighty percent of
the bicycles are prepared for shipment and then shared, along
with the shipping container the bikes were shipped in, with peo-
ple of great need in poverty stricken Africa. Bicycles that are
not appropriate for use in Third World conditions are refur-
bished and used to help meet our own area’s domestic trans-
portation needs. The Rotary Shelter House, Faye Petersen,
Salvation Army are just a few of the helping others organiza-
Grainger as well as supporters Zero Waste Action Team,
Bill Martin’s Nurseryland, Landale Garden Centre, Natural
Habit, and Finnport.
New this year…in an effort to reduce waste we are hop-
ing to replace most of the disposable latex/vinyl gloves used
in past clean-ups with quality reusable gloves which will last
for several years of clean-ups while offering better protec-
tion than the disposable variety. With the support of
Acklands Grainger Inc. and Bill Martin’s Nurseryland Inc.,
we are able to offer both adult and children’s gloves at a sub-
sidized price of $1/pair for Spring Up participants.
Are you ready to get involved? Join a clean-up group in
your neighbourhood, or start your own. You can reg-
ister on-line at www.ecosuperior.org or by calling
624-2148.
If you are interested in adopting a road or
park to keep clean year-round, consider joining
the Adopt-a-Road program (call Ken Sinclair at
474-4834) or Adopt-a-Park program (call the
Parks Division at 625-2351).
Register your class or school for Spring Up to
Clean Up – a great excuse to get outside and clean up
your school ground and neighbourhood. Registered
school groups receive clean-up supplies, a tree to plant
in their schoolyard, public recognition and an environ-
mental book donated to their school library. High
school students may also count clean-up time for volun-
teer hours.
tions that B4H-TB supplies bicycles and mechanical services to
locally. For information on bicycle drop-off or pick-up, please
call 622-3737 or 624-7811. Bikes can also be dropped off at
Habitat for Humanity, 660 Squier St. B4H-TB will make it easy
for you to share your old bicycle, or sports equipment, or text
books, or reading glasses, or garden tools, or…
Donate clothing, toys and other household items to the
Salvation Army or Canadian Diabetes Association: Items that
are clean and in sellable condition can be dropped off at a local
Salvation Army or Value Village store. If you are unable to
deliver your items, contact your local store to arrange for pick
up. Your donations will help to fund valuable programs, while
reducing waste and providing low cost items for others.
Freecycle it: Check out Thunder Bay’s own webpage for the
global Freecycle Network (www.freecycle.org) movement. The
network is designed to allow individuals who want to "recycle"
that special something rather than throw it away. Whether it's a
chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door, feel free to post it. Or
maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself. Freecycle’s
goal is to find a home for things otherwise headed for the landfill.
One constraint: everything posted must be FREE. Find out more
at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thunderbayfreecycle Also
check out these free local community classifieds forums at
http://thunderbay.kijiji.ca or http://thunderbay.en.craigslist.ca to
sell or purchase items.
ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 5
Invitation to
Workplaces
Your business can help jumpstart our annual month-
long Spring Up to Clean Up program! The City of Thunder
Bay, EcoSuperior and event sponsor Tim Hortons are
inviting businesses, City facilities and other government
offices to take a break from work at 10am on Friday, May
1st, and step outside for 20 minutes to help clean up litter
from around their neighbourhoods. Last year about 750
people cleaned up over 75 areas of the city. It is amazing
what many hands can accomplish in such a short period of
time! And we all know a clean neighbourhood is better for
business.
Register your business or office for the
20-minute makeover by April 24th
at www.ecosuperior.org (or call
624-2148) to receive a Spring
Up garbage bag, a gift
from Tim Hortons
(while supplies
last), a poster
to show your
customers
that you are
involved, as
well as public
recognition.
Join in the spirit
of spring and help make
Thunder Bay clean, green and beautiful!
Offer a curbside giveaway: If you want to try to avoid haul-
ing something away yourself, try putting it out at the curb
with a big “FREE” sign on it. You may be surprised at how
quickly it disappears. Do this on a sunny day, and be prepared
to cover it if it rains, or take it away if no one else does with-
in a day or two.
Organize a toy or book swap at school: This is a fun way to
share items between those little ones with short attention
spans, without having to make a trip to the store. Any items
that aren’t taken can be donated. This is a great opportunity
to focus on the importance of sharing and the second “R”:
Re-Use, while de-cluttering your home.
Fix it: Enjoy a sense of satisfaction from figuring out how to
fix a product or find someone to do it for you. You’ll extend
the life of the item and save on landfill space. Note: it is gen-
erally easier and more cost-efficient to fix quality-made items,
which may cost more initially but save you money in the long
run.
Mr. Green’s Guide: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle it!: Ever won-
der what to do with that old computer, leftover paints, or scrap
metal? Find the answers to these questions and more in this
comprehensive guide at www.thunderbay.ca or find a copy at
EcoSuperior or your local library. Watch for the updated edi-
tion coming in June.
5
 ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 6

Ways to be Water Wise

Toilet Rebates
Is your porcelain throne older than you? Maybe
it’s time to switch over to a new toilet. The City of
Thunder Bay offers a rebate for city residents who
switch from an old toilet to a new 6 litres-per-flush
model. All it takes is a free home visit from
EcoSuperior’s Water Conservation Specialist to qual-
ify your toilet for the rebate of $125 per toilet
replaced (up to two per household)
In Thunder Bay the average toilet size is 13.5L.
This reflects that most toilets are 15 years old or
older. If your toilet was manufactured before 1985
you could be looking at 18-24 litres-per-flush. With
some of the oldest homes in Thunder Bay sporting original plumbing, those toilets can be
flushing 30L and more water each time! Considering that, on average, each person flushes
a toilet five times a day, a new toilet can significantly reduce water consumption.
In order to qualify for the rebate, you must contact EcoSuperior BEFORE the toilet is
replaced, and the new unit must be installed by a licensed plumber. See www.ecosuperi-
or.org for details or contact Derek at 624-2655.

Washing Machine Rebates

For a limited time, the City of Thunder Bay is offering a $100 rebate when you make the
switch to an Energy Star rated washing machine. A new EnergyStar rated washer will help
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money on your utility bills.
Medicine Cabinet
Rebates are available for washing machines purchased on or after May 2, 2009. There
are a limited number of rebates available that will be awarded on a first-come, first-served
basis. Contact our office first to make sure there are still rebates available, then just bring
Cleanup Month
your receipt, the Energy Star label and your water account number to EcoSuperior at 212 While science continues to document the presence of prescription and non-prescription
Miles Street East. drugs in streams, rivers and wildlife, EcoSuperior is reminding you to address the issue
through safe disposal of old medicines. With support from the Ontario Ministry of the
Environment, April has been declared Medicine Cabinet Clean-Up Month in Thunder Bay.
A medicine disposal bag was delivered to every household in the April 3rd edition of The
Source. You can use the bag to put all the old or expired or unwanted medicines and take them
back to your dispensing pharmacy. Consumers can return all unused or expired prescription
drugs, including patches, unwanted non-prescription drugs such as pain relievers and cold
medicines, herbal products and vitamins.
“We hope this makes it easier for people to gather up their unused or expired medicines,”
210 - 1205 Amber Drive says EcoSuperior’s project coordinator Lucie Lavoie. “Returning them to your pharmacy
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6M4 ensures safe disposal.”
(807) 623-2141 Fax: (807) 622-1282 It has been common practice for people to flush old medicines down the toilet or throw
www.fitzpatrickandpartners.com email: infor@fitzpatrickandpartners.com them out with landfilled garbage, but such disposal can impact the health of local water sup-
plies as well as wildlife. Most water treatment plants are not designed to remove such chem-
icals from waste water before it is returned to lakes and rivers.
Paul Fitzpatrick, CA* Marcel Gagnon, CA* British Columbia, Alberta and Prince Edward Island have legislated province-wide med-
Rick Trochimchuk, CA* Steve Blazino, CA CBV* icine take-back programs. In practice, most local pharmacies in Ontario do provide this ser-
Tammy Wylie, CGA CA* Shelly Gaudreau, CA* vice, but the public is not widely aware of the importance of returning medicines to the phar-
*Professional Corporation macy for safe disposal.

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 ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 7

Lake Superior Watershed Rural Property Guide

Northwestern Ontario
Rural landowners have special concerns when it comes to water quality and
land issues. We’ve put together a binder to help landowners find out how to
manage their property in ways that are in compliance with local regulations
as well as environmentally friendly. It’s a comprehensive resource pack-
age developed specifically for rural property owners in the Lake
Superior watershed.
The dream to create your perfect home or secluded retreat in
the country requires careful planning and maintenance. A rural
landowner has responsibilities to protect their environment in
ways that city dwellers are unaccustomed to, including coping with
land, water and air quality.
The guide was developed in conjunction with government associates
around the lake, including Environment Canada, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and state project partners in Michigan, Minnesota and
Wisconsin. Each state, as well as Northwestern Ontario, has its own version of the guide.
The 50-page binder has ten sections covering topics including wells, septic systems,
waste disposal, energy conservation, wetlands, shorelines, habitat, stormwater, and land-
scaping for wildlife. The Guide is currently available FREE to rural property owners. Drop
by our Resource Centre to pick up your copy. You can also view the Guide online at
www.ecosuperior.org/Files/ruralguide.pdf.

What on Earth is an Get Involved!

EcoMentor?!
EcoSuperior is now a training delivery Canada with opportunities to become envi-
partner for Earth Day Canada’s EcoMentors ronmental leaders in their communiies.
program. This environmental education By completing the training workshop,
program is designed to provide youth across youth will gain skills and knowledge to help
support environmental awareness among
their peers and younger aged children. The
Our Staff training offers learning experiences that
explore ways for youth to get involved in
Executive Director: environmental education. They will have
Ellen Mortfield the chance to build leadership and facilita-
Manager of Finance: tion skills, while also learning about impor-
Heidi Smith tant environmental topics. Aimed at youth
aged 13-25, the program provides opportu-
Administrative Assistant: nities for the EcoMentors to move on from
Donna Alberts the workshop to lead their own environmen-
Customer Service: tally-based activities. There’s even a certifi-
Ashley Priem cation process. As the EcoMentors begin to
lead and facilitate their own workshops in
Program Coordinators: community youth groups, they can earn
Jim Bailey valuable community service hours and work
(Mercury, Binational Forum, Lake Superior AOCs)
Lucie Lavoie towards an official certification.
(Stream Stewardship, Personal Care Products, Pharmaceuticals) The program has been offered in other
Derek Tessier cities across Canada, with a few workshops
(Water Conservation, EcoDriver, Renewable Energy)
Jane Oldale
happening in the GTA this spring. The
workshop will be offered for the first time in
(Rural Property Guide, Well Aware, Apartment Recycling)
Thunder Bay, through EcoSuperior, with the
Heather Shaver launch during Youth Week in May. Watch
(Education & Youth)
for the display booth at Intercity Shopping
Karen Copeland
(Waste Reduction, Litter Prevention, Central Gardens) Centre, April 18.
Know anyone that might like to become
Energy Advisors:
an EcoMentor?
Don Rutledge
Spread the word! EcoMentors are at
Ken Piccinin
Ryan Whatley
EcoSuperior! Sign up by calling Heather at
624-2147 or email heather@ecosuperior.org
Looking for a way to participate in environmental activities in Thunder Bay? We have a few
suggestions for you:
• Volunteer at Central Natural Environment Gardens – a great way to learn about garden-
ing and native plant species. Call Karen at 624-2148 for details.
• Plan to enter the EcoDriver Rally – see article on page 3 for details
• Become a Citizen Monitor in our Stream Stewardship program – learn how to sample
area streams and rivers and identify aquatic critters. Ask Lucie for info on the next train-
ing session at 624-2143.
• Register yourself, your family, workplace or group of friends to clean up litter in your
neighbourhood or favourite recreation area. We’ll provide bags, prizes and more. Visit
www.ecosuperior.org and click on Spring Up to Clean Up.
• Join us for Green Drinks on the third Wednesday of each month, a chance to mix and
mingle with others who share your environmental concerns. Find out more at
www.greendrinks.org
• Plan a night out at the monthly offering from the Environmental Film Network.
• Watch for EarthWise presentation nights each month at Waverley Library.
• Be a part of our Youth Advisory committee (age 13 – 25) or attend our EcoMentor train-
ing session. See article at left for details or e-mail heather@ecosuperior.org
www.perronsecosolutions.com sales@perronsecosolutions.com
Sugarcane/Cornstarch Perrons
100% Biodegradable and Compostable Shopping Box
Replaces Styrofoam and Paper Replaces disposable plastics Easy and convenient.
Annual crop, returns to soil Heat Annual crop, returns to soil Strong, durable.
rated to 220F, liquids and solids. Heat rated to 105 F, wash & reuse Use for everything.
Makes the heaviest items
Party Packs $7.00 set+
Coffee/Tea cup $2.75 easy for a child to pull.
Birthday Sets $8.25 set+
7” and 9” plates $3.50 set Great for all of your adventures!
Cutlery set of 8 or 50 $1.50+
Lunch containers $5.50 set Straws 100 for $3.00
Commercial & Retail available
Stir Sticks Animal waste, Lunch, Loot, and
Shopping/Compost bags too! (807) 252-1856
7
 ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 8

Apartment Recycling… Coming Events

easy as 1, 2, 3?
Homeowners can put out blue bags full of recyclables at the curb every second
garbage day. If you live in an apartment or condominium it may not be so easy.
We have a program, supported by the City of Thunder Bay, to help
apartment building managers and superintendents set up conve-
nient effective recycling programs for their tenants. We provide a
kit with a recycling handbook full of ideas and tips for starting or
improving a recycling program. We provide posters, fridge mag-
nets, and other printed material for residents that clearly lay out
the ‘what’s’ and ‘how’s’ of recycling. We also provide a
resource person to work one-on-one with the building manager
to figure out the logistics of setting up and maintaining an
effective recycling program. If you live in an apartment or con-
dominium and have no recycling facilities in your building, have
your property manager or building superintendent call us to set up
an appointment with our resource person. We’ll work on setting up a sys-
tem that will make recycling as easy as 1,2,3.
April 1 – 30
Medicine Cabinet Clean Up Month.
April 15
Green Drinks, 5pm to 7pm at The Valhalla Inn.
Superior Renewable Energy Cooperative meeting,
11:30am. See www.srecwind.org.
Herb Caroll Centre, 1pm to 3pm. Medicines in Our
Environment presentation by Lucie Lavoie.
April 16
55+ Centre on River Street, 1pm to 3pm. Medicines in Our
Environment presentation by Lucie Lavoie.
April 18
Youth Booth at Intercity Shopping Centre.
April 22 - Earth Day
Environment North AGM, 7pm in The Study at Lakehead
University, featuring guest speaker Peter Globensky.

Be a Stream Monitor
Do you want to know if your favorite stream is pol-
luted? Become a Stream Monitor and learn about tiny
but important stream organisms that can tell us about
the quality of water in their habitat.
Benthic macroinvertebrates—creatures that live in
streams, rivers, and ponds—include aquatic insects,
mites, worms, snails, and crayfish. They can be found
underwater during certain stages of their life cycle.
Learn how to catch these creatures with a special net,
then identify and preserve them. Some benthic
macroinvertebrates are more sensitive to pollution
Binational Forum Session
in Terrace Bay
The Lake Superior Binational Forum will be hold-
ing its next meeting on May 8th and 9th in Terrace Bay,
Ontario. The Binational Forum consists of 24
American and Canadian volunteers from various sec-
tors including small business, municipalities and local
elected officials, environmental organizations, indus-
try, First Nations, academia, recreation, anglers, and
the faith community.
As part of the Binational Forum meetings in
Terrace Bay, the Forum will host a Public Input
Session from 1 to 4 p.m. on May 8th at the Terrace Bay
Community Centre. The session will centre on the
Jackfish Bay environmental "Area of Concern", as des-
ignated by the International Joint Commission in 1987,
in conjunction with the governments of Canada and
Ontario. Jackfish Bay is situated just east of Terrace
Bay and is a long arm of Lake Superior which includes
Moberly Bay. The environmental Area of Concern
includes adjacent Blackbird Creek. There are 3 other
areas of concern in Canada on Lake Superior. These
include Thunder Bay, Nipigon Bay and Peninsula
Harbour (at Marathon).
Jackfish Bay receives drainage from Blackbird
Creek, which conveys wastewater discharges from the
than others, so you can assess water quality by types
April 23
Maintaining a Natural Lawn and Garden, presented by
EarthWise Thunder Bay. Waverley Resource Library
of critters you find. Auditorium.
To register for a FREE Study Our Streams Training
Session in June, contact Lucie Lavoie at 624-2143. May 1 – 31
Spring Up to Clean Up Month.
May 1
Spring Up 20-Minute Makeover, 10am.
Register your business and take the staff outside for a quick
litter cleanup.
May 8
Lake Superior Binational Forum Public Input Session.
Focus on the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern, 1pm to 4pm at
Terrace Bay Community Centre.
May 7 – 9
Visit our booth at the Thunder Bay
Chamber of Commerce Trade Show.
Terrace Bay pulp mill. Work to improve environmental May 9
controls at the mill started decades ago and large EcoMentors Workshop Training for youth.
investments have been made on improvements like Youth – Environment – Leadership. See article page 7.
secondary treatment. This work has helped to bring
about improvements in environmental quality in May 17 – 23
Blackbird Creek, Moberly and Jackfish Bay but some Ontario's Energy Conservation Week.
impairments, like contaminated sediment, degraded Watch our website for local events and programs.
bottom-dwelling invertebrate populations and restrict- May 20
ed fish consumption remain. Zero Waste Action Team Meeting. See www.zwat.org
Presentations on current environmental conditions
and other research in the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern May 28
will be given during the Public Input Session. The EcoDriving, 7pm to 9pm at Waverley Resource Library
degree of recovery in the Blackbird - Jackfish ecosys- Auditorium, presented by EarthWise.
tem, and potential actions to aid recovery are expected
to be central discussion points. The public from all May 30
North Shore towns is encouraged to attend, learn and EcoDriver Rally.
provide ideas and input. There is no charge. May 31 – June 6
The purpose of the Binational Forum is to provide Canadian Environment Week.
input, analysis and assistance to basin governments for
critical issues relating to Lake Superior such as dis- June 3
charge of toxic substances, sustainable economic Clean Air Day.
development, pollution prevention, habitat and restora-
tion efforts. More information about the Binational July 19
Forum is available at www.superiorforum.org. Lake Superior Day.