Oct 30: Fraser River Enhancement Program
Fraser River Enhancement Program Wins Environmental Award
Vancouver, October 30, 2002 - The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre has been awarded a $25,000 EnviroFund award from Vancity Credit Union for its River Works program for protection and enhancement of the Fraser River.
With the help of students, community groups and the Marine Science Centre, the River Works program enhances the Fraser River through monitoring and restoration initiatives. Activities include bird and vegetation surveys, industrial wood clean up, storm drain marking, water quality testing, native vegetation plantings and bird and bat box installation and monitoring to ensure the long-term health of the Fraser River's shoreline habitat.
The aims of the project are to increase bird and bat habitat and native vegetation, create opportunities for schools and other groups, and develop baseline data on water quality while building awareness. RiverWorks' activities will focus on five areas of the Fraser River - Annacis Island in Delta, Iona Beach and London's Landing in Richmond, Carter Foreshore Park in New Westminster, and Fraser River Park in Vancouver.
Vancity's EnviroFund was established in 1990 to support environment projects in the communities the credit union serves. Over the years, the EnviroFund has donated $902,000 to community groups. The funds come from Vancity's VISA card program, which donates five per cent of profits from its Gold, Silver and EnviroFund credit cards to the EnviroFund.
This year, Vancity was looking for projects focusing on air quality and transportation, water, wetlands or watersheds, or hazardous wastes and toxins in the environment. To find out how to submit an application for a 2003 EnviroFund grant, visit vancity.com/grants or call 604-877-7620.
Vancity is Canada's largest credit union, with $7.5 billion in assets, 282,000 members, and 39 branches throughout Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Victoria. Vancity owns Citizens Bank of Canada, serving members across the country by telephone, ATM, and the Internet. Both Vancity and Citizens Bank are guided by a commitment to corporate social responsibility, and to improve the quality of life in the communities where we live and work.