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caption:Former Ontario Lt.-Gov. James Bartleman, left, accepts a $10,000 cheque from Rotary Club of Toronto West president Brian Hicks for his Club Amick, a book club for aboriginal children ages five to 10.
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caption:A new Centre of Excellence for Women and Newcomers at 200 Consumers Road, in the Sheppard and Victoria Park avenues area, was officially opened recently by MicroSkills, a multicultural, non-profit, community-based organization committed to assisting...
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caption:Chair of Little Asia 2007 Anh Vuong receives an envelope from OASIS Fruit Juice marketing and business manager Ron Morrish during the OASIS Neighbourhood Challenge prize recognition ceremony at the Mon Sheong Foundation, Oct. 22.
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caption:Former Toronto Maple Leaf great Doug Gilmour, left, checks out his service with some help from McDonalds' Leslie Street and York Mills Road location manager Gordon Bradshaw during McHappy Day events May 9 to benefit Ronald McDonald House.
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BRIEFS
Area businesses win green awards
Two local businesses are among the 11 winners of the city's 2008 Green Toronto Awards for their efforts to make Toronto greener and cleaner.Locally, The Living Wall Inc., a unique business that uses willow shrubs native to North America for soundproofing and privacy screening, received the Green Design Award.
Located on Leslie Street near the port lands, the eco-friendly business' special "walls" provide photosynthesis, help filter pollution and stabilize the soil. The product is also 100 per cent recyclable.
Local Food Plus, an award-winning, non-profit organization that brings together local farmers and consumers, received the Market Transformation Award.
The environmentally and socially responsible national organization is based on Queen Street East in the Beach.
The fourth annual awards ceremony took place April 25 during the Green Living Show at the Direct Energy Centre.
Precarn announces $2.1 million funding boost for environmental innovation
Toronto companies in the environment and manufacturing sectors stand to gain from a new funding opportunity.Ottawa-based Precarn Incorporated is providing a $2.1 million funding boost to promote the research and development efforts of Canadian companies applying intelligent systems to solve commercial problems in the environment and manufacturing industries.
Under the program - which is administered and funded by Precarn, a not-for-profit company representing a national network of corporations, universities, colleges, research institutes and government partners engaged in the development of enabling technologies - companies are being asked to respond to a Request for Proposals for the development or implementation of intelligent systems technologies in areas related to environmental technologies (clean-tech) and manufacturing, particularly automotive parts. Up to $700,000 is available per project.
With a focus on the introduction and advancement of innovative made-in-Canada solutions, this initiative aims to fund commercially viable projects that address the challenges of the Canadian environmental technology and manufacturing industries.
Companies can access the RFP at www.precarn.ca. The deadline for submissions for concept documents is May 9 and for final proposals June 27. For more information about the initiative, call Derek Best at 613-727-9507 or e-mail best@precarn.ca.
Precarn is an independent, not-for-profit company that supports the pre-commercial development of leading-edge technologies. It works with Canadian companies that are seeking to commercialize their ideas to get an edge in global markets.
Unlike other research funding programs, Precarn uses a collaborative model that includes a developer, a customer and an academic research partner in every project. Precarn provides access to an extensive national network of world-class researchers, innovative companies and sources of funding. It receives support from Industry Canada, other federal departments and provincial government agencies, as well as private sources. For more information on Precarn, visit www.precarn.ca.
Program helps youth set up own business
Toronto entrepreneurs between the ages of 15 and 29 can qualify for grants of up to $3,000 from the Ontario government through its Summer Company program. Applications are due April 30.The program offers participants hands-on business training, mentoring and essential business skills they need to thrive.
"The Summer Company program was the real push factor for me to actually start my own business," said Adam Lucci, owner of Mercury Apparel and a past Summer Company participant. "The program gave me valuable real-life experience that I couldn't get in a classroom.
The Summer Company program has supported more than 1,700 students to launch their own businesses since the program began in 2001.
Summer Company 2007 accepted 263 students from across the province.
Visit ontario.ca/small-business-news for details.
Movie Day for Kids Help Phone
Empire Theatres Movie Day for Kids Help Phone will take place across Canada April 5, including at a location in North York.North York residents can take part in the event at Empire Empress Walk 10 Cinemas, 5095 Yonge St., north of Sheppard Avenue at 10 a.m.
Movie tickets cost $3 per person and proceeds will go to Kids Help Phone, along with $1 from every Kids Pak sold during the movies. Kids Paks are made up of popcorn, a soft drink and a candy treat.
Movie-goers can choose between The Golden Compass, The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep and P.S. I Love You.
Kids Help Phone is Canada's only toll-free, 24-hour bilingual and anonymous phone and online counselling, referral and information service for children and youth.
Visit www.empiretheatres.com/promotions/kidshelpphone for more information regarding Empire Theatres Movie Day for Kids Help Phone.
Young leaders help Reena
On Saturday, April 5, New Leadership will be hosting Not Just Another Saturday Night.Over the past four years, Not Just Another Saturday Night has raised more than $75,000 for Reena, providing financial support for respite and enrichment programs. This year, the event is in support of New Leadership's Endowment Fund, which raises much needed funds for Reena's highest priorities.
New Leadership is a volunteer group of young corporate and community leaders, 25 to 50 years old, dedicated to raising money for Reena, the second largest provider of comprehensive residential and support services for people with developmental disabilities in Ontario.
"This is a great opportunity for a dynamic group of generous young people to network with their peers, but most importantly, to develop their philanthropic and leadership skills," said event co-chair Adam Henechowicz.
Not Just Another Saturday Night will take place at the Dominion Club, 1 King St. W., and includes a cocktail reception, art show, live entertainment and a chance to win great prizes. The fun starts at 9 p.m.
Tickets are available for $50 at www.Reenafoundation.Org or 905-764-1081.
