About Us
Vision
The vision of the Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair is a City of Ottawa whose citizens and institutions are empowered to, and make, the informed environmental, economic and social decisions necessary for a vibrant, safe and healthy community.
Mission
The mission of the Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair is to respond to the growing demand of Ottawa's citizens and institutions for comprehensive and accurate information about as well as efficient access to environmentally sound products, services and programs; and to support local innovation in this regard.
Activities
In support of the Vision and Mission, the Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair strives to:
- Bring the public exciting new ideas, products and services that foster interest and support for an environmentally-sustainable lifestyle via an annual fair and a Website that serves as a hub in connecting people to products, services and programs year-round.
- Provide a forum for the community and foster partnerships that support the vision and mission of the Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair.
- Offer an opportunity for new and existing environmental companies and non-profit organizations to reach the public and for the public to learn about innovative local products and services via an annual fair and a Website that serves as a hub in connecting people to products, services and programs year-round.
- Provide net-working opportunities for exhibitors to learn more about other products, services and programs that will strengthen their activities.
Greening the EcoFair
The Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair is committed to having an environmentally responsible event and we are working closely with our partners to plan and implement an event which will reflect green event best practices.
The key actions being undertaken are:
Venue
The event/festival is taking place at the RA Centre. We are working together to achieve a green event
Waste Minimization
There are receptacles onsite for composting and recycling for paper, metal, plastic and glass. This will divert these materials from the landfill.
Paper Use/Printing/Signage
The event program is printed on FSC certified paper with plant-based inks from CIELO Print
New banners printed this year are non-PVC, biodegrabale banners from ZeroBanner.ca and to the greatest extent possible, we are using signage created for previous years.
We will do our best to print only what we need to reduce the amount of waste generated. We encourage our sponsors to also distribute their promotional material in a paperless manner and/or on recycled paper where possible.
This year, the EcoFair switched to a paperless, online registration system for exhibitors.
Alternative Transportation Options
We encourage all the participants (organizers, exhibitors and attendees) to use the most environmentally friendly way to come to the venue. This may include taking public transportation, sharing car rides, walking or biking.
The RA Centre is close to the Billings Bridge Transit Station, which is serviced by several major routes (#1, 4, 5, 8, 87, 97, 98, 99, 111, 112, 115, 116, 118, 140, 141, 146, 148). Check the OC Transpo website for schedules (http://www.octranspo.com).
The RA Centre is located adjacent to the Rideau River Pathway – a perfect route to bike or walk to the EcoFair. There are lots of bike racks on site at the RA Centre.
Energy Use
We are supplied with 100% green power from BullFrog (www.bullfrogpower.com) for the electricity use of the EcoFair. Bullfrog's electricity comes exclusively from wind and hydro facilities that have been certified as low impact by Environment Canada under its EcoLogo program instead of from polluting sources like coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear.
Food and Beverage
The environmental impact of food production will be minimized through the use of seasonal produce which may be organically grown and/or locally sourced for the 100 Mile Lunch.
Please help us to make the Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair a truly environmentally responsible event.
Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or suggestions.
