Montreal, June 8, 2010
– Metro and its merchants are proud to announce that they
are partnering with the Fondation québécoise en environnement (FQE)
to implement four environmental projects in schools. Across the
province, these projects will help raise students' awareness to
environmental causes and sustainable development, and will teach
them to find out more about "green" initiatives. Metro's Green
Apple School Program will contribute $320,000 to the FQE to help
fund these projects.
The FQE saluted Metro's initiative and the students' awareness of
environmental issues. "Today's young people understand how fragile
our planet is, and they are increasingly adopting responsible
behaviours. We would like to thank Metro and its merchants for
their generosity, their environmental awareness and, more
specifically, their financial support for four of our major
projects, namely the Richelieu Project, the Environmental and
Citizenship Education Program, ÉCOCAMPUS and Un monde allant vert,"
declared FQE General Director, Claude Hill.
The Green Apple School Program is back for a second
year
Since its inception in September 2009, the Green Apple School
Program has reached thousands of young people across Quebec - from
Gatineau to Carleton-sur-Mer, and from the Eastern Townships to the
Mauricie - encouraging them to lead healthy lives that are
respectful of the environment. Participating schools completed a
wide variety of green initiatives, such as recycling and
composting, tree planting and landscaping projects. A total of 680
schools across Quebec each received $1,000 to fund projects focused
on creating a healthier environment and on community
well-being.
"At Metro, we believe it is our responsibility to protect and
promote the environment, which is what inspired us to launch the
Green Apple School Program, in collaboration with all our
merchants. The positive results encouraged us to repeat the
experience for a second year. We were very impressed by the quality
and originality of the projects," stated Christian Bourbonnière,
Senior Vice-President, Quebec Division of Metro Inc.
The Green Apple School Program, a Metro initiative, will contribute
up to $2 million to environmental projects in Quebec and Ontario's
schools.
Description of the FQE projects supported by Metro Green
Apple School Program
Richelieu Project
Encompassing almost 90 Quebec elementary and high schools, this
environmental awareness project allows students to visit nature
parks accompanied by a trained guide. On average, some 40 students
and two or three teachers per school took part in these excursions,
which were organized in collaboration with the Société des
établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq) and Richelieu
supermarkets. Metro's financial contribution to the Richelieu
Project totalled $50,000.
Environmental and Citizenship Education Program
(ECEP)
This program allows elementary, high school and college students to
get involved in their communities by taking part in projects that
focus on resolving community problems, with support from their
teachers and an expert in the field of action research. In addition
to teachers, the ECEP involved parents, merchants and businesses in
the target communities. Metro's financial contribution to the ECEP
totalled $150,000, or about $6,000 per school.
ÉCOCAMPUS
The objective of this program is to promote sustainable
development practices (environment and healthy lifestyle) in
collaboration with universities, colleges, school boards, schools,
teachers and students. Metro's financial contribution to ÉCOCAMPUS
totalled $100,000.
Un monde allant vert
The FQE developed this program over five years ago with the support
of Fondation Jeunes-Projet. The initiative is extremely popular
among elementary and high school students. Grants of $200-300 are
given to each team of students to complete small projects related
to sustainable development and the environment. The best projects
are displayed at an annual exhibit attended by over 2,000
participants, and the winners receive prizes and honourable
mentions. Metro's financial contribution to Un monde allant vert
totalled $20,000.
For additional information on the Green Apple School Program, go to
www.fonds-eco-ecole.ca projects
can be submitted again starting in September.
About Metro Inc.
With nearly $11 billion in annual sales and more than 65,000
employees, Metro Inc. is a leader in the food and pharmaceutical
sectors in Quebec and Ontario, where it operates a network of some
600 grocery stores under several banners, including Metro, Metro
Plus, GP, Super C and Food Basics, as well as over 250 pharmacies,
mainly under the Brunet, The Pharmacy and Drug Basics
banners.
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Contact-person:
Marie-Claude Bacon
Director, Corporate Affairs
Metro Inc.
514-643-1086
mbacon@metro.ca
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