FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - ALL WINNIPEG MEDIA
June 20, 2003

WINNIPEGGERS EARN FIRST PLACE IN CANADIAN COMMUTER CHALLENGE 2003!

Winnipeg competed against other Canadian cities, including Ottawa, Vancouver and Calgary, in motivating as many commuters as possible to use alternative forms of transportation during Environment Week, June 2-6.

Winnipeg's results are impressive:
• Highest number of participants: 10,058
• Best participation rate among major cities: 1.6 %
• Second highest number of participating workplaces and schools: 155
• Third largest number of green kilometres commuted: 440,000 kms

By leaving their car at home and choosing to walk, cycle, carpool, or take transit to and from work or school, Winnipeg Commuter Challenge participants prevented the production of nearly 125 tonnes of greenhouse gases.

"These impressive results are thanks to the hard work and dedication of workplace and school coordinators who logged countless hours motivating their colleagues/students to sign on to the Challenge" explained Serge LaRochelle, program coordinator for Resource Conservation Manitoba, organizers of the Winnipeg Commuter Challenge. "The enthusiasm and dedication of Coordinators and Planning Partners is the reason the Challenge is so successful in Winnipeg".


The following workplaces gained recognition among Winnipeg's corporate and government community by achieving the highest participation rate within their population-based category.

2000+ Employees:
Gold: Manitoba Hydro - 5% Silver: Province of Manitoba - 5%

500 to 1999 Employees:
Gold: Canada Customs and Revenue Agency - 31%
Silver: Canadian Wheat Board - 12%

200 to 499 Employees:
Gold: The Fairmont Winnipeg - 68%
Silver: EISI - 65%

100 to 199 Employees:
Gold: National Research Council Institute for Biodiagnostics - 36%
Silver: Public Works and Government Services Canada - 34%

50 to 99 Employees:
Gold: Parks Canada - 95% Silver: Frantic Films - 42%

20 to 49 Employees:
Gold: Mountain Equipment Co-op - 78%
Silver: International Institute for Sustainable Development - 77%, Public Service Commission - 71%




Congratulations to the following workplaces who obtained a 100% participation rate:

University of Manitoba - Aboriginal Business Education Program
University of Manitoba - Bannatyne Campus
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Secretariat
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Climate Change Connection
Emerge Knowledge Design
Kirby Design
Manitoba Eco-Network

A few individuals were also recognized for their special contribution to the event:
Mountain Equipment Co-op Clean Air Day Contest
Jorden Brooks - Great West Life

Free Transit For A Year Contest
Nicole Mischuk - PFRA

Olympia Cycle and Ski Big Bike Giveaway
Richard Chaput - University of Manitoba

Final results of all participating workplaces and schools is available on the Resource Conservation Manitoba website at: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/gci/wcc2003/wcc03.html

Results show that there has been a consistent increase in participation since the first Winnipeg Commuter Challenge. The trend is indicative of the growing awareness among Winnipeg workplaces and schools of the personal and community benefits associated with active and green commuting.

"The increased participation in the event shows that Winnipeggers are looking for an efficient Transit service, safe cycling routes, and incentives to ridesharing, similar to those offered in other Canadian cities", confirmed LaRochelle. "The Commuter Challenge highlights the need in Winnipeg for safe and efficient ways of commuting to and from work or school that do not rely on a single occupancy vehicle".


For more details on the Winnipeg Commuter Challenge, please contact:
Serge LaRochelle or Andrea Lamboo Miln
Resource Conservation Manitoba
70 Albert Street, 2nd Floor Winnipeg MB R3B 1E7
Tel: (204) 925-3772 Fax: (204) 942-4207
email: serge@resourceconservation.mb.ca
email: asrts@resourceconservation.mb.ca