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  Researching the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada
  Recherche sur la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg Lieu historique national du Canada

NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES OF CAPE BRETON
LIEUX HISTORIQUES NATIONAUX DU CAPE-BRETON

Vol. 6, No. 1
January 2004 - January 2004 

Green Committee

The Fortress of Louisbourg Green Committee was originally formed in 1990 as one of the initiatives associated with Environment Canada’s Green Plan. Over the years, the committee promoted the 4 R’s - reduce, reuse, recycle and recover, resulting in some significant accomplishments and a high level of environmental performance. However, through employee departures and reallocations the committee eventually disbanded and ceased to exist after 1997. Although many of the successful practices and efforts continue, overall environmental performance has declined in recent years.

Parks Canada, as one of the largest custodial organizations in the federal government, has the responsibility to contribute to sustainable development within the federal government through sound environmental management of its operations and assets. Parks Canada can make a significant contribution to the goal of greening government operations. In accordance with the Guide to Green Government approved by the federal government in 1995, federal departments and agencies must develop an Environmental Management System.

Solid Waste Management is an aspect of EMS. The objective is to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills from Parks Canada’s operations through green procurement practices, and through composting, reduction, re-use and recycling programs.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality has also taken steps to reduce the amount of solid waste going to landfills. The CBRM has enacted legislation governing solid waste handling.

CBRM residents now have:

• a mandatory blue bag program.

• a maximum number of garbage bags per pick up. (There is no limit on the number of blue bags.)

There are fines and penalties for non compliance. Garbage bags may be randomly checked for recyclables. Garbage bags containing recyclables may be tagged with a rejection sticker and left to be properly sorted by the home owner.

Commercial institutions will:

• be required to maintain a waste management plan that identifies all types of wastes being generated and how it will be disposed of or recycled.
• be subject to waste disposal (tipping) fees that will be introduced by April, 2004 to offset the cost of waste management.
• will be subject to a fine and penalties. The collector and FOLNHSC are responsible for material delivered to the landfill/ incinerator.

Since disposal options are not available for all banned material i.e. compostable material, a tipping fee will apply but there will be no penalty for mixing compostable material with garbage. However, composters will be purchased and places at convenient locations to facilitate composting. Participation in composting efforts decreases the amount of waste material and reduces tipping fees.

The Green Committee was re formed in the summer of 2003 to promote green awareness and practices in an effort to help us achieve our EMS targets and goals and help us comply with Cape Breton Regional Municipal by-laws.

A package containing information on recycling, composting etc. has been placed in all lunch rooms (see last page). If you have any concerns or questions please direct them to any of the Green Committee members:

• Philip Burke

• Danielle Baldwin Harpell

• Frances Chezenko

• Anne Marie Lane-Jonah

• Debi Kennedy

• Lee Anne Reeves

The continued support and cooperation of all employees is essential to maintain our current efforts and achieve future targets and goals.

Please click on the image

Carol M. Whitfield

Field Unit Superintendent

This workshop started on December 2, 2003 and ended on January 5, 2004. WOW - it really was only a 2-day course but due to a major storm, the second day wasn’t held until January 5^th.

The purpose of the workshop was to develop individual team capabilities, and to increase organizational capability for teamwork

and collaboration across different groups and departments in Fortress Louisbourg.

Marlene Sampson and Becky Colwell of Fourth Wave Strategy Inc. were the facilitators on this course.This company founded in Dartmouth Nova Scotia in 1993, has an ongoing dedication to quality and innovation in developing strategic management services.

All who attended enjoyed and certainly learned new skills to employ in the workplace.

New Employee

Philip Hoad started his employment with Parks on January 26th. Philip will be replacing Lionel Wadden when he retires at the end of the fiscal year. Until then, Philip will be working with Lionel and learning about the position and working with the Federal Government.

Philip has a strong background in restoration work and will be an asset to our team.

Over the next week or so, I hope that you will all have the opportunity to meet and chat with Philip. The maintenance supervisor position is a key one here at the fortress and it is important that he knows the issues and the individuals. I believe that you will find Philip interested and easy to get along with.

Condolences

Our sincere sympathies to Gertie Moore and all her family on the death of their sister, Sheila MacMillan on January 12^th. Sheila was the wife of former employee Daniel MacMillan of Catalone.

Some of you will remember former employee, Hayward Russell. Hayward worked for many years as a labourer and the last few years of his employment was as a Painter . Hayward passed away January 9, 2004. He was a great guy who always had a joke for everybody and everyone could hear Hayward before they could see him!!!! He will be missed by his old friends and family.

Anyone wishing to submit an article to the Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Please forward to Donna MacNeil at donna.macneil@pc.gc.ca  or telephone 733-3551.