A Successful Support Program

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
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Québec City, February 22, 2010. – The Québec City Convention Centre hosted the XIIIth International Winter Road Congress of the World Road Association from February 8 to 11, 2010. This event alone has generated more than $2M in economic spinoffs for the Québec City region. This congress was the 50th eco-friendly event held on the basis of the Centre’s support program.

With 50 eco-friendly events held to date and some 15 bookings scheduled for the coming year, the Québec City Convention Centre has emerged as leader in green events. As of today, these eco-friendly events have helped raise the awareness of more than 60,000 delegates, recover 86 tonnes of waste and save 72 tonnes of water. More than $70,000 have also been awarded to environmental initiatives put forward by various organizations.

“We are very proud of the direction taken by our clients who wish to reduce the environmental impact of their events. Both novice and seasoned clients alike are provided with the support they need to meet their objectives, in an all-inclusive package to make the entire process simple and easy. The Organizing Committee of the International Winter Road Congress took full advantage of our program to carry out noteworthy actions and share its values with the 1,200 participants and 130 exhibiting organizations,” emphasized Mr. P-Michel Bouchard, CEO of the Québec City Convention Centre.

“The environmental and social concerns raised over the four days of this eco-friendly congress are fully integrated into the Ministère des Transports’ Sustainable Development Action Plan. Following the advice of the Québec City Convention Centre’s eco-advisor, we carried out the actions required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, limit waste and provide a stimulus to the local economy. Everyone played a part: suppliers, attendees, exhibitors, our staff, and we are very proud of the results,” indicated Mr. Michel Boivin, President of the Organizing Committee of the XIIIth International Winter Road Congress and Québec’s Deputy Minister of Transport.

Going the extra distance with the help of the exhibitors
Greening an exhibition requires sound property management and awareness on the part of exhibitors. With the help of a guide on how to eco-design a stand produced by the Centre’s eco-advisor, PIARC exhibitors put together stands that featured the highest standards of respect for the environment. Following a contest for the most eco-friendly stand, the most proactive among them were given honourable mentions by the green team.

Offset actions that reflect the organizers’ concerns
In addition to inviting delegates to offset their environmental footprint through the purchase of carbon credits, the Organizing Committee awarded a grant in the amount of $7,200 in carbon offsets to the Fondation de la faune du Québec. This contribution will be used to plant wind-breaking hedges in agricultural areas of the Chaudière-Appalaches region. These hedges will help improve road safety by controlling blowing snow and the build-up of snow on the road. They will also serve as very useful migration corridors to move certain white-tailed deer habitat zones and help reduce collisions with motor vehicles.

This contribution is added to the $35,000 already awarded by event organizers to the Fondation de la faune du Québec, the Québec City Convention Centre’s first offset partner, dedicated to implementing wildlife habitat and conservation projects.



Source: Ann Cantin
Communications and Marketing
418 649-7711, extension 4054
acantin@convention.qc.ca