Smart Commute Awards
About the Awards
The Awards were introduced in 2007 to officially recognize employer members or partners who have put forth exceptional effort in implementing their Smart Commute programs. The awards recognize outstanding commitment, leadership, innovation and results.
Smart Commutes from across the GTHA nominated their top employers and one award was presented for Smart Commutes in each of Hamilton, Halton, Mississauga, Brampton-Caledon, North Toronto and Vaughan, Northeast Toronto, 404-7 (Markham and Richmond Hill), Toronto-Central, Central York (Newmarket and Aurora) and Durham.
New in 2008 - a Regional Employer of the Year Award was presented at the end of the ceremony to recognize the top organization in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. A special Smart Commute Champion Award was also presented to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond to make Smart Commute a success.
Visit the 2008 Smart Commute Awards page.
Visit the 2007 Smart Commute Awards page.
Regional Employer of the Year - 2009
Employer of the Year - 2009
Smart Commute 404-7 – AMD
Smart Commute Brampton-Caledon – Maple Lodge Farms
Smart Commute Central York – Southlake Regional Health Centre
Smart Commute Durham – Veridian Corporation
Smart Commute Halton – City of Burlington
Smart Commute Hamilton – McMaster University
Smart Commute Mississauga – Hatch
Smart Commute North Toronto, Vaughan – PowerStream
Smart Commute Northeast Toronto – Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Smart Commute Toronto-Central – University Health Network
Smart Commute Champion Award
Nancy Grieveson, Exhibition Place, Toronto
Awards Review Panel Members
Smart Commute would like to extend our gratitude to the panel of volunteers who evaluated all of the nominations:
- Barry Cole, Oakville Transit (Chair)
- Gail Lawlor, Durham Sustain-Ability
- Marcus Rosen, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
- Nancy Smith Lea, Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation
- Gloria Phibbs, Direct Energy
Smart Commute 404-7 Employer of the Year – AMD
To utilize available commute resources and support employer alternative transportation outreach programs, TDM programs fit extremely well with AMD’s internal Go Green program and the synergies can be leveraged to benefit not only AMD and Smart Commute but also provide environmental benefits.
AMD’s involvement with Smart Commute has allowed them to offer to their employees participation in events that involve non-AMD local participants (Bike to Work Day, Clean Air Commute, Carpool Week) further advancing their goals of providing alternative transportation options to employees as well providing increased visibility of their climate protection programs.
Over the last twelve months, AMD has diligently developed the Go Green program in Markham. In addition to participating in Smart Commute’s (404-7) 2009 Bike to Work Day, Clean Air Commute, and Carpool Week, AMD conducted a Baseline Survey, participated in the YRT/VIVA Pilot Program, conducted a Site Assessment Report, and held their annual Go Green commuter fair in March with an exhibit-style forum on site alongside their local partners.
Find out more about Smart Commute 404-7.
Smart Commute Halton Employer of the Year – City of Burlington
The City of Burlington’s Corporate TDM Team meets regularly to implement programs and facilitate initiatives. In the past year, the City of Burlington has approved its Cycling Master Plan; participated in Clean Air Commute – increased efforts in 2009 produced a 7% participation rate (up from 2% in 2008); installed, with funding from Metrolinx, a 33 lock up bike rack in the Downtown Parking Garage for City and Downtown Employees and the general public; hosted an ECODriver lunch and learn, hosted events for the community and City staff to encourage walking and cycling. The TDM team is currently working with several satellite locations to install appropriate bike parking facilities for employees working outside of the Downtown Burlington area.
Find out more about Smart Commute Halton.
Smart Commute Mississauga Employer of the Year – Hatch
To promote and encourage smart commuting practices among employees, Hatch offers financial incentives to its employees when they choose sustainable transportation alternatives to get to work rather than driving alone. Hatch Ltd. has a sustainability committee that consists of staff members committed to promoting and improving Smart Commute Programs at Hatch. Hatch conducted an on line survey was executed among Hatch employees in April 2009 to better understand cycling and transit commuting behaviour among Hatch employees and to evaluate the potential viability of Hatch participating in the Smart Commute Discount Transit Program. Leading by example, Eric Hartley, Assistant to the President of Hatch, sits on the board of directors for Smart Commute Mississauga.
Congratulations to Hatch for being the 2009 Regional Employer of the Year!
Find out more about Smart Commute Mississauga.
Smart Commute Brampton-Caledon Employer of the Year – Maple Lodge Farms
In the last twelve months, Maple Lodge Farms was determined to increase their number of carpools to confirm their commitment to environmental sustainability and employee satisfaction. When Geoff Quinn, the Manager of Corporate Security at Maple Lodge Farms was approached by Smart Commute Brampton-Caledon (SCBC), he thought it would be a good opportunity to join and encourage the formation of carpools as there was a lack of alternative transportation options for employees. It would also complement their efforts to be environmentally conscious.
During the past year, the number of Maple Lodge Farms employees signing up for Carpool Zone has reached 260 active participants, and there are currently 136 organized carpools!
The number of carpools has resulted in the creation of additional preferential parking spaces and a reduction of single occupancy vehicle use to and around Maple Lodge Farms. The facility has three rows of parking spaces dedicated to preferential parking and follows a very strict policy for obtaining parking permits. The facility’s security guards monitor the preferential parking spots daily to ensure that each vehicle displays a valid Carpool Zone parking pass.
Within the last year, the increase in the number of carpools has lead to a large reduction in the Vehicle Kilometres Traveled (VKT). In total, Maple Lodge Farms employees have reduced 1,726,680 VKT. To help employees quantify their pollution reduction impact, it has been quantified as the equivalent weight of 10 tractor trailers of Maple Lodge Farms chicken.
Find out more about Smart Commute Brampton-Caledon.
Smart Commute Hamilton Employer of the Year – McMaster University
In November 2008, the Office of Sustainability’s mandate was broadened to focus on a wider variety of areas. The All-modes Commuting and Transportation (A.C.T.) Office has evolved into one of eight key pillars adopted by the Office of Sustainability and includes education and promotion of public transit, biking, carpooling and walking.
Two of the major events that the Office of Sustainability hosts to promote sustainable transportation are the Commuter Challenge and National Car Free Day. This past June 2009, McMaster University won the Commuter Challenge in both number and rate of participation for the City of Hamilton, with over 750 participants. This year’s Car Free Day celebration includes a bike to work/school event and a group walk around McMaster's Campus lead by McMaster’s Vice President of Administration and Provost.
McMaster has an ever-expanding cycling community. This past summer The Office of Sustainability had a Secure Bike Storage Facility installed on campus which will be able to house over 46 bicycles. An additional eight bicycle racks have also been purchased and will be installed on campus this Fall.
McMaster University has a well developed Carpool program. Part of the program entitles each member of a registered carpool to twelve parking vouchers to be used on days where both members of a carpool require their vehicle on campus. The number of vouchers was increased from six to twelve during this past year to offer further incentives for the program.
The Office of Sustainability has worked with GO Transit to allow full-time McMaster students to use their student cards as their GO Student Discount card rather than having to go through an application process.
Find out more about Smart Commute Hamilton.
Smart Commute North Toronto Vaughan Employer of the Year – PowerStream
Since partnering with Smart Commute NTV in spring 2008, PowerStream has shown commitment and leadership amongst Vaughan employers. PowerStream works hard to build environmental responsibility into the daily practices of it’s employees, and TDM has become a key element of this. Over the past year, in partnership with Smart Commute NTV, PowerStream has:
- Launched a Carpool Zone subgroup with an employee outreach event and CPZ postcards attached to all employee paystubs
- Launched 2 employee vanpools, from Barrie and Markham, removing 18 cars from the road and saving approximately 93 tonnes of CO2. PowerStream has provided a significant subsidy for the vanpools to encourage employees to sign up and make the program a success. Waiting lists for future vans are already growing.
- Successfully participated in the 2009 Clean Air Commute event, with 99 employees taking part.
- Enthusiastically participated in Bike to Work day, with employees cycling in from Markham, Newmarket and Aurora
- Launched an internal bike share program for employees. Two new bikes purchased for employee use. Bikes are stored in a highly visible location in the office cafeteria, and can be booked out via the Outlook system.
Find out more about Smart Commute North Toronto Vaughan.
Smart Commute Central York Employer of the Year – Southlake Regional Health Centre
Parking has always been an issue for Southlake due to the number of employees, patients and visitors. Besides the parking on the immediate property, they also operate two other parking lots for staff. To encourage staff to carpool and cut down on the demand for parking space, Southlake implemented a program that allows a carpool to share a monthly parking pass which is a money saver for employees.
Southlake have installed bike racks in the heated underground parking area. This provides safe, secure, bike parking - a perk for those who choose to actively commute to work. Carpool parking signs designed by SCCY have been installed in preferred parking spots giving those that carpool a shorter walk to work.
As one of the largest employers in our area, Southlake is a valued member in the Smart Commute program and we look forward to creating many new initiatives with them in the future to help their staff find sustainable and active commuting alternatives. In July 2009, Southlake launched their new environment committee that will focus on ways to reduce the hospital’s carbon footprint. The committee is broken up into four subcommittees, one of which is dedicated to Smart Commute Central York. The other three focus on energy, waste (recycling) and gardens. This new committee indicates the level of commitment Southlake has to being an environmental leader within the Central York community. Southlake has plans to implement SCCY’s Emergency Ride Home.
Find out more about Smart Commute Central York.
Smart Commute Northeast Toronto Employer of the Year – Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre has partnered with Smart Commute NET in an effort to showcase its environmental commitment and to help reduce the pressure on parking at the hospital. With over 9000 employees, plus hundreds of visitors, parking at Sunnybrook is at a premium, in spite of high parking charges. Working with Smart Commute NET, Sunnybrook has already made progress with it’s TDM goals:
- A Carpool Zone sub-group has been launched, with over 50 employees already registered. On site promotions and key messaging in internal newsletters continues to drive employees to the program.
- Sunnybrook continues to support a growing cycling community, with an active Bicycle User Group in operation at the Bayview and Lawrence site. A recent Bike to Work breakfast event drew over 100 cyclists to learn more about cycling routes and safety tips.
- A map of on-site cycling infrastructure (routes, bike racks and bike cages) has been developed. The map gives information on obtaining access to bike cages and identifies those cages with waiting lists.
- Sunnybrook continues to work with Smart Commute NET to develop new strategies and tools to encourage non-SOV commuting. In the coming months, there will be a transit user appreciation day and a carpooling day to keep the Smart Commuting message front of mind for Sunnybrook employees.
As with other large, public facing organizations, Sunnybrook’s efforts not only help their staff leave their cars at home, they also demonstrate environmental leadership to the patients and visitors using the hospital.
Smart Commute Toronto-Central Employer of the Year – University Health Network
The University Health Network (UHN) has been engaged with Smart Commute since April of 2009. In only 6 months, UHN has demonstrated their leadership in TDM and commitment to the Smart Commute program.
UHN shows its dedication to transportation demand management by establishing a goal to create a sustainable program. Through a number of incentives and initiatives, UHN is aiming to free up 200 staff parking spaces and by doing so make them available for public paid parking. The increase in revenue generated from these public parking spots will fund the ongoing TDM program.
Currently, a UHN shuttle runs between the three hospital sites to move staff and patients between work places without relying on individual cars. Plans are in place to expand this service by creating a dedicated shuttle to pick up commuters from GO/Union station, with the goal to incent long distance SOV drivers to take transit. UHN is currently in the feasibility stage of this shuttle expansion and are looking to involve other hospitals in the neighbouring vincinity.
The Clean Air Commute is an annual event for UHN and this year’s participation in the Clean Air Commute saw over 641 staff members participate.
Find out more about Smart Commute Toronto.
Smart Commute Durham Employer of the Year – Veridian
This year, Veridian expanded its Smart Commute programs to include all of it’s locations including Clarington, Brock and Gravenhurst. This was achieved by making the Bike to Work day event a company-wide initiative.
Senior management support was evident at a recent Eco-driver event where the company's President & CEO, Michael Angemeer parked his plug-in solar electric hybrid company vehicle at the front of the building as a reminder to staff of the on-site event. He also participated in the event by providing welcome remarks to Smart Commute Durham program contacts. The three eco-driver workshops hosted by this employer were well attended and gave Smart Commute contacts the opportunity of promoting commuter options to the staff. Veridian was the only employer host to provide the lunch for the staff. This has a direct impact on employee participation and demonstrates Veridian’s commitment to the program.
Last September, Veridian partnered with SCD to promote Car Free Day. The contest or “challenge” was an email campaign to its staff inviting employees to “go car free” on the 22nd. Participants were invited to tell their stories about how they did so. Some of the responses were as follows; “My co-worker and I, participated by carpooling today. We have done this in the past but may consider doing it on a more regular basis, it was very enjoyable” and “Monday, Sept 22- rode my bike to work, home for lunch and back as well. Great weather day!” Prizes were given out to the participants of this event.
Find out more about Smart Commute Durham.
Smart Commute Champion Award
Nancy Grieveson, Exhibition Place, Toronto
This year’s Smart Commute Champion, Nancy Grieveson, has made significant contributions to sustainable transportation, even long before her involvement with Smart Commute. In the fall of 2002, our champion was involved with Pollution Probe’s S-M-A-R-T Movement and since then has led the charge in promoting cycling and making her workplace a bike friendly destination.
She organized an annual cycling event, formed a BUG (bicycle user group) and worked with the City of Toronto to add 30 new bike racks on site. Our champion’s dedication to sustainable transportation eventually led her to Smart Commute. She was an integral member the advisory committee charged with establishing a TMA in her area and later, her organization was one of the first clients to join the TMA.
Since joining Smart Commute Toronto-Central, the EX formed a new SMARTGreen Team, launched a Carpool Zone subgroup and has plans underway to implement priority carpool parking. Nancy is currently working on developing an Exhibition Place intranet including a web based carbon savings, tracking and point system for employees to register with and participate in. With events such as “Let’s Bike to the Ex!,” the Clean Air Commute and The Ride for Heart, won awards such as the City’s Bicycle Business award for Best Bicycle parking in 2005.