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top Ontario environmental award
... AGAIN!
(July 2010)
Kevin Gallagher of Greenleaf Environmental Communications Inc. of Ottawa, in analyzing the marina's green rating said the environmental initiatives this marina has shown and its future plans are outstanding "It is the most eco-friendly marina in Ontario," he says.
Gallagher is well aware that the marina constantly coaxes its customers to participate in the program, to the point where there isn't a butt on the ground and if it can be recycled or reused, owner Gillian Organ, will make sure it gets done. She's even had heated discussions with the City of Ottawa over their recycling practices. The marina received a five-anchor diamond rating after a rigorous assessment early this year.
Ms Organ, an avid boater, says "It's great to be on top, but I'd still like more people in my business to get aggressively on side in this movement to keep our waters safe and clean in this province. Of course, it's important to me because I now run a business on a World Heritage site. It's what everybody should be doing, businesses and boaters alike."
Her customers appreciate her vigilance and say it's a little more costly, but worth it. Keith Swartman, a Long Island customer, loves the family atmosphere. Gillian's vigilance "has rubbed off too." Last week he went shopping for disposable plates for his boat. He chose paper instead of Styrofoam. "I could have got twice as many plates for the same cost, but paper disintegrates quickly, styro doesn't."
Ms Organ's response, "Heck, he could have bought corn plates from us that are compostable." Ever vigilant … pushy even.
To achieve the five-anchor rating the marina must satisfy about 200 criteria. Then, to achieve a diamond rating above that, the marina must satisfy at least four more, including involving employees in attending courses on marine spill containment, showing it has educated customers, a yard free of derelict boats, conversion to a highly efficient shop and office lighting and participating in external environmental initiatives.
The awarding of eco-ratings is part the Ontario Marine Operator Association's Clean Marine program, a voluntary assessment program It started ten years ago. Long Island was one of the first to sign up.
Long Island Marine and its owner, Gillian Organ, have been awarded their third business environmental award in the past year. The latest award comes from the Canadian Safe Boating Council, a national group promoting safe boating throughout the country.
Ms Organ accepted the award on Jan. 11 during a dinner in Toronto. The award is given to the marina demonstrating the best environmental practices.
Long Island Marine is on a part of the Rideau Canal, known as the Long Reach, located in Kars, in Ottawa.
Last November, Ms Organ received an award from the Rideau, Mississippi and Nation River conservation authorities for her efforts in reducing the marina’s footprint on the environment. Before that, she was awarded a five-anchor rating from the Ontario Marine Operators’ Association after a gruelling audit of her 32-acre marina. The audit required the marina to meet more than 200 criterions for its top rating of five anchors.
She was recognized for installing a water-efficient composting toilet system at the site and has plans for a waste-water garden. She has also just managed to secure a company that will recycle oil containers, which would normally have headed for the dump because the city’s contractor won’t take them, and is still challenging the city hall to make sure the plastic wrap for winterizing boats is recycled.
From the time she took over the marina more 11 years ago, it has been converted from a desolate spot to a friendly green location, its shoreline restored to the point where ducks now nest on her property, sometimes under boats that are still on the hard!
“It’s been a long haul, but worth every minute of it. When you can stop a child from throwing a can in the garbage and explain why the blue containers are better and healthier, it feels great,” she says. “And our customers are all on side.”
Last year she banned the use of Styrofoam on her property. Instead she promotes the use of bio- degradable plates and utensils. A special composter has been built and the plates, spoons and cups will be used this spring to fertilize plants on site.
The waste-water garden, a contained sewage system which will allow marina clients to walk through a garden fertilized by their own excrement is exciting, Ms Organ told members of the boating council. “Our customers will be able to say they can shit in their own backyard.”
Anyone wanting more information is welcome to contact her at: Long Island Marine Inc., LIMI for short: Gillian happens to be a limey:
Long Island Marine Inc, 1424 Commodore Lane, Kars, On K0A 2E0
613-489-2747 / info@longislandmarine.com / www.longislandmarine.com
The Marina came in second in the business category of the Tri-Valley Conservation Awards, organized by the Rideau, Mississippi and Nation River conservation authorities.
Ms Organ and the marina were nominated for the award by her staff and customers, who after years of being badgered by her to recycle, reuse and this year to compost, wanted to see her efforts rewarded. They organized a petition on her behalf and composed the nominating letter.
The first-time awards, presented at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority headquarters, honoured environmental achievements of teachers, farmers, businesses and municipalities, “who worked daily to sustain the health of our watersheds,” said Charles Billington.
The awards were created to recognize and thank those individuals, groups and corporations who made big and small efforts, he said.
Earlier this year, Ms Organ was the recipient of the Ontario Marine Operator’s Clean Marine’s top honour. She received a five-anchor rating after a gruelling audit of her 32 – acre marina on the Rideau, near Kars. She’s installed a water-efficient composting toilet system at the site and has plans for a waste-water garden. She has also just managed to secure a company that will recycle oil containers, which would normally have headed for the dump.
From the time she took over the marina more than a decade ago, it has been converted from a desolate spot to a friendly green location, its shoreline restored to a point where ducks now nest on her property.
“It’s been a long haul, but worth every minute of it. When you can stop a child from throwing a can in the garbage and explain why the blue containers are better and healthier, it feels great,” she says.
This year she banned the use of Styrofoam on her property. Instead she promotes the use of bio- degradable plates and utensils. A special composter has been created for their use.
Anyone wanting more information, is welcome to contact her at:
Long Island Marine Inc, 1424 Commodore Lane, Kars, On K0A 2E0
613-489-2747 / info@longislandmarine.com / www.longislandmarine.com
Long Island Marine Inc. was awarded the prestigious five green leaf anchors after a rigorous environmental assessment by GreenLeaf Environmental Communications Inc. It is only one of two marinas on the Rideau Canal waterway to receive the top honours.
The environmental assessment is part of the Ontario Marine Operators Association (OMOA) Green Marine program started in 1999 with the help of Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in setting standards for more than 200 environmental practices that cover everything from fuelling, waste oil and paper recycling.
The Green Marine program is also being copied by British Columbia, Quebec and in parts of Australia.
Gillian Organ, owner and president of Long Island Marine says, “We’re thrilled by our new status. We’ve long been dedicated to the health of our waterway and I am pleased to be acknowledged for it.”
She says she’s determined to lead other businesses to “achieve the same standards.”
That’s one of the reasons she is planning to have a waste-water garden installed. “It’s not part of the Clean Marine program, but this marina wants to be known as the cleanest on the Rideau. So, as of the end of this year, even our shit will be clean and not smell.”
The firm auditing her marina and all OMOA participants is licensed by Environment Canada.
Al Donaldson, OMOA executive director, says, "Whether awarded the single green leaf anchor rating or the highest rating of five green leaf anchors, as in Long Island’s case, a marina’s participation and rating demonstrates its commitment to the protection of our waterways and marine life."
For further information, please contact Gillian Organ at 613-489-2747 or 613-851-8690 or e-mail, info@longislandmarine.com
Long Island Marine is a Clean Marine Eco Rated marina, participating in a voluntary program under an OMOA and Environment Canada partnership. Marinas are validated by Terra Choice Environmental Services, an independent environmental management company licensed by Environment Canada. The program is funded in part by Honda Marine Canada, Shell Canada and Volvo Penta Canada.
The Eco rating is derived from the OMOA’s world renowned Clean Marine Practices manual, first developed in 1997 and now being used by marinas & yacht clubs across Ontario.
“The program is completely voluntary, and industry leading members such as Long Island Marine are committed to reducing the impact marinas and boaters have on our lakes and rivers” says Bob Eaton, OMOA director of Environmental Services. “The OMOA is committed to clean, safe water, and ensuring our members are operating in an environmentally responsible manner“, said Mr. Eaton.
Gillian Organ, President of Long Island Marine, is thrilled and honoured to be the first recipient of this award. “But the Award is just the icing on the cake” says the often controversial Ms Organ,.” The real value lies with the good gut feeling that we’re doing the right thing. Preservation of our environment and our waterways has always been part of our mandate. At Long Island Marine our customers are thrilled with the zero tolerance policy we’ve put in effect on toxic spills, our collection, removal and recycling of their and our toxic wastes, and our demonstrated commitment to making our already green, leafy marina even greener. We’ve planted over a thousand trees and innumerable shrubs on the waterfront in the past 4 years. We post ’NO FISHING’ signs when the bass are nesting between our docks, and keep our customers continually informed of environmentally good products and practices. Currently, with the help of a Rural Clean Water Program grant, we’re stabilizing our riverbanks to stop further erosion of soil into the Rideau River & naturalizing the remaining small amount of hardened shoreline. We’re thrilled and excited to be making this contribution to our environment, and with our customers’ encouragement and acceptance of the Clean Marine policy“.
1424 Commodore Ln, Box 41,
KARS, Ontario K0A 2E0 Canada
Tel (613) 489-2747
Fax (613) 489-1486
Email: info@longislandmarine.com
www.longislandmarine.com
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