By Chris Clay, The Mississauga News
March 26, 2009 - The Mississauga Braves Hockey Association is the first group in Canada chosen to participate in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. It's the first time groups have been allowed to carry the Olympic flame. The hockey organization was selected by sponsor Coca-Cola Canada, on the recommendation of WWF-Canada, as the first team of environmentally conscious Olympic torchbearers.

The Braves' association was recognized for the efforts of its executives, coaches and players in reducing their environmental footprint through initiatives such as car pooling, washing uniforms in cold water and hanging them to dry, and donating old equipment.

It's estimated the organization, comprised of 10 teams, is saving about 105,366 kilograms in greenhouse gas emissions each year through its efforts.
"We're committed to environmental responsibility," said Braves' president Barry Carroll. "We're thrilled that our actions have been rewarded and that we have the chance to carry the Olympic flame. We hope our efforts help inspire other Canadians to do their part when it comes to energy conservation."
The date and location of the Braves' leg of the torch relay has yet to be determined.

Devin Bourbonnais, a right winger with the Peewee AA Braves, said he's still having trouble wrapping his head around the fact he and his teammates will have a chance to carry the torch. "It's such an amazing feeling and a great honour," said the 12-year-old Lorne Park resident. "It really wasn't hard at all (being environmentally conscious). It was just small steps anyone can take. It doesn't seem that big and it's very easy to be eco-friendly."

Coca-Cola Canada spokesperson Dave Moran said the company is holding up the Braves as an example to all Canadians."Through our support of...the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay we hope to inspire people of all ages to take steps to reduce their environmental impact," said Moran. "We hope the Mississauga Braves serve as an example to all Canadians of how simple it is to carry the Olympic flame and live more environmentally sustainable lives."

The Mississauga Braves Association will be featured during the Saturday, February 21 Tim Hortons Hockey Day in Canada broadcast on CBC. The "Green Team" segment deals with the Braves efforts to reduce global warming in conjunction with the WWF Canada Goodlife program. VIEW CBC VIDEO HERE

As noted in the October 29 blog posting, the Mississauga Braves Hockey Association has stepped up as a community group to participate in The Good Life! program, created and operated by WWF-Canada. "We are so excited to have the Braves community on board to show how making simple changes in their lives can make a big impact when everyone works together. With 175 players on 10 teams, along with parents, coaches, and administration, there are over 500 members of this amazing community!", says Joanne Adair, a Community Our Reach Co-ordinator at WWF.

Once you've joined with The Good Life program, you'll be presented with the opportunity to select specific "Actions" you've already taken, or plan to take, in order to reduce your personal footprint. Your savings will accumulate individually as well as being combined with all other Braves members. If you do not choose any actions, your savings will remain at ZERO.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Blog Post by Joanne Adair, WWF Canada
The Mississauga Braves Hockey Association has stepped up as a community group to participate in The Good Life! We are so excited to have the Braves community on board to show how making simple changes in their lives can make a big impact when everyone works together. With 175 players on 10 teams, along with parents, coaches, and administration, there are over 500 members of this amazing community!

As a whole, the community is going to be taking simple but effective actions, like carpooling to practices, washing uniforms in cold water, and avoiding idling. Think of it this way: If just  one player takes these simple actions consistently throughout the year, he can save the equivalent in greenhouse gases of taking one home off the grid for 6 whole months-imagine the savings this community can achieve if 500 members all participate!

The way it works is that we have set up each team as a group in our database, so when players, coaches and parents sign up on The Good Life website and add their names to the appropriate team, their simple actions can be quantified, and we can retrieve the team’s GHG savings as a whole.  I can see some big competitions starting  amongst the teams to have the most people signed up, as well as to be the team taking the most actions leading up to the greatest number of GHGs saved!

This is our FIRST hockey association in Canada participating in The Good Life, and we hope that others will be inspired by the Braves to take action in their own community. I’ll keep you updated about how their community is doing, and how we are working together to implement different sustainable activities into their hockey season.



CLICK HERE TO JOIN