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CtK student tops enviro awards Jessica Tarka of Christ the King Catholic Secondary School was named the first recipient of the Halton Environment Leadership Award at the recent Regional Chair's Environmental Awards breakfast. Approximately 400 people attended the Chair's Breakfast on the Environment at the Burlington Convention Centre which featured Canadian adventurer, environmentalist and educator Geoff Green as the keynote speaker. Seven students received Scholarship Awards and 18 young people and student clubs received Environmental Excellence Awards. "I am inspired by all the wonderful and innovative contributions these student are making to the environment," said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. The Halton Environmental Leadership Award is a new award that recognizes a graduating high school student in Halton who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in their school or community. For winning the award Tarka receives $2,500 towards her post-secondary studies. Additionally, $500 will be donated in her name to Save the Japan Dolphins Campaign. Tarka's love of bidoversity has influenced her involvement with environmental initiatives in her school, community and on the international stage. Tarka has also been recognized as an Halton Environmental Scholarship winner in previous years and is again a recipient of the award in 2011. The Halton Environmental Scholarship Awards were open to youth who are, or will be, pursuing post-secondary studies with an emphasis on the environment. Each Scholarship Award in this category is for $1,000. Local The Scholarship winners are: · Emily Dimytosh (Georgetown), sponsored by TD Friends of the Environment · Jessica Tarka (Georgetown), sponsored by Longo's The Halton Youth Awards for Environmental Excellence were open to all Halton elementary and secondary students, as well as grassroots organizations. This award provided students an opportunity to win $500 for their school or organization. Local winners are: · Brookville Public School (Campbellville), The Eco Council, sponsored by XCG Consultants Ltd. · Christ the King Catholic Secondary School (Georgetown), The Green Club, sponsored by Ford Motor Company · Silver Creek Public School (Georgetown), Eco Executives and Eco Stars, sponsored by TransCanada · Willow Park Ecology Centre (Georgetown), Harnoor Gill, sponsored by Conservation Halton 9 Independent & Free Press, Thursday, April 28, 2011 2011 Environmental Leadership Award winner Jessica Tarka, from Christ the King Catholic Secondary School, poses with Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr (centre) and Geoff Green, founder and Executive Director of Students on Ice Expeditions, at the Halton Environment Leadership Award ceremony held in Burliington. Submitted photo Special Waste Drop-Off day set for Saturday The first of four special Halton Region Waste Drop-off Days will run Saturday, April 30 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Robert C. Austin Operations Centre, 11620 Trafalgar Road in Georgetown. Acceptable items for drop-off include pesticides, paint, motor oil, antifreeze, propane tanks, computers, stereos, TVs, DVD players and VCRs. Residents may drop off these items free of charge. No commercial wastes will be accepted. For the complete list of acceptable and unacceptable items and other drop-off dates visit www.halton.ca/waste. Residents who are unable to attend one of the events may drop off acceptable hazardous waste and electronic items free of charge at the Halton Waste Management Site, 5400 Regional Road 25 Monday to Saturday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Spring is here... · No need to take in the cushions · Sunbrella fabric · Lots of fabric choices · Mildew resistant · Won't fade 265 GUELPH ST., GEORGETOWN 905-873-2753 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK