We are coming to the end of 2016 and what a year it has been for the Calgary Region Airshed Zone. We have continued on our journey of collecting data, charting trends and analyzing data. Our committees have been hard at work understanding the trends, making sure the equipment we are using is the best and being available to answer questions made to us by many of our stakeholders.
CRAZ would like to thank all the members of our multi-stakeholder organization that includes people from industry, government, non-government organizations, municipalities and the public. The commitment and perseverance of our members is felt at every committee meeting, every board meeting, every workshop and every email directed to CRAZ. This group of people has dedicated time and energy to the continuance of building a better CRAZ to learn, to teach, and to understand air quality.
Education and engagement has been growing within the organization. CRAZ members and staff have been to schools in Calgary, Bragg Creek and Okotoks giving presentations to Grade 4 and 5 students on air quality. A partnership was formed with Inside Education to create a Clean Air Responsible Schools (CARS) program. Participating schools were presented with “Idle Free Zone” traffic signs. The students at one school were so enthused with learning about air quality they gave their own presentations to every class in their school, developed their own Idle Free pledge and presented at the CRAZ AGM, well done Grade 5’s from Grant MacEwan Elementary school. CRAZ looks forward to bringing their brand new teachers lesson plan and kit to more schools in 2017.
Over the past year, a few workshops were held including a municipality workshop on the SSRP, and an industry workshop on the benefits of being a member of CRAZ. Currently in development and planned for 2017 are workshops on agriculture, transportation and air quality and human health.
In 2016, CRAZ launched a new website and a new blog. The website is packed with resources on air quality and real-time data streaming live from the 3 continuous stations in Calgary. Resources include a new program called Commuter Connect which details a structured plan that an employee or employer can utilize to create a plan on how to decrease single vehicle occupancy to the work place.
The Calgary Region Airshed Zone’s committee members attend monthly meetings and are appreciated for bringing their expertise in all facets. CRAZ committees include: Technical, PMO3, Policy, Finance, Executive, Engagement/Membership, and Governance.
Looking forward the team at CRAZ is very excited to be celebrating 10 years in 2017. We will be hosting a special event in February and kicking off with a new branded logo!
If you are interested in becoming a member, joining one of our fantastic committees, want CRAZ to come to your school or work to discuss air quality please let me know.
Take care,
Tanya Carlson
Engagement Program Manager
Calgary Region Airsshed Zone
Tanya.carlson@calgary.ca
