The Walkerton Community Foundation is investing in Bruce-Grey's environmental future. Clayton Gutscher, Chairman of the Foundation presented a cheque for $10,000 in local funding to the Walkerton Healthy Community Initiative's Environmental Education Program, SPEAR. The Walkerton Healthy Community Initiative runs and directs the Bruce Grey Environmental Resource Centre at Ste. #4 Victoria Jubilee Hall, Walkerton.

SPEAR, an environmental education program is the Resource Center's in-house service program and is comprised of: Stories Project; Pesticide Free Naturally; Energuide for houses; A Healthy Home Guidebook; and the Rural Water Protection Program. Each component of SPEAR targets the challenges that you face to ensure your family's health and safety.

Fresh air and clean water are what we expect for ourselves and our children. The new environmental education program will offer hands-on assistance to residents striving to meet their environmental goals. Whether your concerns are with well water safety, natural lawn and garden care or energy savings, the SPEAR initiative will provide you with sound choices and cost-effective answers.

Funding support from the Walkerton Community Foundation will enhance the programs success and demonstrate the importance of grassroots, citizen led directives for the future. Our environmental health and safety is in our hands. It is through education and individual household change that we set the benchmark for excellence for all communities across Ontario, says the WHCI's Executive Director, Lynda Bausinger.

Bookings to complete Brockton's Rural Water Protection Program are still being accepted through the month of April. The success of the program has paved the way for its delivery in West Grey during 2003-2004. Special guests from the health community will be speaking on alternative lawn care practices and the health risks associated with cosmetic pesticide application on Wednesday, May 14th and Wednesday May 21st. These informative evenings kick off at 7pm in the concert hall at Victoria Jubilee Hall. After a well received debut exhibit in Walkerton, the Water Stories Print Exhibit is being featured at Millennia Books in Hanover for the month of April before moving to the Field Naturalists of Ontario Conference May 23-25 in Port Elgin. The exhibit will be on display for the summer at the Lynwood Art Gallery in Simcoe.

Other funding sources for the SPEAR initiative include: The Ontario Trillium Foundation, Environment Canada, Human Resources Development Canada, TD Friends of the Environment and The Municipality of West Grey.