City of St-Jérôme wins Watershed Award for its Parc Schulz Retention Pond

MONTREAL, June 21 /CNW Telbec/ - On May 29, 2010, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), in partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, presented the City of St-Jérôme (Quebec) with the Watershed Award, which recognizes the best achievement by a municipality in its efforts to adapt to climate change.

When St-Jérôme built Parc Schulz, it created a park which included not only a retention pond, but also ecological and recreational features, notably by conserving a wooded area, as well as creating a filtering marsh basin and a walking path.

"We are pleased to reward this ecological initiative which has made the City of St. Jérôme a leader in its efforts to make it less vulnerable to water damage", noted Jack Chadirdjian, IBC's Director of Public and Government Affairs.

"In large-scale residential projects, the City has for some years now chosen to use drainage basins to catch storm water rather than allow it to run off into storm sewers. Using this approach to develop retention ponds is more economical and more respectful of the environment", declared Marc Gascon, the Mayor of St. Jérôme.

The Watershed Awards highlight leadership in catch basin management practices, adaptation to climate change and sustainable community development. Awards were also presented to the following cities : Central Saanich District (British Colombia), Saskatoon, Toronto, Richmond Hill, and the villages of Appleton and Glenwood (Newfoundland).

About IBC

Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, car and business insurers. Its member companies represent 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada.

For further information: Charlotte Sasseville, Insurance Bureau of Canada, 514 288-1563, ext. 232; Jean-Paul Lalonde, City of Saint-Jérôme, 450 436-1512, ext. 3040