Niagara Escarpment Project Competing for Pepsi Refresh Grant

GEORGETOWN, ON, July 9 /CNW/ - A new project to promote awareness of the Niagara Escarpment has been chosen to compete for a Pepsi Refresh grant of $10,000.

Scarpface was created by the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Fund (NEBF) to educate students and teachers about the natural wonders of the Escarpment.

Scarpface is a rocky, colossal superhero character embodying the magnificent Niagara Escarpment. The character's motto is "Don't mess with the edge." The project aims to engage elementary and secondary school students in Escarpment studies in natural science, geography and culture. The first 25 classes to submit their projects, essays, and photos on these themes to the NEBF will receive a Scarpface character t-shirt for every class member.

"Pepsi Refresh is an innovative approach to engaging citizens in their communities," said Moreen Miller, Chair of the NEBF. "We are very pleased to share this dynamic proposal to excite a new generation of Ontarians in our awe-inspiring natural resources." The Escarpment is vital to Ontario's air and water quality. The more people are aware of this amazing part of our Province the better we can live and work in it sustainably."

"All across Canada, people from every walk of life are producing powerful, creative and fun ideas that can create positive change. Pepsi's Refresh Project is going to help move ideas from wishful thinking to reality - and that's an incredibly exciting effort to support," stated Joey Adler, Pepsi Refresh Project Canadian Advisory Board Member.

Follow Scarpface on Twitter @escarpmentBR and to vote for the Scarpface project visit www.refresheverything.ca/scarpface.

Boilerplate

Goals

The goals of the Scarpface project are:

    
    -   To encourage teachers and students to learn about the Niagara
        Escarpment
    -   To engage classes in Escarpment studies and submit their projects
        online
    -   Increase awareness of the Escarpment's importance to our environment
    -   Distribute Scarpface t-shirts to 25 classes of participants
    

Overview

The Scarpface-Don't Mess with the Edge project incorporates education and entertainment to engage Ontario students and teachers in Niagara Escarpment (NE) studies in science, geography and culture. Scarpface is a superhero figure representing the unique environment of the NE.Scarpface will benefit communities by increasing awareness of the significance of the NE. Improved understanding of the NE's biodiversity (hundreds if not thousands of species of animals and plants) and impact on air and water quality; will encourage people to protect this extraordinary place. Students and teachers will be the focus of a multi-media campaign across the province. The first 25 classes to submit projects to our website receive Scarpface t-shirts for the class. The remaining shirts will be sold for fund raising.

Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Fund

Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Fund (NEBF) - a unique private/public fund that will be seen as the model across Canada for its presence as a premier, regional charitable organization; dedicated for use by the people on the landscape it serves.

The NEBF will be used by those committed to conserving the biodiversity that is the Niagara Escarpment. It is a fund that will be used to promote sustainable communities - throughout the length of the Escarpment. The fund will be used to collaborate in improving the biodiversity and heritage of the Escarpment through research, outreach, and education. The Fund will provide support for academic research on the rich natural biodiversity of the Escarpment to help us make optimal decisions for our future sustainability.

The fund will also be used to identify and promote, where possible, land acquisition of even more significant Escarpment properties for trails, public parks, and conservation.

For more information about the NEBF visit www.escarpmentfund.ca.

For further information: Teri Trent, 905-877-6370 office, 905-716-7294 cellular, [email protected] e-mail