The Foundation of Greater Montréal Awards its Sustainable Development Prize to the David Suzuki Foundation - Québec

MONTREAL, Oct. 3, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Foundation of Greater Montréal (FGM) revealed the winner of its sustainable development prize. The David Suzuki Foundation - Québec was awarded a $25,000 grant for its educational map project about ecosystems. This project strives to educate young people about the importance of protecting our green spaces and biodiversity around Greater Montréal.

The prize is awarded in response to the challenges that Greater Montréal faces in the environmental sector. Data published in Greater Montréal's Vital Signs 2012, launched yesterday by the FGM, shows a decrease in green spaces in favour of parking spaces, as well as a decrease in the proportion of agricultural land, while developers exert increasingly intense pressure to use farmlands to build condos. "When reading the data, we felt it was essential to raise awareness of this issue before the problem worsens," says Marina Boulos, President and CEO of the FGM. "The David Suzuki Foundation - Québec project will raise awareness and educate students and the public at large about the importance of protecting our environmental heritage, and we are convinced that these efforts will have a positive, long-term impact," adds the Foundation President.

For its part, the David Suzuki Foundation - Québec is very proud to be the first recipient of the sustainable development prize awarded by the Foundation of Greater Montréal. "We are delighted to receive this award that demonstrates the growing support of the community to create a green belt in Greater Montréal, and we hope that this multi-year awareness program will be realized by 2017, the year of Montréal's 375^th anniversary," mentioned Karel Mayrand, CEO of the David Suzuki Foundation of Québec. Thanks to this prize, the David Suzuki Foundation will develop an educational ecosystem map of the greenbelt, to be distributed to schools and communities throughout the region. "It is a key educational and awareness tool to allow the population to better understand the ecosystems and the biodiversity in their region and to reconnect with nature close to home."

The FGM created the sustainable development prize in order to support an innovative project that has a positive and sustainable impact on the environment, and promotes initiatives that encourage the community to adopt responsible practices. "Numerous projects were submitted, and the choice was very hard. After reading their proposal, it was clear that there is a real desire to save our environmental heritage and to push the community to action," says Ms. Boulos.

About the Foundation of Greater Montréal
The Foundation of Greater Montréal (www.fgmtl.org) is a charitable organization dedicated to the well-being of the Greater Montréal community. It establishes and manages permanent endowment funds and distributes their income in the form of grants to charitable organizations working in the areas of health, social services, arts and culture, education, and the environment. The FGM currently manages over 340 funds worth over $120 million. Since its creation, it has distributed grants totalling almost $9 million to non-profit organizations in the Greater Montréal area.

About the David Suzuki Foundation
Through science and education, the David Suzuki Foundation works to preserve the quality of life for today's citizens and future generations. In 2011, the David Suzuki Foundation launched a campaign that seeks to create a green belt in Greater Montréal for the 375^th anniversary of the city in 2017.

SOURCE: FOUNDATION OF GREATER MONTREAL

Chantal Vinette
Director of Communications and Marketing
514 866-0808, ext. 103
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