FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon becomes first event in Toronto to
earn Silver Level Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport
Eugene, OR - March 30, 2015 - The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon
(STWM), held October 19th, 2014 and hosted by Canada Running Series, has
achieved Silver Level Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport.
Organizers earned credit on 38 of the best practice standards offered in
the Council's certification program for social and environmental
responsibility at sporting events. The marathon, which hosted over 26,000
participants in 2014, is now the first-ever event in Toronto to be
certified by the Council for Responsible Sport.
Certification is achieved by complying with standards across five
categories: planning and communications, procurement, resource management,
access and equity and community legacy.
In an effort to be greener, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon
Running, Health & Fitness Expo was held at the Allstream Centre, a
building that features a 30-storey wind turbine and a geothermal plant that
replaces conventional heating and cooling systems to save electricity and
natural gas. It was the first conference center in Canada to achieve LEED
silver status from the Canada Green Building Council.
The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon also scored points through its
waste prevention efforts. The entire event utilizes paperless registration
both online and in person at their Expo. Of the trash produced by the
event, nearly half (47 percent) was diverted from the landfill through
recycling efforts. Additionally, 120 pairs of lightly used running shoes
were collected for redistribution, and organizers sent 2,900 pounds of food
to Second Harvest, a local food bank who distributed the food to those in
need. Also, in an effort to reduce vehicle carbon emissions, a free bike
valet service was offered to participants and spectators in partnership
with Cycle Toronto.
"This is a huge accomplishment for our event and within the sporting event
industry as a whole," said Senior Manager of Operations and Certification
Director David Gilchrist. "With the help of our entire crew, suppliers,
partners, and participants, Silver Certification acknowledges the hard
work, dedication and values we apply year over year, in order to leave a
positive lasting impression on our planet. It's an honor to be at the
forefront of the movement where Canadian events are becoming more
environmentally sustainable and socially responsible."
The Scotiabank Charity Challenge helps to make runner's participation
meaningful by fundraising for causes important to them. Scotiabank adds an
additional total of $33,000 in cash awards to the participating charities
who recruit the most runners, fundraise the most dollars and who raise the
most on average per fundraiser. In 2014 the Scotiabank Charity Challenge
hosted 173 charities who raised over $3.6 million for their causes through
the event platform.
Overall the total economic activity of STWM and The Running, Health and
Fitness Expo is estimated at $33.5M for the city of Toronto.
"We are hugely grateful to The Council for Responsible Sport for their
help, encouragement, and wonderful recognition," said Race Director Alan
Brookes. "Canada Running Series is passionately committed to 'building
community through running' - and that means the cities we live in as well
as the sport we love. Sustainable communities; green, healthy cities for
people, and the organizing of environmentally responsible runs are core
values for us. Thanks for moving us forward along the right road. We're
proud of this achievement for our city, and the certification will inspire
us to do more."
About the Council for Responsible Sport:
The Council's vision is a world where responsibly produced sports events
are the norm and its mission is to provide objective, independent
verification of the socially and environmentally responsible work event
organizers are doing and to actively support event organizers who strive to
make a difference in their communities. The current version of the
Council's Certification standards (v.4.2) was developed by an outside
working group of both sustainability and sport industry experts, reviewed
by a wide range of stakeholders throughout 2013 and implemented in January
2014. www.CouncilforResponsibleSport.org
About the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon:
An IAAF Gold Label race, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is
Canada's premier, big-city running event, and the Grand Finale of the
8-race Canada Running Series. In 2014 it attracted more than 26,000
participants from 60 countries, raised $3.67 million for 173 charities
through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, and contributed an estimated $35
million to the local economy. In 2014 it also became the first marathon to
be livestreamed globally on YouTube, attracting viewers from 115 countries.
In 2015 it will host the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships
and the international Bridge The Gap movement.
www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com
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