Halifax Youth Issue Transportation Challenge

Members of Nova Scotia's Youth Conservation Corps have issued a transportation challenge to those working in the downtown Halifax area. Youth corps members are asking downtown workers to use alternate forms of transportation to get to work on Wednesday, Aug. 18. It's an effort to reduce automobile emissions for the day and draw awareness to the important issue of climate change.

"News of our transportation challenge is spreading quickly," said Ted Aubut, a youth corps member. "It began as a challenge between the departments of Environment and Natural Resources. Now others have joined us including Nova Scotia Power, Recreation Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission."

To participate, drivers must leave their vehicles home on Wednesday, choosing instead to walk, take the bus or car pool. To celebrate the efforts of participants, youth corps members will host a luncheon at the Sackville Landing on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., where awards will be presented to the office with the most participation. Staff will also provide more information on the benefits of alternative transportation.

"Let's join together to make this day a success for our department, the youth corps and our environment," wrote George Fox, deputy minister of the Department of the Environment in a memo to employees.

The Nova Scotia Youth Corps is a summer employment initiative sponsored by the Department of the Environment for youth between the ages of 17 and 24. Members engage in environmental projects in communities across Nova Scotia. The transportation challenge is a project of the Youth Corps team placed at the Clean Nova Scotia offices in downtown Halifax.