Many people are coming up with ways to connect businesses and consumers to make more sustainable choices.
Mollie King is a Golden resident and an Ocean Bridge Ambassador for the 2019/20 cohort.
Ocean Bridge is a pan-Canadian program that engages youth in ocean conservation and ocean literacy service work. It is a joint program between Ocean Wise and the Canada Service Corps.
As a youth ambassador, she hopes to raise awareness and educate others on sustainable consumer choices within Golden’s community.
“I am currently undertaking a service project highlighting sustainable consumer options and recycling and re-use facilities within Golden,” King explained. “I am highlighting local businesses that offer consumers sustainable and/or green options. I hope this list will be translated into an online platform in the form of a map that will illuminate green consumer options in our community.”
Already, King is working closely with Bacchus Cafe, Double Black Cafe, Eat Pure, Purcell Coffee, and Apple Island Naturals.
“Right now, I am making relationships with businesses and doing research. The website will be developed over the summer, and I hope to unveil it to the public in mid-November,” King said.
She hopes the list will grow as more businesses become aware of her initiative.
“I have been encouraged by the interest from businesses so far. Many places in town are thinking about sustainability and making small but revolutionary efforts toward reducing waste,” she said. “I am very open to working with businesses in town that provide sustainable options.”
King is also looking to find young adults, ages 18 to 30, in the community interested in helping with the project.
There are several ways that residents can make the move to become more eco-friendly and sustainable as well. King suggests that everyone should look into the bottle depot, as some items can be recycled there, but not in the blue bin at their homes, like glass. Residents can also receive cash back for recycling certain items at the bottle depot located on 11th Avenue S., across from Jita’s Cafe. King also says backyard compost programs are a great place to start, divert food scraps from landfills, and save money on soil and fertilizer.
“I want to emphasize waste reduction as a primary goal,” she said, adding that reduce, reuse, and recycle are hierarchical goals.
The Canada Service Corps is an organization for young Canadians building a better Canada.
“Young Canadians want big things for themselves, their communities, and their country. That’s why we’re building a program that gives you the opportunity to serve while learning valuable skills and gaining experience,” Canada Service Corps states on its website. Service is a commitment to yourself and the community in which you serve to build a better Canada.”
King works with more than 40 other youth representing Canada’s socio-economic diversity and helps develop and deliver volunteer service projects in their local communities that target specific areas of ocean conservation, ocean health, and ocean literacy.
If you are a business or a young adult and want to become involved with King’s project, contact her at mollierose.king@gmail.com.
