Project Porchlight Blog

One Change has come a long way. Four years ago, we were a small group of friends with an idea. Today, One Change is an award-winning not-for-profit organization that has empowered millions of people across North America to believe that simple actions matter and that their choices can—and do—have an impact on the environment.

We’re very proud of what we’ve accomplished. But more than that, we’re grateful to the people who helped make it possible. On Wednesday, April 15, 2009, One Change will celebrate these people at our first Catalyst Awards. The cocktail reception takes place from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Canada. The event will be emceed by actress and television star Mag Ruffman, with entertainment by local band Jazzbeat Trio.

This year’s Catalyst Award recipients are:

• MP David McGuinty, a staunch Project Porchlight supporter from the beginning who helped distribute 30,000 compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs throughout Ottawa.

• EnCana Corporation and Vice-President Florence Murphy, Project Porchlight’s biggest sponsor in Alberta and a leading reason we were able to distribute more than 800,000 free energy-efficient light bulbs across the province.

• Vermont Energy Investment Corporation and Managing Consultant Chris Granda, who made it possible for more than 2,500 volunteers to distribute nearly 1 million CFL bulbs to New Jersey residents in 2009.

• His Worship the late Calvin Kruk, former Mayor of Dawson Creek, who brought Project Porchlight to BC and helped enable volunteers to deliver more than 20,000 free CFL bulbs throughout the province.

One Change also issued official Catalyst Award Certificates to the following outstanding individuals and organizations who helped make Project Porchlight possible:

• Bruce Bathurst
• Bruce Bibby
• Linda Bruce
• Bob Chiarelli
• Rebecca Fiissel
• Rod Garossino
• gordongroup
• Chris Granda
• Rosemarie Leclair
• Dave McKendry
• Florence Murphy
• Gerard Protti
• Wendy Reed
• Dave Thorpe
• Edward Weinstein
• Lois Wozney
• Lisa Zentner

Each of these recipients helped make our flagship energy efficiency campaign an international success. Since Project Porchlight was launched in Ottawa in 2005, more than 2 million free energy-saving light bulbs have been distributed by 10,000 volunteers and 2,000 community groups in more than 500 communities across Canada and the US. The energy-efficient CFL bulbs have helped residents reduce their energy use by 1 billion kilowatt hours, save more than $86 million, and stop 630,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the air.

“We’re overjoyed with the success of Project Porchlight, and we want to build on that to increase awareness of other simple changes people can make to help the environment,” says One Change Executive Director Stuart Hickox. “This summer, One Change is launching a new fuel efficiency pilot project in Ottawa.”

Stuart will introduce the new fuel efficiency campaign at the Catalyst Awards. The event will also provide the opportunity to announce another exciting development—One Change’s exclusive continent-wide partnership with the United Nation’s Environment Programme (UNEP). Special guests Amy Fraenkel, Director of the UNEP Regional Office for North America (RONA), and the Honourable John Gerretsen, Ontario Minister of the Environment, will make the official announcement.

“Our partnership with UNEP is a perfect example of how small steps taken locally can lead to significant change on a global scale,” says Stuart. “One Change began with a few friends hitting the streets in Ottawa. Now, we’re able to empower people around the world and give them the knowledge and tools they need to make a difference in protecting the environment.”

One Change extends a very warm thank you to the Catalyst Awards event sponsors: TD Canada Trust, McCay, Duff and Company LLP, Gowlings, Silk Ventures Group and Gadar Sports Wear.

Congratulations to all award recipients, and thank you for proving that simple actions matter!