Campaign for Pesticide Reduction

In the spring and summer of 2004, we developed and circulated a petition throughout Maple Ridge, which garnered a tremendous showing of community support. The signatures of over 3,600 citizens gave strength to this request:

PETITION:

WHEREAS: the safety to human health and wildlife of chemical pesticides now routinely used cosmetically is unproven; and,

WHEREAS: many towns and cities in Canada have already put in place policies to restrict the use of non-essential pesticides in their communities; and,

WHEREAS: New Westminster, Vancouver and Port Moody, amongst other BC locations, have passed by-laws restricting residential use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes and are preparing their citizens for change with public education campaigns; and,

WHEREAS: sustainable, healthy and effective yard and lawn care alternatives to currently-used chemicals are available:

We, the undersigned, petition the District of Maple Ridge as follows:

THE DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE [MUST] ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM TO PROMOTE THE VIABILITY OF SAFE LAWN AND GARDEN MAINTENANCE PRACTICES. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO SEE A BY-LAW ESTABLISHED RESTRICTING THE COSMETIC USE OF PESTICIDES IN THE DISTRICT BY 2007.


BY-LAW ADOPTION
In the winter of ’04, we presented to Maple Ridge Council the 3,600+ signatures collected in Maple Ridge.

CPR! MR later created a simple communication strategy and budget for the municipality that would begin the important work of engaging the community in discussions on pesticide avoidance over the next year.

In the spring of 2005 Council partnered with our campaign and asked David Boag, director of Parks and Recreation, to make some funds available for an education campaign.

These funds were used so far to invite speaker Carole Rubin, (‘’How to Get Your Lawn and Garden Off Drugs’’), for Earth Day 2005, to educate about alternatives to pesticides and to help develop this website.

The municipality is also supporting our efforts and helping to spread awareness by putting a notice about our pesticide campaign in the upcoming newsletter mailed out with tax notices to every household in Maple Ridge.

CPR! MR is also hoping that an oversight committee of concerned citizens, industry representatives, municipal staff and politicians will be established to create a unique By-Law that meets the needs of Maple Ridge.