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Environmental Recognition
Rockway Golf Course receives prestigious environmental certification
KITCHENER - The City of Kitchener's Rockway Golf Course was recently named a fully certified Audubon Co-operative Sanctuary - a prestigious environmental honour that recognizes the courses outstanding efforts to protect the ecological systems on its property.
This mark of distinction, presented by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System (ACSS), a program administered by Audubon International makes Rockway only the 36th golf course in Ontario to receive this highly respected certification and only the 679th course in the world.
Audubon International is a non-profit environmental organization that administers and spearheads education and conservation assistance programs that promote environmental stewardship and sustainability for golf courses and other organizations.
''Achieving certification as an Audubon Co-operative Sanctuary demonstrates the city’s leadership - not only in terms of offering among the best golf courses in the world - but through its high standards of environmental management that enhance nature and protect our natural resources for the benefit of people, wildlife and the game of golf,'' said Forest-Rockway Ward Councillor Geoff Lorentz, who is also chair of the city's community services committee.
The city began its work on the certification program from Audubon International in 2005, under the leadership of Rockway Golf Course superintendent Todd Doering.
Attention was especially given to six strategic areas of environmental management required for certification. Those areas include environmental planning; wildlife and habitat management; water conservation; water quality; chemical use reduction and safety; and outreach and education.
'This is a great way for the city and Audubon International to work together to become better stewards of land and natural resources,'' said Councillor Berry Vrbanovic, co-chair of the city's environment committee. ''This is an important event not only for the golf course but for the whole city.''
The city's commitment to this program will be ongoing. An audit will be undertaken every two years to ensure that the criteria needed for recertification relating to the six strategic areas has been maintained or exceeded.
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