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Media Releases 2010

April 9, 2010

Sheridan College student Silvia Taylor wins Watershed Award Design Competition

Oakville, ON – April 9, 2010 – When Silvia Taylor graduates from the Sheridan College Crafts and Design Glass program next year, she will already have an award-winning glass sculpture to feature in her portfolio. The second-year student has won the Watershed Award Design Competition and a cheque for $2,000 from Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). Silvia’s winning sculpture will be given out to the winners of the first annual Watershed Awards.

The Watershed Awards were created by IBC and FCM to recognize Canadian municipalities that have taken proactive measures to reduce their vulnerability to storm and wastewater damage. Five winning municipalities from across the country and a national winner will be announced at a ceremony in Toronto on May 29. Each winner will receive a custom-designed award created by Silvia and crafted in the Sheridan studio using a sand casting process with molten glass.

“We were very impressed with the talent and professionalism demonstrated in the nine submissions we received from Sheridan students, which made the job of choosing one winner very difficult,” said Pete Karageorgos, Media Relations Manger, IBC. “The judges felt that Silvia’s design was simple, elegant and an impressive piece of art that any municipality would be proud to have on display,” he added.

FCM President Basil Stewart, mayor of Summerside, P.E.I., said it will be an honour to present the custom-designed awards to cities and communities that are undertaking climate change adaptation measures.

“It is fitting that such a distinctive award be presented to municipalities who are true leaders in the battle against climate change,” said Stewart. “We look forward to working with the Insurance Bureau of Canada on this important initiative, recognizing those municipal governments who are implementing measures to reduce storm and wastewater damage in their communities.”

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901. With more than 1,800 members, FCM represents the interests of municipalities on policy and program matters that fall within federal jurisdiction. Members include Canada's largest cities, small urban and rural communities and 18 provincial and territorial municipal associations.

For more information, contact Ellen Woodger, IBC, at 416-483-2358; or Maurice Gingues Media Relations Officer, Communications and Marketing, FCM Green Municipal Fund, 613-907-6399 or mgingues@fcm.ca.

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