HAMILTON, ON - February 20, 2009 - The City of Hamilton’s Water and Wastewater Division is pleased to be hosting its 5 km Walkathon in celebration of World Water Day, "Water for Life 2005 – 2015", on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2005 – 2015 as the International Decade for Action.
"Water is one of our most precious natural resources and yet one that is taken for granted by countless people," said Jim Harnum, Senior Director of Water and Wastewater. "Many people around the world have to walk miles to get their water daily."
Plan Canada states that more than 6,000 children die each day, world wide, as a result of drinking dirty, contaminated water. "Public Works recognizes the importance of being involved in events like the walkathon to raise awareness and remind all of us how fortunate we are to have access to clean water everyday," said Gerry Davis, Acting General Manager of Public Works.
The goal of the Water and Wastewater Division is to raise enough money to provide Ancaster Rotarian, Roy Sheldrick and the Haiti "Water for Life" Project with the money to build another well. To-date our Walkathons have raised over $68,000 and built 13 wells. "Children in Haiti can spend their whole day just getting five gallons of water" said Mr. Roy Sheldrick.
In recognition of the efforts of Haiti’s children and many more people around the world who have to walk miles for their water, each participant in the Water and Wastewater Division’s Walkathon will be given a small water pail when they check-in at the Steam Museum, Hamilton’s first waterworks built in 1859, located at 900 Woodward Avenue. When the participant reaches Hutch’s on Van Wagners Beach Road, which is our midpoint, their water pail will be filled with water for the return walk. Arriving back, each pail of water is dumped into a cube representing the amount of water used by an average family per day in Canada. Participants quickly realize that the many pails of water carried back don’t come close to the amount of water used daily in Canada.
Following the Walkathon, a cheque presentation, tours of the Steam Museum and Water Treatment Facility and lunch will be held at the Steam Museum
The Public Works Department challenges all residents to join the walkathon and help provide another village in Haiti with water. To register, call 905-546-CITY (2489) or visit www.hamilton.ca/water.
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Media Contacts:
Dan McKinnon
Manager, Customer Service and Community Outreach
Water and Wastewater Division
905-546-2424 ext. 4483