You can count Hudson’s Hope Mayor Lenore Harwood as one of the people who’s thrilled that Project Porchlight came to town. She’s been waiting for our arrival since she first heard about us at the 2007 Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference. “I live in a community that has two hydro dams,” says Mayor Harwood. “We produce a third of the energy for the province of BC and we’re always concerned about energy needs.”
When Porchlight arrived in Hudson’s Hope this August, Mayor Harwood connected us with the local Junior Forest Wardens, helping to ensure that they’ll deliver our CFLs this fall. “I really believe in conservation and that people have to make changes in the way they live to reduce their consumption of energy,” says Mayor Harwood.
And she believes that pairing Project Porchlight with youth groups such as the Junior Forest Wardens is one of the best ways of convincing people that they can make those changes. “The fact that somebody comes to the door and talks to them, especially if it’s a youth... I think that should make a big difference to people.”
If anyone knows how to reach people, it’s Mayor Harwood. In her 15 years as Mayor of Hudson’s Hope, she has initiated several successful environmental initiatives in her region. And her efforts have not gone unnoticed. In April 2008, she received the first Aurora Award of Distinction given to a woman in the field of politics. Project Porchlight sends our congratulations—and our thanks—to an inspired, inspiring woman.
