Bank of Nova Scotia : Student Teams in Atlantic Canada Honoured for Tackling Environmental Issues in the Scotiabank EcoLiving Green Challenge

HALIFAX, NS --(Marketwired - March 02, 2015) - Two post-secondary student teams have been named 2015 Scotiabank EcoLiving Green Challenge Regional Champions by this country's largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and proud program supporter, Scotiabank.

The Scotiabank EcoLiving Green Challenge empowers post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that teach viable solutions to relevant environmental issues. Since 2010, 3,650 students have helped conserve over 24,276,480 litres of water, diverted over 2,648,310 pounds of waste and introduced over 1,290 businesses to green business practices.

"Congratulations to Memorial University of Newfoundland and Saint Mary's University and all of the teams for their incredible work on the Scotiabank EcoLiving Green Challenge. The commitment and creativity of these students is truly inspiring," said Craig Thompson, Senior Vice President of the Atlantic Region, Scotiabank. "Scotiabank is proud to support the challenge as part of our commitment to environmental awareness and supporting a greener future, which we do through our Scotiabank EcoLiving program. I want to wish the regional winners the best of luck in the national competition in Toronto."

The Enactus student teams from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Saint Mary's University stood out to the judges at the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition - Atlantic Canada on February 27 because of their dedication to tackling local environmental issues:

Enactus Memorial's project, AGreenCulture, helps Newfoundland farmers become more economically and environmentally sustainable. The project also launched the province's first carbon offset program for local businesses and this past year, conserved 92,492 kWh of electricity and eliminated of 63 tonnes of CO2 emissions, while saving the farms over $11,000.

Enactus Saint Mary's Progress in the Park is empowering residents of Mulgrave Park, one of Halifax's poorest communities. With sustainable opportunities such as a bicycling transportation program and an economically-friendly community garden, over $66,000 has been invested into Mulgrave Park through this project and, in addition, two eco-friendly micro-businesses that focus on waste management and urban farming have been created.

"These teams are making a real impact on the long-term sustainability of their communities through their environmental education projects," says Nicole Almond, Enactus Canada president. "They are a perfect example of how Enactus' socially-conscious student leaders are building a greener Canada."

These teams will now move on to the national level of competition taking place May 11-13 at the 2015 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto, Ontario. 

ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, this country's largest student leadership development organization, is shaping generations of entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 2,400 entrepreneurial post-secondary students led 250 community empowerment projects and business ventures this past year in communities coast-to-coast. As a global network of 36 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.

About Scotiabank EcoLiving: Scotiabank's EcoLiving, which launched in 2010, is a unique program focused on educating Canadians on the shared benefits of home energy efficiency and green home improvements. With its emphasis on demonstrating how people can save money by saving energy, and at the same time reduce their impact on climate change, Scotiabank's EcoLiving program communicates the advantages of energy efficiency and sustainable practices.ecoliving.scotiabank.com.