びびなび : トロント : (カナダ) Toronto

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
==========================================

News Release

June 18, 2024

City of Toronto announces winners of the 2024 Women4ClimateTO pitch competition

The City of Toronto is pleased to announce the winners of the fourth annual Women4ClimateTO pitch competition. Ten local entrepreneurs pitched their climate-related initiatives to a panel of judges for a chance to claim the first prize of $20,000 and two secondary prizes of $5,000 each.

The 2024 Women4ClimateTO pitch competition winners are:

Winner: Katherine Festeryga, Edie Farming - Edie Farming is building Toronto’s first urban commercial rooftop greenhouse, utilizing the newest machine learning and AI, a closed-loop hydroponic system, and powered entirely on renewable energy to grow the most sustainable produce in the world.

Runners-up:
Nasim Naderi, Intocharge - Intocharge is a unique woman-owned business, focusing on Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure.

Omowunmi Badmus, Omo Bamboo Shop - Omo Bamboo is a zero-waste shop based in Toronto, where a range of bamboo products, handmade soaps and body butters can be found.

These prizes will help further advance climate-related projects or businesses. The pitch competition was hosted by the City and presenting sponsor EY Canada. The event featured keynote speaker Dr. Shirook Ali, CEO of Ecosystem Informatics Inc., a pioneering clean tech firm dedicated to transforming environmental monitoring.

Through its Women4ClimateTO mentorship program, the City provides a combination of mentoring, training and networking opportunities to help local women entrepreneurs advance their climate-related projects and business ventures. Now in its fourth year, the 2024 program supported 12 local women and their climate initiatives.

Women4ClimateTO supports the City’s TransformTO Net Zero Climate Action Strategy, which set Toronto on the path to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040. Toronto’s program is co-championed by Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park) and Selina Young, Director, Indigenous Affairs Office, City of Toronto.

More information about Women4Climate Toronto is available on the City’s Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program webpage: https://www.toronto.ca/women4climate

Quotes:

“Thank you to all of the mentees and mentors that participated in the fourth cohort of the Women4ClimateTO mentorship program. Your participation and projects are critical to building a more sustainable future for our city.”
– Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park), Women4ClimateTO Co-Champion and Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee

“We would like to congratulate the winners and participants of the 2024 Women4ClimateTO pitch competition who brought forward creative new ideas that will help promote sustainability and climate-action across our city."
– Selina Young, Director, Indigenous Affairs Office, City of Toronto, Women4Climate Co-Champion

“We want to congratulate to the winners of the 2024 Women4ClimateTO pitch competition, who stand at the forefront of change. Their climate-related initiatives are a testament to the indispensable influence of women in advancing urban climate solutions, underpinned by research that bridges gender equity, metropolitan development, and ecological stewardship.”
– Mark MacDonald, Ontario Government and Public Sector Leader and Global Public Finance Management Leader, EY Canada

Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit www.toronto.ca or follow us on X at x.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofto.

- 30 -

Media contact: Media Relations, media@toronto.ca



================================================================
You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to receive Toronto News Releases updates.

All City of Toronto news releases are also available on the City's website at www.toronto.ca/home/media-room/news-releases-media-advisories/ .

Do not reply to this email. If you believe that you have received this announcement in error, visit www.toronto.ca/home/social-media/e-updates/unsubscribe/ to be removed from the subscription list.