The Ontario Region of the Cement Association of Canada (CAC) is proud to announce that the Lafarge Canada cement plant in Bath, Ontario, received the Land Stewardship Award from the US Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine as part of the 2005 Cement Industry Environmental Awards which recognizes continuous environmental improvement. This North American award was presented at PCA’s Spring Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, April 2006.

The Land Stewardship Award recognizes a company’s efforts to protect and enhance the land surrounding their facility through landscaping, species protection, and remediation and rehabilitation of quarries, wetlands, and other features. At the Bath plant, Lafarge transformed part of its property into a spot that nurtures the area’s wildlife with a seed mix that grows wildflowers, attracts pollinating insects, and feeds deer, turkey, and other wildlife. Working under the Wildlife Habitat Council certification process and with Ducks Unlimited and other organizations, Lafarge also installed multiple nesting boxes and plants around a pond to support bird, fish, and other amphibian and mammal species. The plant is converting an old quarry into a children’s outdoor learning center that includes trails, a pond, and a fossil hunting area.

This is one example of the leadership the Canadian cement industry is taking to promote the environment and sustainable development through continuous improvements in responsible business practices. The Canadian Cement Industry is committed to sustainable development and recently released its first cement industry sustainability report that reports on progress related to local land and community impacts, emissions monitoring and reporting, climate change and responsible use of fuels and raw materials that would otherwise be destined for landfill.