Smart Commute GTA & Hamilton held its third annual 'Employer of the Year' awards November 17th in the Historic Distillery District in Toronto.

Ten workplaces from Hamilton to Newmarket to Ajax were recognized for their outstanding efforts to help employees get to work by walking, cycling, taking transit, carpooling and telework instead of driving in their areas.
 
One exceptional leader - AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) - was chosen as the 'Smart Commute 404-7 Employer of the Year'.  AMD Markham's Smart Commute program - Go Green - won the "2009 Smart Commute Employer of the Year" award for the Markham / Richmond Hill area.  The award recognizes companies who successfully improve road congestion and air quality by encouraging their employees to avoid solo drives to work by ridesharing, riding public transit, cycling, and "connecting" (telecommuting - requires manager permission).

 

This is the first award AMD's Go Green Program has won outside of the US and it represents the Program's commitment to bring commute solutions to all AMD facilities worldwide that want to participate.  Nearly 300 AMDers in Markham are registered in the Go Green Program.  Collectively they have avoided over 400,000 miles of driving since January 2008. That is equal to driving from Austin, Texas to Toronto, Ontario... 240 times!!

Go Green participants in Markham have conserved 19,000 gallons of fuel, avoided 370,000 pounds of CO2 emissions, and saved $220,000 in driving costs (US$).  Richard Conohan - Go Green Rep for AMD Markham and EHS Engineer with Corporate Services - describes the difference this program makes for AMDers.  "Everyone's daily commute can be a stressful event; traffic, weather and schedules all contribute to the start and end of your day and the stress level you feel.  Commute solutions can do a lot to take away some of that stress - reduced cost, time to get work done on the bus or in a carpool, or even someone to talk to in the morning, can make the daily commute less stressful and more bearable.  In addition, there is the significant environmental impact that can be made through alternative modes of transportation. Reducing your carbon footprint and protecting the atmosphere are also incredible incentives to be attributed to commute solutions.  Many of the employees at AMD Markham already enjoy the benefits of ridesharing/walking/cycling/connecting/riding the bus, and it was their dedication to it that allowed us to win this award.  Hopefully it serves to inspire other people to join into our Go Green program."

To learn more about AMD's Go Green commuter program, visit http://mycommute.amd.com and/or contact the Go Green Coordinator, Justin Murrill at Justin.Murrill@amd.com.

Other local Smart Commute Employers of the Year include Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Veridian, University Health Network, Power Stream, Hatch, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Maple Lodge Farms, City of Burlington, and McMaster University.

Winners were selected by an independent panel of community members from various sectors across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.  Nominations were evaluated on the employer's commitment to the program, leadership in their communities, innovation and results.

 
AMD Environmental, Health and Safety Programs embody the company's commitment to enhance the quality of life and protect the environment of the communities in which it does business.  Since 1995, AMD has reported on the status of its environmental, health & safety programs in its Sustainability Progress Report which is available online at www.amd.com/ehs.

Founded in 1969, based in Sunnyvale, California and Markham, Ontario,  AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Asia.  AMD, a Fortune 500 and Standard & Poor's 500 company, produces microprocessors, Flash memory devices, and support circuitry for communications and networking applications. 
Smart Commute is a joint venture between Metrolinx (a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario), area municipalities, and sponsors such as chambers of commerce and boards of trade.  More than 120 employers with 300,000 employees have signed on to the Smart Commute program.  Members of the public can also access services such as the Carpool Zone online ridematching service.

Honourable Mention Award

Winning honourable mention, at the Awards Night, was URS, an industry leading, multi-disciplinary consulting engineering firm, active members of SC 404-7 since 2008.  URS supports and promotes transportation demand management (TDM) through a dedicated Carpool Zone group, telework and compressed work week, and flex-time hours.  Great supporters and particicpants in annual events, including Clean Air Commute and Bike-to-Work Day, URS also brings a wide array of knowledge and experience to SC 404-7's Advisory Committee.

 

Visit the Smart Commute 404-7 website www.smartcommute404-7.ca for more information about Smart Commute.

- Reducing Traffic is Just Good Business -     

Contact:

 

Paul Bradbury

Commuter Options Advisor

Smart Commute 404-7

c/o Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce

376 Church Street South

Richmond Hill, ON  L4C 9V8

tel: 905-884-1961 ext. 24

pbradbury@smartcommute404-7.ca