The Halifax Waterfront is now Canada’s first oceanic Blue Flag candidate

Some good Waterfront Development marine news to share. The Halifax Waterfront is now Canada’s first oceanic Blue Flag candidate and could become Atlantic Canada’s first Blue Flag award winner.

The Blue Flag is a highly respected and recognized international eco-label. Blue Flags are awarded to beaches and marinas that meet strict criteria for water quality, environmental education, environmental management, and safety and services. Blue Flags currently fly at 3,650 sites in 44 countries around the world, including 16 beaches and three marinas in Canada. The Halifax waterfront could be flying a Blue Flag as early as the summer of 2012 and could become a model for other marinas.

To win the Blue Flag award, Halifax’s Waterfront will have to meet 24 criteria which cover everything from water quality, environmental education and sustainable management to the safety provisions and services marina users can expect to find when they visit.  A number of these criteria have been met or are currently underway. The program is a great fit with our expanding marine services programs, including the visiting ships programs, and our vision of clean, green world-class waterfronts.