Excessive vehicle idling can increase air pollution. Watch the recording of our January 19 webinar where we spoke with representatives from the City of St. Albert, the City of Edmonton, and the Alberta Motor Association about their efforts and initiatives to reduce idling.
Hosted by West Central Airshed Society and Alberta Capital Airshed
Excessive vehicle idling can increase air pollution. In this webinar, we speak with representatives from the City of St. Albert and the City of Edmonton about their idling bylaws, resources for residents, and how bylaw officers work to educate the public. The Alberta Motor Association also lends some advice on vehicle idling times, and considerations for reducing your idling time. The presentations are followed by a facilitated live Q&A with webinar participants and guest speakers.
Presenters
- Heather Wheeliker, Program Manager, Community Outreach, City of Edmonton
Heather will share with us the public information pieces about anti-idling that are available from the City of Edmonton for citizens to access. The City’s efforts and materials are designed to encourage no—or less—vehicle idling, and are freely accessible on their website. Heather will also touch on the City’s voluntary anti-idling bylaw. - Payton Homeak, Environmental Coordinator; Community Strategy & Engagement, City of St. Albert
Payton’s presentation will provide an overview of the City of St. Albert’s Idle-Free Bylaw, which was first approved in 2008 and updated in 2018 to reduce the idling of parked vehicles and help educate residents about how they can impact air quality in their community. It will highlight key lessons learned, engagement tactics, and how the City of St. Albert will address air quality in their long-range plans.
- Dominic Schamuhn, Manager of Advocacy, Alberta Motor Association
At some point we’ve all done it, but it’s not necessary to leave your vehicle idling (not even in winter). The reality is modern vehicles don’t need a lot of time to ‘warm up’—not only does it waste fuel (and cost you more the next time you need to fill up), it also creates unnecessary pollution and impacts air quality.
Want to catch recordings of previous 2022 Clean Air Webinars?
- February: How the Federal CAAQS Informs Air Quality
- March: Alberta’s Air Monitoring Plan – The Next Five Years
- April: Camrose Project – Community Science, Environmental Studies, and Flow2 Air Quality Sensors
- May: What to do About Wildfire Smoke and Poor Air Quality Days
- June: Exploring the Relationship Between Climate Change & Air Quality
- September: Climate Change & Air Quality Linkages—Implications for Health
- October: Reduced Transportation from COVID—Impacts on Air Quality
Presenter Bios
Heather Wheeliker has devoted much of her professional life to developing and delivering education and outreach materials that encourage understanding about our connection to the natural world and our role in conservation. For 20 years she was employed by the Alberta Government’s environment department, and has worked for the past 12 years at the City of Edmonton where she engages citizens and stakeholders in climate action. Her formal education is in sociology, environmental sciences, adult education and, in 2010 she obtained her MBA in Community Development. While working from home (due to COVID restrictions) she developed a fascination with the common red squirrel and is thinking she may want to be a squirrel biologist when she grows up. 
Payton Homeak has worked in the City of St. Albert’s Environment Branch since May 2019. Payton is passionate about educating the community on how they can make positive environmental choices in their everyday life to promote a better future. Payton received her bachelor’s Degree in Human Ecology in April 2020; has two dogs, is an avid gardener, and enjoys most winter sports and hiking in the summer. 
Dominic Schamuhn is a lifelong Albertan and has called Edmonton home for more than a decade. He is the Manager of Advocacy for the Alberta Motor Association, where he supports AMA’s work on traffic safety, crime prevention, the environment, public policy, and government and stakeholder relations. He is also an experienced board director and has a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from the University of Alberta.For more information
Julie Kusiek, Engagement Coordinator
Alberta Capital Airshed
Jkusiek@capitalairshed.ca