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Table 1 Public Education and Outreach Campaign.

From: Municipal bylaw to reduce cosmetic/non-essential pesticide use on household lawns - a policy implementation evaluation

Means by which particular audiences were reached with appropriate information:

Advertising

in spring and fall - when people are thinking most about their lawns and gardens - served to remind residents of the bylaw, to balance marketing of traditional pesticides, and to support community acceptance of natural lawn care. In collaboration with Toronto Water and Parks, Forestry and Recreation, 300-500 advertisements were created and placed in major newspapers, community and ethno-cultural newspapers, City guides and newsletters, family and lifestyle magazines, transit shelters and on recycling bins [71].

City of Toronto website[72]

had the text of the bylaw, answered frequently-asked questions, included guidance for professional users, provided complaint forms, and made links to relevant information from other City divisions and community organizations. Given the ethnic diversity of Toronto, some material appeared in the City's most commonly spoken non-English languages (French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Tamil, Chinese and Farsi).

Toronto Health Connection

staff responded to public telephone inquiries, processed complaints, sent educational material and provided basic advice on natural lawn care.

Brochures, fact sheets and lawn signs

were designed to appeal to residents at all stages of awareness and activity. They contained general information, lawn care and gardening tips, information on how to prevent and deal with specific pest problems; bylaw information; questions to ask a lawn-care company, and information about the lower risk pest control products with no restrictions on use.

Information in stores

as both restricted and exempted pesticides remained available for purchase and residents mistakenly assumed that products for sale were "approved" by the City. In consultation with retailers, a "Go Natural" in-store education program was launched in 2005. Go Natural brochures, tear-off sheets, staff aprons, posters and banners were voluntarily posted on store shelves or at cash registers and directed consumers to lower-risk products for certain lawn or garden problems.

Regular communication

with professional stakeholders, including landscapers, lawn care companies, arborists and other horticultural professionals to support compliance and their transition to sustainable pesticide reductions.

Community partnerships

included 16 environmental and cultural organizations funded to deliver innovative outreach such as workshops, garden tours and radio shows in eight languages. Toronto Public Health also collaborated with academic and community partners to identify communication barriers and explore opportunities to improve multicultural outreach [54].

Presentations

by City staff included expert advice through health promotion consultants, Public Health Inspectors, Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff and the Toronto Environmental Volunteers.

Public events

included both small community gatherings and large events such as Toronto's Community Environment Days, the Canadian National Exhibition, Canada Blooms, and the Toronto Renovation Forum.