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in the Spring and Summer of 2006!

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and where your local event will take place.

For Immediate Release 

Girl Guides Ontario and Iron Gate Cellarage launch a new environmental initiative - Bag-a-Cork Recycling

Greater Toronto Area cork recycling initiative a North American first

Toronto, February 22, 2005 – Iron Gate Cellarage Inc. and Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council today announced an innovative environmental program initiative – Bag-a-Cork. The Bag-a-Cork initiative, the first of such in North America, involves the collection of cork bottle stoppers in bins located in participating locations such as the larger hotels, restaurants, LCBO locations, retail outlets and high rise condominium lobbies.

It is estimated that each year in Ontario over 100 million corks end up in the garbage. This is approximately 543 tonnes per year, which when set end to end is enough cork to reach from Toronto to Vancouver. 

“At Iron Gate we believe that it is important for every company to play a part in its community. This partnership with Girl Guides through the Bag-a-Cork Recycling initiative is our way of doing that,” said Warren F. Porter, Founder and President of Iron Gate Cellarage Inc., a fine wine storage facility located in Toronto. “We have committed 10% of our profits to our community and also believe in working with charities on larger projects that contribute more that just funding. Companies must change their approach to helping the community - think big, be creative or look at how to expand their existing programs for greater impact.”

“This is an excellent initiative that will divert valuable cork from landfills and will help teach Girl Guides the importance of recycling,” Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky said.

“Girl Guides are excited to be part of the Bag-a-Cork Recycling initiative. This environmental program initiative will provide many learning opportunities for both our girl and adult members,” said Maggie Van Dusen, Provincial Commissioner for Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council. “We look forward to developing this program so we can quickly expand it to the rest of the province of Ontario.”

Bag-a-Cork will initially operate in the Greater Toronto Area and is expected to run province-wide within a year.  People are asked to collect their cork bottle stoppers and deposit them in participating bin locations such as restaurants, larger hotels, retail outlets and designated LCBO locations. Adult Members of Girl Guides will empty the bins and along with the girls will sort the corks to ensure that only 100% cork products are shipped to the recycling facility. The Guides plan to develop educational programs to teach the girls about the continuous life cycle of cork and importance of environmental programs such as these. 

Jelinek Cork Group in Oakville, Ontario will purchase and recycle the corks into other cork products such as household items including coasters, placemats, flooring, furniture and sporting equipment.

The Founding partners of the program include Ontario Girl Guides, Iron Gate Cellarage Inc., The Vin de Garde Club, Jelinek Cork Group, and the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS). 

Bins will be in place as early as Saturday February 26^th in locations including: Inniskillin Wines Inc., The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery, Tasting Room, Niagara College Teaching Winery, The York Club, George Brown University, Centre for Vine Affairs, The Hilton Hotel Toronto, The Wine Establishment, Il Mulino Ristorante, Oro Restaurant, Cosmo Restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steak House (Toronto and Mississauga), Crush Wine Bar, Grapefully Yours, George Restaurant, Verity Club and participating LCBO locations.

Up-to-date information on new bin locations will be listed on the official web site, www.bag-a-cork.org.

Early program supporters include The Ravenshoe Group, The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Apple Self-Storage Ltd., Access Self-Storage, Proforma and Art Department, Spark Creative, Radiant Communications, Grapefully Yours, and The Wine Doctor.

Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada is the largest organization for girls and women. Guiding provides opportunities for fun, friendship and adventures; personal and leadership development; role modeling for girls and women; community involvement; environmental stewardship.  Through Guiding's various imaginative and innovative activity choices, girls are empowered to reach their potential, be independent, confident and caring as they learn to develop decision making and life skills. Guiding helps them connect with their community and with the wider world.

Iron Gate Cellarage Inc. is a Toronto-based Canadian company offering private, off-site cellarage for those who wish to leave the management of their wine collection to professionals.  Information on Iron Gate Cellarage can be found on their web site: www.irongatewine.com.

The Vin de Garde Club is a unique new service available for novices and experts alike who wish to build a wine collection. Referred to as the “Mutual Fund of Fine Wine”. Members contribute a fixed amount every month and have top experts choose wine on their behalf. We then purchase and take delivery of their wine and place it into a professional cellar.

Jelinek Cork Group specializes in all cork products including stoppers, floor and wall coverings, acoustical anti-static insulating materials, and specialty cork components for the automotive, fashion, furniture, musical, construction and building industries.

Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) is recognized both nationally and internationally as a significant contributor to the continuing development of professional wine service standards of excellence.  The Toronto chapter of CAPS is committed to build a strong organization of members dedicated to developing the sommelier profession.

For more information or an interview, please contact:        

Mary Porto 416-920-6666, extension 250

Victoria Ollers 416-822-2288.

Toronto Wine and Cheese Show teams up with

Bag-a-Cork to help the environment

TORONTO, Ontario (April 1st, 2005) – The Toronto Wine and Cheese Show and the Bag-a-Cork recycling initiative are working together this year to collect exhibitor’s discarded cork during this 3-day event. Typically hundreds of wine corks are thrown into the trash from events such as these, making their way into our landfills. This year, however, Bag-a-cork and the Toronto Wine and Cheese show will be actively collecting the cork so they can be recycled and turned into hundreds of incredible products.

The Toronto Wine and Cheese show, taking place April 8-10^th at the International Center, will place Bag-a-Cork recycling bins throughout the event. Exhibitors will keep the corks that they would normally discard into the trash and place them into these bins at the end of the show. Iron Gate Cellarage, Inc and the Girl Guides of Ontario will then take the corks to a central sorting location. Once sorted, Jelinek Cork Group in Oakville, Ontario will then recycle the corks into other cork products such as household items including coasters, placemats, flooring, furniture and sporting equipment.

“The Wine and Cheese Show is a great partner to have as we work to make cork recycling a huge success in the Greater Toronto Area. With over a thousand corks discarded over the 3 days, we will be able to make an immediate environmental impact.” says Warren Porter, Co-chairman of Bag-a-Cork and founder and president of Iron Gate Cellarage, Inc., a fine wine storage facility located in Toronto. “It is refreshing to see an event like the Toronto Wine and Cheese Show with such a commitment and interest in helping our environment.”

The 22nd annual Toronto Wine & Cheese Show is the Vintage Event of the Season celebrating the best of the best each year. The Show has 300 booths covering over 2 acres and offers visitors a world tour of vintage wines, delicious foods, delectable cheese and fine cigars, annually attracting over 35,000 sophisticated consumers. It is a "must" for anyone interested in fine wines and gourmet foods. Highlights of the Show include the Fine Wine Preview affording visitors a unique opportunity to sample forthcoming LCBO releases, as well as the winners of the Wine and Beer Competitions and the Seminar Series on current and interesting topics. All these features confirm the Toronto Wine & Cheese Show's position as Ontario's pre-eminent gourmet, food and wine event. Information about the event can be found at www.towineandcheese.com.

“When Iron Gate Cellarage, Inc approached us to participate in the Bag-a-Cork initiative we realized we were in a perfect position to help the Girl Guides, the environment and our community as a whole. This is a wonderful program and we are proud to be associated with it.” said Ralph Weil of the Toronto Wine and Cheese Show and adds, “When people come to the show, they should bring their used corks from home and drop them in our bins. Every little bit helps!”

Iron Gate Cellarage Inc. and Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council recently launched the Bag-a-Cork initiative with the help of The Vin de Garde Club, Jelinek Cork Group, and the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS). This innovated environmental initiative, the first of its kind in North America, involves the collection of cork bottle stoppers in bins found at participating locations such as the larger hotels, restaurants, LCBO locations, retail outlets, high rise condominium lobbies and events such as the Toronto Wine and Cheese show. Up-to-date information about the program, bin locations and supporting associations of the program can be found on our official web site, www.bag-a-cork.org.

Iron Gate Cellarage Inc. is a Toronto-based Canadian company offering private, off-site cellarage for those who wish to leave the management of their wine collection to professionals.  Information on Iron Gate Cellarage can be found on their web site: www.irongatewine.com.

Feb. 23, 2005. 06:34 AM

Program puts a cork in everything

Guides collecting bottle stoppers
Will be recycled into many goods

JORDAN HEATH-RAWLINGS
STAFF REPORTER

One rainy day sometime in the future, when you cross your cork threshold, fold up your cork umbrella, kick off your cork shoes and collapse into your cork beanbag chair, you can thank the Girl Guides of Ontario, who yesterday kicked off the first North American program aimed at recycling the versatile material.

"It takes more than 40 years for an oak tree to grow big enough to turn into cork, but it takes mere seconds to turn a cork into waste," said Ontario Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky at the unveiling of the Bag-A-Cork program yesterday.

Now, "it will take us just two seconds to set that cork aside for recycling."

Cork — the product most immediately associated with wine stoppers — is made from the bark of the cork oak tree that grows in countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. It's unique in that it can be used to make just about anything, from chairs, to acoustic floor and wallboards, to lamps, shoes and bedside tables.

"You can cut it so thin that it can then be adhered to other fabrics," said Cathy Jelinek of Jelinek Cork, the Oakville company that will be purchasing and recycling all the cork the Girl Guides collect, turning it into household products.

"It works much like leather in that respect."

Jelinek Cork also owns and runs the Cork House in Oakville, which is a pioneer home preserved from 1816 and converted into a showroom of cork, with the material incorporated into the upholstery, walls, furniture and even the placemats.