Challenge To Urban Sprawl: Grow The Greenbelt
Sierra Club Ontario 's Challenge to Sprawl campaign is currently focused on Growing The Greenbelt. Building on support from the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Sierra Club Ontario has been making advances in protecting threatened ecosystems in Peel and Durham Region.
Under the leadership of Sierra Club Peel volunteers public and political support for protecting the Credit River Watershed is expanding daily. Durham Region is starting much lower on the learning curve: Durham Regional Council was the only municipality to formally oppose the creation of the Ontario Greenbelt. Sierra Club Ontario's efforts to prevent Durham Region from enacting a growth plan that would destroy natural areas and advance urban sprawl was rewarded with the recent Ontario Government rejection of key aspects of the Durham plan.
Sierra Club is now working with advocates such as Ajax Mayor Steve Parish to create a solid base of support for adding key ecosystems such as the headwaters of Carruthers Creek to the Ontario Greenbelt. Sierra Club Ontario is an active member, and part of the Steering Committee of the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance.
Read about the importance of protecting headwaters land in our Durham Region specific study found online at: http://tinyurl.com/sierra-floodsorfood
Also, be sure to check out the Greenbelt Online Farmer's Market at www.greenbeltfresh.ca
CLICK HERE to make a charitable donation towards our Greenbelt work.
Getting Back to Nature
Submitted by Sarah Pollock on Tue, 2013-05-21 07:38
By: Sarah Pollock
Like many of us, you may agree that this winter in particular seemed like it would never end. It felt as if the cold and snow were here to stay, and that spring was more than just around the corner. It wasn’t until a month ago that I realized how much it had affected me. While heading out for my first run of the season I felt a sense of freedom and a buzz in the air. The warm weather, the sunshine, and the end of a long hibernation period have allowed me to be finally immersed back in nature. ... Read more »
- Sarah Pollock's blog
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Getting to Know Ontario’s Wildlife: Canada Geese
Submitted by Julia Kole on Wed, 2013-05-15 12:51
By: Julia Kole
“Canadian geese or Canada geese? Year-round residents! Noisy, mean, green-pooping machines! ”
Even though the Branta Canadensis has “Canada” in its name, very few Canadians are proud to lay claim to this vocal, abundant, messy bird. Although rather striking to look at, people are quick to consider these birds just a pretty face. People in urban, suburban and rural areas have all come to label Canada geese - not Canadian geese, they cannot have sole citizenship since they can be found from the Arctic Circle to Northern Mexico- as pests, hazards and at times, aggressive animals.
The Fast Facts:... Read more »
- Julia Kole's blog
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A beautiful day for tree planting in Birchwood Park (Mississauga)
Submitted by Shaima Al-Khalili on Tue, 2013-05-07 14:14
CLICK THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE VIDEO... Read more »
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Natural Capital Volunteers
Sierra Club Ontario’s Natural Capital & Credit (NCC) Project needs volunteers.
Natural capital is a term used for assigning economic value to natural processes that benefit humankind also referred to as ecological goods and services. Benefits provided by natural areas include water purification, oxygen creation & carbon sinks, flood protection, minerals and more.
Please join us if you can help us promote and execute our walks & talks in Mississauga (our 2013 project) and expansion into Brampton (in 2014). Activities for volunteers include: ... Read more »
Posting closes:
Mon, 2013-09-30 (All day)
Volunteer opportunities: April/May and more
Submitted by Kristina Jackson on Fri, 2013-04-05 12:49
First, we are happy to help you bloggers & writers out there get published on our website.
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Mississauga's Natural Capital: The Foundation of Our Health and Well Being
Natural capital refers to stock of natural resources and environmental assets and how they contribute to building healthy communities. The Natural Capital perspective tries to quantify the wide range of benefits that are provided by these natural resources and environmental assets for free.
Thanks to recent support from Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund we are expanding the NCC by doing walks & talks and natural area restoration projects starting in April 2013. If you are interested in volunteering or attending these events contact Kristina at 647-346-8744 or kristinaj@sierraclub.ca.
Click to open the pdf below and learn more about specific Mississauga examples of natural capital.
View this publication
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SIERRA CLUB TAKES PART IN NIAGARA REGION GREENBELT REVIEW
February 26, 2013
For Immediate Release
Niagara Region is getting an early start on consultations and input into the scheduled 2015 provincial review of the Greenbelt Plan. The Region’s, “Getting Ahead of the Provincial Review of the Greenbelt Plan – Strategy to Develop a made in Niagara Perspective”, outreach program is now underway. Sierra Club Ontario attended yesterday’s environmental focus group. A public meeting on the Greenbelt Plan takes place this evening at Balls Falls Conservation Centre.
The Greenbelt’s land-use policies protect environmental and agricultural lands from urban development and preserve the vibrant character of local towns and villages. ... Read more »
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Urban River Valleys Mean More Growth for Ontario Greenbelt
Submitted by Kristina Jackson on Fri, 2013-01-18 10:52Our friends with Friends of the Greenbelt are featured in this article in Alternatives Journal. Check it out -- if not for the Greenbelt content then for the super-cool aerial photo of the Humber River outflow to Lake O.
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Province adds more protection for river lands
Local environmental organizations say a decision by Queen's Park to enhance its plan to protect the environment will be a boon for the Credit River.
Premier Dalton McGuinty announced today that the Province is expanding its Greenbelt Plan and adding provincially owned lands in Oakville to grow the greenbelt to nearly two million acres of protected land across the Golden Horseshoe.
The greenbelt stretches about 325 kilometres from Rice Lake, near Peterborough, to the Niagara River and was created to protect environmentally sensitive lands from urban development and sprawl.... Read more »
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Support for Growing the Greenbelt along Credit River Valleys
New Greenbelt designation announced by Premier provides greater protection for urban river valleys
For Immediate Release
January 10, 2013
(Mississauga) -- The urban river valley designation announced today by Premier Dalton McGuinty enables municipalities to add publicly-owned lands to Ontario’s Greenbelt and ensures that important water connections between the Greenbelt and Lake Ontario will be protected. For Mississauga, growing the Greenbelt along the Credit River provides the greatest protection for these often stressed urban features.
A Greenbelt designation would draw a permanent, legal boundary around a local urban river valley. Future municipal councils could only expand this boundary, but under the Greenbelt Act, 2005, the area of protection cannot shrink.
“By adding our Credit River valley lands to the Greenbelt we are providing the greatest protection available to these treasured natural features,” said Rosemary Keenan, Chair of Sierra Club Peel Group.... Read more »
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Peter Orphanos 1945-2012
Submitted by Dan McDermott on Tue, 2013-01-08 16:26
Sierra Club Peel Group Chair Peter Orphanos died on December 17th after a long struggle with cancer. His funeral in Mississauga was overflowing with individuals who knew Peter as a knowledgeable and determined voice for his community and its natural environment, most especially, his beloved Credit River.... Read more »
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Treasured member, Peter Orphanos, passes on
Submitted by Guest on Tue, 2012-12-18 15:45Founding member of Sierra Club Peel Group, Peter Orphanos, passed away Monday, December 17th, 2012.
Peter worked on numerous community and region advisory boards representing his interests in the arts, education and always bringing it back to the environment and the Credit River. Peter was recognized by Credit Valley Conservation with their highest recognition in April 2011 and this year won a Conservation Pioneer award. Click here to read about his accomplishments in the Latornell Conservation Pioneer award announcement. This is the link to his obit in Mississauga.com which includes photos and links to previous news articles about Peter.
Peter was a man of great vision. He will be sorely missed. ... Read more »
The Time is Now for Sierra Club Ontario Members to Support the Greenbelt!
Submitted by Dan McDermott on Sun, 2012-12-02 18:27by Dan McDermott
The Government of Ontario wants your thoughts on suggested changes to the Greenbelt. A series of three public meetings have been organized to make that possible. The meeting notice sent out by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) focuses on a proposed amendment to the Greenbelt Plan that would:... Read more »
- Dan McDermott's blog
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Community Wins Fight Against Huge Quarry
Submitted by Shaima Al-Khalili on Thu, 2012-11-22 13:09The Highland Companies has been working for years to try to dig a giant quarry in prime agricultural land, in the face of stiff community resistance. Today, the company announced it has withdrawn its application.
... Read more »
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Prorogued Perogies: Ontario's Local Food Act
Submitted by Denna Berg on Thu, 2012-11-01 13:25
By Denna Berg
The proposed bill to support the usage of more locally produced and processed foods was one of the many legislations that were killed after Premier McGuinty’s announcement of stepping down on October 15th, 2012 (Ontario Farmer, 2012). The Local Food Act was prorogued only 11 days after receiving its first reading before it even received its’ first debate (Ontario Farmer, 2012). In other words, this means that the bill will be postponed indefinitely.
Provincial farmers currently produce over 200 types of agricultural goods. With a wide variety of vegetables, fruits and meat and dairy products, each active farmer is able to provide enough food to support 120 people a year (Ministry of Agriculture, 2012). To give more weight to this number, in 2006, Ontario farms alone would have been able to provide approximately 81% of the food needed for the provincial population (see Figure 1).... Read more »
- Denna Berg's blog
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Action Alert; Citizens concerned about the Norval Quarry must reconfirm their objections.
Submitted by Kristina Jackson on Wed, 2012-09-12 11:37Did you get a letter from Brampton Brick recently?
If you submitted an objection to the Norval Quarry in December 2010, you've most likely received a Notice of Objector Response via registered mail from Brampton Brick. Under the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA), Brampton Brick is required to respond to all objectors within a two year period, expiring on November 4, 2012. It is important that you respond to reconfirm your objection to the Norval Quarry within 20 days of receiving Brampton Brick’s notice, otherwise your concerns are withdrawn and deemed no longer valid. Although Brampton Brick has updated a few of their component studies since your original objection letter, almost all of our original objections remain outstanding.
There has been almost no contact from Brampton Brick attempting to resolve any of our concerns!... Read more »
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Whose Roads? Evaluating Bicyclists’ and Pedestrians’ Right to Use Public Roadways
Submitted by Kristina Jackson on Mon, 2012-09-10 14:23From the Victoria Transport Policy Institute... Read more »
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Peel Group Annual Fall Tree Planting -- Brampton, Sept. 8
Submitted by Kristina Jackson on Mon, 2012-08-27 11:48
Come join us and our friends with Credit Valley Conservation to put a whole lot of trees in the ground. Saturday, Sept. 8 in Sandalwood Park, Brampton. Starts at 9 am and will be done by 1pm.
All necessary planting equipment and drinks are provided. Please dress for the weather and wear your work boots!
Call 647-346-8744 or email Kristinaj@sierraclub.ca if you want to carpool from Toronto or Etobicoke.
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Greenbelt Harvest Picnic - Featuring Feist and others!
Submitted by Kristina Jackson on Wed, 2012-08-15 11:37
... Read more »
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David Suzuki Foundation released document on Ontario's Greenbelt and its role in mitigating Climate Change
Submitted by Kristina Jackson on Wed, 2012-08-15 10:16
August 2012
... Read more »
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