IN THIS ISSUE
News and Updates
All Over the World, People Want Greenbelts: A Declaration for Global Greenbelts
Municipal Leaders for the Greenbelt
Ontario Celebrates Environmental Excellence
Take Action
Time is Running Out! Save the Concord West
Ask Elected Officials to Come Clean on the Greenbelt
Events
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News and Updates
All Over the World, People Want Greenbelts: A Declaration for Global Greenbelts The first ever Global Greenbelts Conference brought representatives from countries like Germany, Poland, Australia, Brazil and the US to Toronto to speak about how greenbelts were essential to managing urban growth, sustaining local farming and protecting valuable natural heritage. In a truly exciting end to the conference, attendees came together to carve out a global vision for greenbelts and corresponding network to provide an ongoing support system for global greenbelts. Signed by all countries represented at this conference and spearheaded by the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, the network will support dialogue between countries, share solutions and advocate for creation and growth of greenbelts internationally. The declaration can be found here. |
Photo courtesy of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation |
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Municipal Leaders for the Greenbelt Municipal Leaders for the Greenbelt are mayors and councillors who support the Greenbelt as a permanent feature of Ontario’s landscape and who are committed to maintaining the boundaries of the Greenbelt, encouraging the development of Natural Heritage Systems in Greenbelt adjacent communities, and ensuring that planning decisions adhere to the Greenbelt Plan. Last month, the Municipal Leaders for the Greenbelt held a reception to welcome Global Greenbelt Conference delegates to Toronto and to highlight the work being done in their communities. Reception attendees were able to hear from Councillor Allan Edgar about how Oakville is working with the Region of Halton to look at growing the Greenbelt along Sixteen Mile Creek, and from Mayor Karen Farbridge on how Guelph is growing the Greenbelt through the downtown core along the Eramosa River. Is your mayor and councillor Greenbelt friendly? View the most current list of Greenbelt committed mayors and councilors.
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Ontario Celebrates Environmental ExcellenceThe Government of Ontario is accepting applications for a new award recognizing local green achievement, leadership and innovation. The Minister's Award for Environmental Excellence will honour the individuals and organizations working to enhance and protect our environment. Applicants should demonstrate how their activities benefit the environment or foster environmental behaviour change. For 2011, awards are focused on water and toxics reduction but the ministry will also consider applications of environmental excellence in other areas. Applications will be accepted until May 6th, 2011. Click here for more information.
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Photo credit: Alexandra Correa |
Take ActionTime is running out! Save the Concord West – send an email to Dalton McGuinty before May 11th!The Concord West Greenspace in Vaughan adjoins the eastern border of the Concord West community. Lying within the Don Watershed Plan, in a TRCA-regulated, ecologically sensitive area, and abutting the West Don River, it comprises part of the landscape habitat for the endangered Blanding's turtle, is home to numerous open-field, forest and wetlands birds species, is a feeding, staging and stopover site for numerous migratory birds, including the Special Concern Great Blue Heron, and for the monarch butterfly, now also protected by the Species at Risk Act.This greenspace is presently threatened by the Ministry of Transportation's plans to locate an intermodal transit hub on this land. Save Concord West is running an email campaign directed to Premier McGuinty and the Ontario Legislature. Go to saveconcordwest.org
Ask Elected Officials to Come Clean on the Greenbelt Last month, we told you about a new coordinated citizen outreach program that was being spearheaded by Environmental Defence, Sierra Club, CAPE, Wildlands League and OSEA that asks elected officials to come clean about where they really stand on key environmental issues. Through the website comeclean.ca, citizens are asking for answers from elected officials on protecting the Greenbelt and safeguarding it from things like sprawl, highways and quarries. In 2015, Ontario’s Greenbelt policy will be revisited. Ontarians want to know that in 2015 elected officials will strengthen the Greenbelt, not water down the legislation. Ontario’s provincial election is October 6. Do you know where your elected official and all the parties stand on protecting the Greenbelt? We’ve got a list of things you can do to ask officials in your community to come clean about the Greenbelt. Check out the website to submit a quote, pose a question by video or to find out more. |
Events
Growing the Food Continuum, Guelph, May 11 & 12thPresented by the Waterloo-Wellington Dufferin Workforce Planning Board. Get information on the future workforce and growth challenges facing the food industry. Lunch Speaker: Roger Mooking, Host of Food Network's Everyday Exotic & Owner of Nyood Restaurant. More info.Ontario's Natural Edge: Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development, Brock University, St. Catharines, May 26 & 27thNiagara Escarpment Commission's Leading Edge 2011 Conference features 38 engaging speakers, including Ontario tourism marketing expert Bill Duron, CEO of the Royal Winter Fair and former Chair of the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation, Tourism Hamilton's Executive Director David Adames, and Arlene White, Executive Director of the Binational Tourism Alliance. More info.
Recipe for Change, a FoodShare Event, Toronto, May 26thAn unforgettable evening of fine food, wine and beer, featuring 29 top Toronto chefs. Join us for a tasting adventure unlike any other. This fun and fabulous night out is a stellar opportunity to mingle with chefs and local gastronomes in a casually elegant atmosphere while savouring a great meal composed of creative plates prepared by 29 of Toronto's top culinary lights and accompanied by fine local wine and beer. More info.
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