Natural Capital Project Update: Planting in Paradise

Our bioswale project was created in response to water quality issues affecting residents and visitors to the Ajax waterfront.  In recent years, as a result of contaminated run-off, the Town of Ajax and its residents have had limited access to swimmable water and beaches and the bioswales are a perfect solution!

The structure of these bioswales resembles a rain garden and is designed to control storm water, reducing the amount overflowing onto the beaches. The bioswale mimics wetland processes by providing a planted area of trees and shrubs which will absorb and filter storm water as it is slowed by the soil and root systems of the plants—for free! This is a great way to enhance the waterfront and naturally filter contaminants like automotive run-off and road salts, while restoring the environment.

Protecting Niagara’s Waters By Expanding Ontario’s Greenbelt Protection Area

This article posted in Niagara At Large was written by John Bacher, who works with Greenbelt Program team at Sierra Club of Canada Foundation. The article depicts the darker side of urban sprawl and pollution on watershed quality, and how stopping urban sprawl is an imperative step in protecting our waters. Read the article here.

 

The provincial government is hosting a series of public consultations for the review of the province’s land use plans.  So if you love the Greenbelt and want to protect our waters, now is the time to attend a Town Hall near your to voice your opinions.

For more information on the review process please visit the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website.

Join us for a spring garbage cleanup!

Join us at Paradise Park in Ajax on May 2nd for a spring garbage clean-up (See map for details)! This is a great opportunity to enhance your community and waterways, care for the environment and see some of the great restoration work being done at Paradise Beach.

High-school students earn volunteer hours- must bring your own form!!

 

***To participate, please register here***

 

Lock me in my office, please!

It’s week four of the Protect The Pollinators Tour, which means our (unfortunate) comedy of errors is almost over. So far we have survived a broken tooth in the airport, two missed connections, a twisted ankle (I’m typing with my foot over my head) and one heck-of-a gruelling schedule. I am getting (at least feeling) old and, at this point, the thought of sitting in my office back in Ottawa is very, very nice!

But having said that, transportation mishaps and human folly aside, the tour has been an incredible success, and incredibly empowering and inspirational. I’m more hopeful today than I’ve been in a long while. Our force is strong.

Positive Caledon Review Follow-up

 

Below is a cheery update following the Caledon Review meeting last Thursday night on March 26th

 

"Hello Sierra friends and supporters,

The Greenbelt Review event on Thursday night, March 26th, in Caledon was crowded, maybe 300 there, with many provincial representatives, councillors, and also members of the Advisory Panel that will process the information from all 16 town Halls across the Golden Horseshoe. 

We sat at tables of 10, debating 6 topics - protecting land - creating jobs - liveable communities - climate change - moving people - and realigning the plans. Debates were lively and interesting, and support for strengthening and realigning Greenbelt legislation was overwhelming.

MEDIA RELEASE

EnergyYeast pipeline project announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 1st, 2015

REGINA --The Canadian Wheat Board CWB and TransCanada Pipe (TCP) have agreed in principle to a $12 billion project that would see Western Canadian grain piped from Alberta to the east coast, where it will then be shipped worldwide through a world-class port facility to be built in St. John, New Brunswick.

Bill C-51 and a dear friend's wisdom...

Greetings from Victoria where our Protect the Pollinators Tour gets underway tonight.

I want to talk about Bill C-51, the anti-terror bill, and how it might impact Canadian environmentalists. Before I do, I want to take a moment and talk about Andrew Chisholm, who passed away over the weekend. He was the first person I ever spoke to at Sierra Club back in 1996. He took the time to talk to me about how the federal government was changing the environmental assessment laws in the middle of the night so it could sell CANDU reactors to China.

Then, when I got here a few years later, Andrew was still part of the Sierra family (on staff and later as a volunteer)...

Prophetic Voice of Dr. Mike Carr Should Give Guidance in Greenbelt Review

By John Bacher

Photo: Urban Sprawl on Oak Ridges Moraine threatens health of Lake Ontario. By: Mary Lou Bacher

The province of Ontario is engaged in what is termed a decade long review of the Greenbelt Plan and its complimentary legislation, Places to Grow. (the latter is intended to provide higher densities so that sprawl does not jam up against urban boundaries). A public meeting on the review, appropriately enough in a location accessible to cyclists, walkers and transit, is being held on March 30, from 6 to 9pm at the central Yonge Street Toronto Public Library.

The recent death of a prophetic voice of concern for the earth, Dr. Mike Carr, should give some guidance to the deliberations of the public. It is to be fervently hoped that as many people cram into the Toronto Reference Library to give voice to concerns for the fate of the planet as occupied St. James Cathedral square.