Grassroots Action

What makes the Sierra Club Canada Foundation so effective is our network of experts, partners and volunteers. Our chapters are engaged in many projects at the local level. Want to get involved? Contact our national office or your local chapter. If you have a dedicated group of members who want to lead their own projects within a region, you could start a Group. According to our organization's policy: Groups may be formed by any three or more members who wish to be active in their local community or within a larger geographic area, in relation to a particular conservation issue or issues, with the intention that the group exist on an ongoing basis. Otherwise, more time-limited local issues are to be managed within the auspices of the Chapter, or if none exists, then in co- operation with program staff working at the national level.

Prospects for New National Urban Park in Greater Edmonton Region Spark Excitement

Posted on November 2, 2021

Version française à suivre

By Lindsay Boucher

This summer Johnathan Wilkinson, Former Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, announced a new program to create national urban parks across Canada. Seven cities were being considered, including the greater Edmonton area.  This announcement aligns with Sierra Club Canada Foundation’s goal of providing access to nature for all, protecting wildlife and habitat, and mitigating climate change with nature-based solutions.

Breathe Easy

 

Do YOU know the quality of air you breathe? Many people do not. 

Air quality (AQ) and its impacts are rarely discussed. It remains a silent killer. 

Breathe Easy is looking to change that.

 

Beyond Coal Atlantic

Posted on March 30, 2021

The Beyond Coal Atlantic project launched in December 2020 with an ambitious goal: to get Atlantic Canada off coal and biomass energy as quickly as possible and transition to clean renewable energy. Many of the solutions already exist—such as wind, solar, and existing hydro from Quebec—but what’s been lacking is political and corporate will. 

Les bonnes intentions ne suffisent pas !

David Snider — January 31, 2023

Cantley doit faire ses devoirs pour identifier les zones clés de la biodiversité, les corridors écologiques et les services écologiques. Un plan de conservation de la nature doit être intégré au nouveau plan directeur de Cantley, soutenu par des modifications appropriées des règlements municipaux. Par exemple, des zones de conservation de la nature et de corridors écologiques devraient être ajoutées aux règlements de zonage de Cantley. 

Good intentions are not enough!

David Snider — January 31, 2023

Cantley has to do its homework to identify key biodiversity areas, ecological corridors and ecological services. A nature conservation plan must be integrated into Cantley's new master plan, supported by appropriate bylaw changes. For example, Nature Conservation and Ecological Corridor land use zones should be added to Cantley’s zoning bylaws. 

Protecting Mother Earth and Our Future Generations

Danny Beaton, Mohawk of the Turtle Clan — November 10, 2022

In Memory of Alicja Rozanska.

As a Mohawk Environmentalist I want to thank CUPE and all of their supporters for protesting Doug Ford's Government and their negative idealism. I attended the protest on Monday November 7th and there were a good ten thousand or more CUPE Union members and citizens present to oppose Ford's Bill. 

Join us this Sunday at 14th annual EcoFair in Toronto!

Posted on November 1, 2022

Join us this Sunday November 6th at the 14th annual EcoFair! 

The EcoFair showcases environmental non-profits and environmentally-friendly businesses to celebrate their success and inspire everyone to join them in taking action. Enjoy fun interactive activities for kids and adults and good food. 

Sierra Club Canada will have a table at Ecofair Toronto, make sure you stop by to find out about our biodiversity initiatives!

Masks are required when indoors at the EcoFair. Free masks will be provided.

Canadian Environmental Protection is Getting Stronger, but is it Strong Enough?

Morgan Martel — August 30, 2022
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) is a cornerstone of Canada’s environmental legislation. The original CEPA has several shortcomings that fail to meaningfully protect Canada’s environment. A current bill aims to strengthen this legislation -- but does it do enough to protect our environment and our health?

Join us for a community event in Brampton!

Posted on August 22, 2022

Join us this Saturday, August 27 in Brampton for a free, fun, social, event to promote waste clean up and reduction!

As part of the Back 2 School BBQ we will be painting City of Brampton garbage cans using designs provided by local artists. Sierra Club Peel will also be demonstrating what gets recycled and what gets tossed through a waste sorting game.

When: Saturday August 27 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Where: In the greenspace behind 4 & 10 Knightsbridge Road, Brampton. 

Using Two-Eyed Seeing as a Model for Reconciliation and Marine Conservation

Posted on July 5, 2022

Note: Elder Albert Marshall could not be present during the event due to health issues. We instead shared a video of him speaking about Two-Eyed Seeing and the need for reconciliation with nature. The video can be found on Youtube at the address below, it was published on January 10th 2022 by Allison Bernard Memorial High School. Go and give it a like!
youtube.com/watch?v=qoR4nnzG13U&list=LL&index=5&t=83s

The importance and role of reconciliation between settlers and Indigenous peoples to ensure adequate conservation of marine ecosystems is fundamental to consultation and cooperation, as stated under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act adopted by Canada in 2021. Two-Eyed Seeing is an increasingly important process for the inclusion of Indigenous peoples for environmental sustainability. Two-Eyed Seeing has the potential to guide reconciliation in the context of consultation and cooperation. By enhancing our understanding of knowledge systems, Two-Eyed Seeing will be explored as a tool for reconciliation to conserve marine ecosystems.

 

Assault on Carolinian Forests in Bacher V. GR CAN Investments et al.

By Dr John Bacher and Danny Beaton, Mohawk of the Turtle Clan. — June 30, 2022

In Memory of Alicja Rozanska.

From John Bacher: 

Recently when I was reviewing the decision of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Bacher V. GR CAN Investments, I received grim news of brutal events in the Amazonian rainforest. This showed the similarity of the assaults of the woodlands of the Carolinian life zone, Canada’s most biologically diverse biome, with another critical cradle of species diversity on our planet. 

2030, c'est demain: Protéger 30% du golfe du St. Laurent est urgent et réalisable

Posted on June 27, 2022

L'état de nos océans est préoccupant, c'est le moins qu'on puisse dire. Ils sont soumis aux impacts cumulés de la pollution, du bruit, des changements climatiques, de la surpêche, et plus encore. L'une des solutions dans notre boîte à outils pour aider à restaurer les écosystèmes marins sont les aires marines protégées (AMP). Dans cette présentation, SNAP Québec discutera de l'historique, des avantages et des types d'AMP, ainsi que de la nécessité et de l'urgence de créer un réseau efficace d'AMP couvrant au moins 30 % du golfe du Saint-Laurent.

2030 Is Tomorrow: Protecting 30% of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Is Urgent and Feasible

Posted on June 27, 2022

The state of our oceans is concerning, to say the least. They are subject to cumulative impacts from pollution, noise, climate change, overfishing, and more. One of the solutions in our toolbox to help restore the health of marine ecosystems are marine protected areas (MPAs). In this presentation, SNAP Québec will discuss the history, benefits and types of MPAs, as well as the necessity and urgency of creating an effective MPA network covering at least 30% of Gulf of St. Lawrence.