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.

Guest Post: One million cubic meters of Radioactive Waste to be deposited in "Near Surface Disposal Facility" next to Ottawa River

Yvonne Ho — November 20, 2017

"..The consortium proposes a  “Near Surface Disposal Facility” (NSDF), a mound of one million cubic meters of nuclear waste on a hillside draining into the already highly contaminated Perch Creek wetlands, less than 1 km from the Ottawa River.

Expanding Ontario's Greenbelt into Simcoe County: Defending the Peacemaker's World

Yvonne Ho — November 17, 2017

"The Peacemaker's World can only be protected by the direct action of the Ontario government putting rural lands in Simcoe into Ontario's Greenbelt, which would protect such natural wonders as the Minesing Wetlands...Rather than being seen as a controversial hot potato to be tossed around and evaded, the province needs to make a bold move that would win it plaudits from a public prone to cynicism."


Sierra Club Celebrates Ontario’s Greenbelt with cake, soup, and a hike in Niagara’s Carolinian old growth forest

Yvonne Ho — November 10, 2017

The Celebration

On the afternoon of October 28th, on St. Catharine’s' Lockhart Drive in a threatened Carolinian Old Growth Forest north of the Niagara Escarpment, the Sierra Club celebrated a major environmental victory. This was the extension of Ontario's Greenbelt to 21 major urban river corridors from Northumberald to Niagara. In Niagara, this involved the protection of Lake Gibson - a reservoir for most of the drinking water for Niagara's residents.

The struggle to protect Ontario's Great Wetlands show a need to restore provincial appointments to Conservation Authority Boards

Yvonne Ho — October 19, 2017

"Conservation Authorities since 1946 have played a major role in protecting Ontario’s landscape from deforestation and consequently, rescuing the province from the blights of desertification and flooding... Since changes in 1996 which made municipal councils responsible for the appointment of conservation authority boards, they have been weakened to the threats caused by urban sprawl over critical wildlife habitat."

CONTEST GIVEAWAY: 2 Free Tickets to Planet in Focus Film Festival's Wildlife Shorts Program

Yvonne Ho — October 11, 2017

Planet in Focus 18th Annual Environmental Film Festival: October 19th to 22nd, 2017

Sierra Club Ontario is proud to co-present - together with Planet in Focus - their Wildlife Shorts Program, taking place:

Time to Celebrate: 21 New Rivers Added to Ontario's Greenbelt!

Yvonne Ho — October 5, 2017

PLEASE JOIN US IN CELEBRATING 21 NEW RIVERS ADDED TO ONTARIO'S GREENBELT...

                                                                                                                     THEN                                                                                                                                                       

...HIKE THE ENDANGERED LOCKHART DRIVE OLD GROWTH FOREST WITH US!

Good News!

Sierra Club Ontario is seeking Executive Committee members

Yvonne Ho — September 26, 2017

Sierra Club Ontario's (SCO) Nomination Committee is seeking candidates as members to serve on its volunteer, non-profit Executive Committee, commencing January 2018. 

Candidates should be passionate about environmental protection and supporting grassroots activists in local communities to advocate for a more sustainable, greener future. We are looking for candidates who meet one (or more) of the following criteria:

It was a great time for learning outdoors at Riverfest in Edmonton!

PearlAnn Reichwein — September 22, 2017
Dear Friends:
Thank you to all our volunteers, friends, and families for supporting Sierra Club Canada Foundation's Big Nature Tent for public education at Edmonton's inaugural Riverfest 2017.
At the Big Nature Tent
We appreciate your time, expertise, and creativity as a generous donation to conservation advocacy and a wonderful fall outing on the weekend of September 16th.

Let's Save our Bees!

Yvonne Ho — September 15, 2017

Are you interested in learning about bees and local pollinators, including causes for their decline and actions you can take to help support their habitat?

Come out and attend our FREE WORKSHOP on September 29th, from 11am -12.30pm, at University of Toronto's Hart House! Refreshments including local honey and organic fruits will be provided.

Spaces are limited, so REGISTER NOW! 

Red Flags Waving for Rouge National Urban Park

Yvonne Ho — July 4, 2017

The following article was written by Stephanie Hulse, Sierra Club Ontario's Environmental Outreach Coordinator.

Did you know that in the heart of Ontario’s Greenbelt - a swath of federal protected conservation land that reaches from Niagara to Northumberland (also known as the Greater Golden Horseshoe) - is a national park under threat from a range of sprawl-related issues?

The case against urban sprawl in Midhurst, Simcoe County

Yvonne Ho — June 23, 2017

"The Minesing Wetlands is a haven for wildlife in a denuded and biologically sterile environment, at risk of being washed over by shock waves of urban sprawl unleashed by a storm of developers’ greed."

The following article was written by Elder Danny Beaton of the Mohawk Turtle Clan and an internationally recognized protector of Mother Earth, a

Significant changes needed to tackle Lake Erie’s algal bloom problem

Yvonne Ho — June 22, 2017

Lake Erie's algal blooms are hurting the lake's ecosystem, Ontario’s economy, and the health of communities that depend on it.


The following article was written by Dr. Lino Grima, former professor of Water Resources Policy and Environmental Management at the University of Toronto, Chair of Sierra Club Ontario's Great Lakes Campaign and Co-Chair of Sierra Club's Binational Great Lakes Committee.

Dan McDermott's Legacy as Freshwater Hero

Yvonne Ho — June 16, 2017

The following blog was written by Kristina Jackson, Sierra Club Canada Foundation's National Operations Director, and long time friend and colleague of Dan McDermott.

The Freshwater Hero 2017 award is a canoe-shaped piece of wood, lovely, solid and smooth. The canoe shape indicates the close connection between humans and water. And in this case it symbolizes the respect of other enviros for Sierra Club's Dan McDermott.