Ontario Chapter

At Sierra Club Ontario, our work mainly focuses on protecting the Great Lakes ecosystem, growing and protecting the Greenbelt, and promoting Green Energy adoption in Ontario. Sierra Club Ontario also works on very local issues, in coordination with smaller communities in Ontario.

What's happening at the Ontario Chapter?

Natural Capital Events in Peel

Posted on February 16, 2015

As a part of our Natural Capital Campaign, Sierra Club has also been active in Peel Region!  There will be a couple of events offered in Peel, after receiving funding from TD- Friends of the Environment  and Community Foundation Mississauga Grants.

April 25th – One Million Trees Celebration and Earth Market

Hosted by the City of Mississauga, we will have volunteers at the morning tree planting and a table at the Earth Market. Come out and visit us to say Hi! There will be information booths, vendors, live music, prizes, a food truck, kids’ activities and workshops.

Spring Activities in Ajax

Posted on February 16, 2015

Last year with funding from RBC's Blue Water Grants, Sierra Club Ontario joined Town of Ajax, and Toronto Regional Conservation Authority to remove stormwater outflow pipes along Ajax’s beaches and replace them with bioswales to help improve water quality. Bioswales are human-created wetland features which slow the flow of stormwater, allowing nutrients and contaminants to be absorbed and filtered by the plants and soil, before the water reaches the beaches.

Last spring we had a successful tree planting at the Paradise Beach bioswale, and will be hosting another Tree planting and additional workshops and events this spring. List of events and volunteer opportunities below:

March 4th – Annual Waterfront Open House

Ontario’s Greenbelt Through Niagara And Beyond – As Controversial As It May Be To Some Farmers and Land Developers – Must Be Expanded

Kristina Jackson's picture
Posted on January 15, 2015
Author: 
John Bacher
Source: 
Niagara At Large
Date published: 
Thu, 01/15/2015

In the 2015 Greenbelt Review one of the most important objectives should be to expand the Greenbelt on lands within the watershed based borders of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA.)

These lands are the agricultural and environmental protection -zoned lands within the southern part of the City of Hamilton, the western edge of the County of Haldimand and the entire Niagara Region. This area is the southern edge of Ontario’s Greenbelt.

Greenbelt review chance to include Lake Gibson/Moodie lands: report

Kristina Jackson's picture
Posted on November 21, 2014
Author: 
Paul Forsyth
Source: 
Niagara This Week
Date published: 
Fri, 11/21/2014

THOROLD — The looming 10-year review of Ontario’s Greenbelt is an opportunity to try to have sensitive lands in the area of Lake Gibson and Lake Moodie in Thorold included into the plan, Thorold politicians have heard in a new report.

The province introduced the plan in 2005 with the goal of permanently protecting more than 1.8 million acres of agricultural land, environmentally sensitive land and ecological features across much of the Golden Horseshoe area, where there are huge development pressures as the population in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond continues to swell.

Credit River Trail from Mississauga to Caledon -- it is possible!

Posted on October 24, 2014

At our next Sierra Peel Group meeting guest speaker Susan Robertson of The Credit Valley Heritage Society will tell us about the proposal for a continuous trail along the Credit River from Mississauga to Caledon. There are some beautiful lengths of trail along the Credit and many people are working to connect them. According to Credit Valley Conservation, "Trails in the Credit Valley Watershed cover a wide variety of geographical features, including the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Niagara Escarpment, providing picturesque settings for a leisurely stroll or a challenging, rugged hike." The CVC website has a great page organizing maps of the trails and what to expect on them: http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/enjoy-the-outdoors/activities/trails/. Come learn more about the plans to make these trails contiguous, more accessible and enjoyable for all.

What’s In Your Water?

Posted on October 24, 2014

By Alyssa Beurling

The Town of Ajax sits along seven kilometres of beautiful and uninterrupted shoreline along the northern side of Lake Ontario, and for over 50 years now the Town’s Council has focused on creating an open, swimmable, green and accessible waterfront for residents. Although drastic improvements have been made the lakeshore is now experiencing nuisance algal blooms, and a recent study indicates effluent from the nearby Duffins Creek Wastewater Pollution Treatment Plant (DCWPTP) in Pickering is to blame.

Sierra Club Works to Save Irish Grove Forest

Posted on October 24, 2014

By Dr. John Bacher

A new threat to the environment and the future of the Greenbelt on the eve of its 2015 Review has emerged in Niagara. It is a proposal to extend through the Greenbelt in Grimsby,  a Niagara Regional Road, Livingston Avenue (Niagara Regional Road, 512)  in the middle of the old growth Irish Grove Forest.

The Irish Grove Forest is a 26 acre forest which has never been farmed. It contains huge Red and White Oaks that have been estimated by experts to be 450 years old. It also contains towering super-story White Pines of a hundred to 150 years in age. Most of the trees in this climax Carolinian forest are climax mature  Sugar Maples and Shagbark Hickories which are regenerating well.

More Mississauga Riparian Restoration Opportunities: Oct 2014

Kristina Jackson's picture
Kristina Jackson — September 26, 2014

ACER (Association for Canadian Educational Resources) has a number of programs but one very special one is their use of citizen scientists to collect climate change data. This year ACER is planting a number of sites to restore forests around Lake Ontario and is seeking volunteers to plant and help with monitoring of trees. Their Riparian Rangers program.

As a volunteer for Riparian Rangers Mississauga you will gain hands-on knowledge concerning the restoration and monitoring of riparian ecosystems. Specifically, volunteers will clean the sites so they are free from litter, identify and remove invasive species, as well as measure and monitor 10% of each tree species that has been planted in terms of growth and health.

Volunteers will be needed for two restoration sites:

Community tree planting in Brampton was a success!

Posted on September 9, 2014

200 trees and shrubs were planted over the weekend in McLaughlin Valley!  A big thank you to everyone who came out on September 6!  More than 30 volunteers dug in with Sierra Club and CVC to reforest the area.  Give yourselves a big pat on the back!  Keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to participate in plantings and help improve the air and water quality in your community. 

Unity for the Climate

Posted on September 9, 2014

Over the past 5 months, Joseph Boutilier has cycled 5,000km on one wheel to call for action on climate change. Join Joseph as he arrives in our nation’s capital – his final destination – to meet with MPs just as Parliament reopens for the Fall session. Join others demanding political action and unity for the climate crisis. Do it #ForOurFuture.

12:00 pm, September 15, 2014 – Parliament Hill (Meet at the Centennial Flame), Wellington St., Ottawa

Bringing back Paradise at the Ajax lakeshore

Posted on September 8, 2014

Join us for Paradise Beach Project planting event September 20, 2014

Sierra Club, Town of Ajax and Toronto and Region Conservation are psyched to plant native plants and trees on Paradise Beach bioswales as part of the Great Canadian Coastal Clean-up Saturday, September 20th. 

'What's a bioswale?' you may ask. A bioswale is a way of filtering surface water by channeling through plants, gravel or rip-rap and slowing it down. Silt and particulate matter will fall out and the plants in the bioswale help take out nutrients and chemicals, for instance automotive run-off from a parking lot. The plants and soil do this work for free for our benefit!

Join In Walk To Grow Greenbelt

Posted on September 5, 2014

By John Bacher

Image source: Friends of the Greenbelt

On Saturday, September 27th, at 2pm, a walk will be held to grow the Greenbelt as recommended by a motion of the City of Thorold Council. Walkers and cyclists will assemble at the outside the Indian Flame Bar and Grill, at 1300 Lundy’s Lane near the Allanburg Bridge.  The route will take an hour and a half by walking and participants are encouraged to meet informally at the Indian Flame afterwards. In case of any extreme weather, the event will be held at 2pm on Sunday, September 28th at the same location.

Rouge Park deserves better protection

Posted on September 4, 2014

Rouge Park has been getting a lot of press coverage recently. The proposed federal legislation for Rouge Park is not good enough, and the remarkable ecological values of the park deserve more protection.  A letter signed by 7 environmental groups outlining the objections to the legislation for establishing the future urban park can be found here. 
 

Read more:

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/4820598-ontario-set-to-deny-transfer-of-land-to-rouge-national-urban-park/ - (EDC) Ontario set to deny transfer of land to Rouge National Urban Park
 

Ajax Paradise Beach Bioswale Tree Planting

Posted on September 3, 2014

Come plant with Sierra Club in Ajax to help improve the air and water quality in the community!  

When:  Saturday, September 20th 

Time:  1:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Where:  2973 Lakeview Blvd.  (Between Pickering Beach Road S. and Shoal Point Road S.) 
Meet at "Paradise Beach" sign across from Paradise Park 

To participate, please register here.  

For more information, please contact Alyssa at paradise.beach@sierraclub.ca, or Kristina at 647-346-8744.    

Norval Quarry Decision Time; Natural Heritage Policy Applied with Unprecedented Rigour

Posted on September 3, 2014

By Janet Kuzniar

The City of Brampton Council will be presented a Recommendation Report by their Planning staff on Monday September 8, 7:00 pm, Brampton Council Chambers, Brampton City Hall.

The Report, based on peer reviews, recommends NOT supporting the Norval Quarry rezoning from agricultural to industrial extractive. There is a strong ecological component to this report, as the subject lands are dominated by key ecological features such as mature woodlands, watercourses, and provincially protected wetlands. This is the first time that the recently mapped  Natural Heritage System in Peel has had a quarry application, and a rigorous analysis by the City of Brampton has shown that the Norval Quarry fails the policy test. 

Brampton Tree Planting - September 6, 2014

Posted on September 3, 2014

Trees improve air and water quality, and mitigate climate change.  Help green our communities!  No experience necessary, there will be demonstrations on site.  Gloves, shovels, and light refreshments will be provided.  Students are eligible for volunteer hours. 

Where:  McLaughlin Valley (see map on flyer).  Major intersection is McLaughlin Road N. and Williams Parkway. 

When:  Saturday, September 6, 2014

Time:  9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Who:  Everyone is welcome!  Bring your friends and family! 

Toledo's toxic faucets

Posted on August 22, 2014
By Shaima Al-Khalili

It finally happened…what scientists and enviros have been trying to get citizens and governments to see finally became undeniable.  Twenty days ago today, eutrophication in Lake Erie finally entered the consciousness of the everyday citizen…through their drinking water.

Citizens of Toledo, Ohio and surrounding areas were feeling the wrath of Erie first hand. Approximately 400,000 people rushed to stock up on their water supply in supermarkets, corner stores and anywhere else they could get their hands on that liquid gold…including neighbouring states! Why not just boil it? Why the drama? Well…you CANNOT boil the toxins out of the water. So drink at your own risk, you know, if you have a thing for diarrhea, nausea and a whole other array of ailments.

Save David Dunlap Forest

Posted on August 21, 2014

Walk  To Save Southern Ontario’s Vanishing Forests.

By John Bacher

Today we have a bizarre situation where hard wrested environmental progress is being turned back. This is the shrinking of Southern Ontario’s forests, in the fertile agricultural area south of  the Canadian Shield.

Following the invasion of what was called Upper Canada there was a rampant destruction through burning of the forests of the land which, after Confederation, became called Ontario. Most of these forests were used to produce ashes, to manufacture soap and other products manufactured in Europe. It took sixty large maple trees to produce a single barrel of potash to be shipped across the sea.