Wildlife & Natural Spaces

You cannot protect what you do not know. Nature’s diversity exists all around us. SCCF works with individuals, partners and community groups to promote knowledge of wildlife and natural environments. We work to preserve and protect for all to enjoy, both now and in the future.

Wild Child - Helping Nurture Generation N

Gretchen Fitzgerald — June 5, 2017

Almost as an antidote to last week's announcement that the US intends to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement, today, June 5th, we celebrate World Environment Day.

Some people have asked for a break from the bad news and the heartache that sometimes comes with caring for our Earth - whether its trying to stop toxic pollution, prevent climate change, or protecting wildlife and wild spaces. For me, a good antidote to the doom and gloom is checking in with our Wild Child programs on PEI and Nova Scotia. 

Potential Revival of Mid-Peninsula Expressway Threatens Ontario's Greenbelt and Local Habitats

Yvonne Ho — May 9, 2017

“A Politician only thinks of the next election... A Leader thinks of the next generation.” 

Patrick Brown, Ontario PC Leader, has shown support for the shelved Mid-Peninsula Expressway - representing a threat to Ontario's Greenbelt, including some of the local communities, green space, and wildlife habitat that it has been supporting ever since its establishment in 2005.

The following article was written by Dr.

Niagara's Escarpment-Decew Falls Forest, Largest Remaining Woodland in St. Catharines, at Risk of Losing "Natural Area" Designation and Protection

Yvonne Ho — May 7, 2017
Decew Falls, St Catharines

The Escarpment-Decew Falls Forest - which has been identified as an Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Niagara Region, and is the largest remaining woodland in the City of St. Catharines - has been the subject of a 40-year battle between Brock University and the environmentalists who seek to protect it...

UPDATE: OPG's Proposed Deep Geological Repository Project near Lake Huron rejected by CEAA

Yvonne Ho — April 19, 2017
In 2013, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) proposed to construct, operate, and ultimately decommission and abandon a deep geological repository (DGR) for low- and intermediatelevel radioactive waste. The repository would accommodate waste from commercial nuclear reactors that are owned or operated by OPG, and are located at the Bruce, Pickering, and Darlington sites. 

ACTION ALERT: Act Now to Protect our Greenbelt from Costly Urban Sprawl

Yvonne Ho — March 21, 2017


Going from Greenbelt to a ‘Swiss Cheese belt’...

On Monday March 20th, the development industry hosted a lobby day at Queen’s Park to drive home the message that land in and around the Greenbelt is essential to avert the growing housing crisis in Toronto and the GTA. However, we know this is not accurate. 

The Ontario Greenbelt is a great success, but is its future secure?

Yvonne Ho — February 8, 2017


The following article was originally published in August 2016 on Sierra Club Canada Foundation's blog.

At almost 2 million acres, it’s the world’s largest permanently protected greenbelt.  Dan McDermott, who is just stepping down as Chapter Director of Sierra Ontario after many years, weighs in on the Greenbelt’s successes and his concerns for its future as it reaches the ten-year review point.

Remembering Dan McDermott - Former Chapter Director, Sierra Club Ontario

Yvonne Ho — January 20, 2017

Dan McDermott (May 6, 1947 - January 4, 2017)

 

Dan McDermott, Sierra Club Canada’s Ontario Chapter Director for 13 years, passed away peacefully on January 4th 2017. It is wonderful to see his influential life mentioned in these posts, which have featured in the news recently with reflections and thoughts on Dan’s life, what he dedicated it to, and his passing three weeks ago.

 

In Defence of the Gulf of St. Lawrence - Open Letter to Federal and Provincial Ministers

Gretchen Fitzgerald — January 12, 2017

To the federal and provincial governments who have the jurisdiction over this issue, we submit this letter - signed by over 1400 people in under 72 hours. It is time to stand up for the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the people who border it's waters, and the thousands of species who call it home. 

See Media Release

Great Lakes Protection Act Alliance weighs in on Ontario's proposed Wetland Strategy

anonymous — November 24, 2016
As part of the Great Lakes Protection Act Alliance, Sierra Club submitted comments on A Wetland Conservation Strategy for Ontario 2016-2030 (EBR Registry Number: 012-7675). Among the recommendations, the GLPA Alliance asserts this draft strategy is not utilizing powers already available to the Ministry and should "commit to setting time bound, measurable targets with aspirational milestones for wetlands in the Great Lakes-St Lawrence River Basin."
In other words, the Wetland Strategy is not making strategic use of tools in place to really conserve wetlands.

Make Muskrat Right - It's On all of Us Now

Gretchen Fitzgerald — October 28, 2016

Over the past few weeks,  protests about the potential for methyl mercury contamination downstream of the Muskrat Falls development in Labrador made national headlines. Sierra Club Canada Foundation has voiced strong opposition to the Muskrat Falls project for years, and tried to show the damage it will cause to wildlife and the Grande River, and the people who live downstream. We also tried to demonstrate that this type of mega-hydro development was not needed to meet our climate objectives, and there were plenty of less damaging, less expensive alternatives. All to no avail. Till now.

Contact Premier Wynne to voice your support for a fully protected and growing Greenbelt

Dan McDermott — October 20, 2016

There are positive proposals within the four draft provincial plans, including the Greenbelt plan, open for public comment until October 31st, Urban River Valley additions to note one example. There are also some alarming proposed changes that would allow land to be taken out of the current Greenbelt and handed to the developers. Section 3.4 Settlement Areas of the Greenbelt draft
 contains an outline of a proposed process that could do just that and subject the Greenbelt to being turned into a Swiss cheese belt.

Contact Premier Wynne to voice your support for a fully protected and growing Greenbelt

Dan McDermott — October 7, 2016

There are positive proposals within the four draft provincial plans, including the Greenbelt plan, open for public comment until October 31st, Urban River Valley additions to note one example. There are also some alarming proposed changes that would allow land to be taken out of the current Greenbelt and handed to the developers. Section 3.4 Settlement Areas of the Greenbelt draft contains an outline of a proposed process that could do just that and subject the Greenbelt to being turned into a Swiss cheese belt.