Four important September events
Join our Community Carbon Footprint Challenge
Monday September 13th we launched the Community Carbon Footprint Challenge to get South Georgian Bay residents thinking about the impact we have on the environment. When you measure your carbon footprint for your household you will be given a number that represents your impact on the environment. Our goal is to work together to continuously reduce that number and our environmental impact.
“When talking about climate change, footprint is a metaphor for the total impact that something has. And carbon is shorthand for all the different greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. It is the best estimate we can get of the full climate change impact of something. That something could be anything – an activity, an item, a lifestyle, a household, a company, or a country.” The Guardian
Whether you are new to the carbon conversation or an environmental activist we need YOUR footprint. Together our data will be compiled to form our community carbon footprint. This will help drive the support of our government, engage businesses and unite residents to address the climate crisis together.
The first step is to complete your carbon footprint and email us to join the challenge at collingwoodcat@gmail.com
Once you know your carbon footprint you can start to take action. On our website we have built Action Tools under each of the 4 key areas of Energy, Transportation, Food, and Consumption & Waste. As well, we will be sponsoring a series of Carbon Conversation workshops – in a range of options. You will be able to participate in a variety of ways to learn more about what you, your family and your friends can do to make a difference.
We will be posting regular mini-challenges, encouraging teams to form to work together on making changes,
community events and additional action tools to support the journey to 2030. Please join us - check out
the
links above.
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Wednesday September 22nd - Celebrate World Car Free Day and Support Collingwood Businesses
Join us in celebrating Collingwood’s first World Car Free Day event by leaving the car at home and heading downtown on Wednesday September 22nd.
Our Transportation Team has put together an amazing day of actions and activities. Here’s how you can participate:
- The best way to observe World Car Free Day is to simply not use your vehicle. If you need to go somewhere, walk, ride your bike or take transit.
- Look for the promotions “Carbon Credits” that some businesses Downtown or on First Street will be offering for anyone who arrives car free on September 22nd. Ask when you go in if they are offering a Carbon Credit. We will be posting on the website the list of businesses who are involved.
- Get together with a group of colleagues or friends, ride, walk or roll to your favourite business. See how long it takes you. Pick up a copy of our new map showing walking and biking distances to downtown. We will be handing them out on Hurontario Street on September 22nd.
- Park your bike in one of the special bike parking areas set up for the day on Hurontario Street.
- Join us in the parking lot beside Town Hall at 6pm for the unveiling of the Map “Downtown is closer than you think”, a discussion of the Carbon Footprint Challenge and a ride down The Maple "Bike Priority" Street. Bring a friend, your favourite bike and see what others are riding. (Ontario Step 3 COVID-19 guidelines to be followed).
We need your help! If you can spare an hour of your time to help with bicycle parking on Hurontario
Street on Car Free Day, please contact Laurel at lhood275@gmail.com
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100 Debates On the Environment - Simcoe Grey: September 8th
On September 8th, Collingwood Climate Action Team along with three other climate teams across our federal riding hosted a virtual 100 Debates on the Environment. Simcoe-Grey federal candidates Bren Munro from the Liberal Party, Lucas Gillies from the NDP and Nick Clayton from the Green Party answered questions ranging from climate change to toxins to inequities and indigenous reconciliation. Conservative candidate Terry Dowdall declined the invitation to participate stating that his calendar did not allow him to do so. We are extremely disappointed that our incumbent MP would choose not to articulate his party’s position to us, his constituents.
Thanks to Rogers Cable TV Collingwood for recording the event and have made it is available on Youtube or you can see it on Rogers Cable in Collingwood at the following times:
Tuesday September 14 at 11 a.m. or 6 p.m. -- Thursday September 16 at 9 p.m. -- Friday September 17 at 6 pm. -- Sunday September 19 at 7 p.m.
This debate was part of the nationwide 100 Debates on the Environment initiated by GreenPAC, and
organized
by four climate action teams within the riding: Collingwood Climate Action Team, Wasaga Beach Climate
Action
Team, Climate Action Now Network in the Town of Blue Mountains and New Tecumseth Climate Action. Penny
Skelton, a host of a popular Rogers Cable TV show, moderated the evening.
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Fridays for Future - Friday September 24th
Fridays for Future is a youth-led and organized global climate strike movement started in August 2018 by
Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg. Collingwood youth are inviting everyone to come and join together on
Friday September 24th 2:30-3:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Please come out to show your support for the youth as
they raise attention to the need for a livable future for the planet. People around the world will be
marking the day to have their voices heard.
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Hope to see you at some of these events. Check the links for more information. Tell your friends and pass
on this information to spread the word.
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Ontario Nature Upcoming Events
Join a Planting Event at Sydenham River Nature Reserve
We are planting 900 trees and shrubs and want you to be a part of it! You are invited to join us for a planting event at our Sydenham River Nature Reserve in southwestern Ontario on September 25th and 26th. Bring your friends and family and join us for the morning, afternoon, or all day. You will help plant native trees and shrubs and will learn about this habitat restoration project with our staff and local experts. Find out more and register through our Eventbrite page.
The Future for Nature: How You Can Help Secure Ontario’s Wild Species and Wild Spaces, Forever
Join Ontario Nature's executive director, Caroline Schultz, and David Love, birder and philanthropy expert, for a conservation conversation about how you can help nature in Ontario forever. We will share the personal stories of other Ontario Nature supporters just like you who have plans to continue their support after they are gone, all while still looking after their loved ones. We will also hear from a nature-loving financial planner, Ryan Fraser, about what you need to know about aligning your environmental values into your own planning – and you’ll have a chance to ask questions.
Designating More Provincially Significant Wetlands
The generous support of an Ontario Nature donor has allowed us to commission several wetland evaluations, with the goal of designating them as provincially significant by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. The latest addition to Ontario’s Provincially Significant Wetlands is the 640-hectare South Milburn Wetland Complex in Haliburton County. This wetland is home to species such as the whip-poor-will, eastern hog-nosed snake and Blanding’s turtle. Learn more about Ontario’s wetlands and how you can help protect them.
There’s Still Time to Register for the Youth Summit!
Do you know an environmentally conscious youth between 14 and 20 years of age? On September 25th and 26th members of Ontario Nature’s Youth Council and the Youth Circle for Mother Earth will facilitate a series of cross-cultural workshops and activities where youth gather online and outdoors to learn from conservation leaders, Indigenous Elders and one another. Workshops on food sovereignty, traditional Indigenous medicine, story sharing circles, and outdoor challenges are just a few of the offerings. For more information and to register, please contact Christine Ambre, conservation and education coordinator, at christinea@ontarionature.org
Learning Resources for Nature Lovers
Ontario Nature promotes nature conservation and builds awareness through a wide array of educational publications and resources for nature lovers of all ages. Most of our publications are the result of years of research and help support the fight to protect Ontario’s wild spaces and species. You can read more on our Resources and Publications webpage.
Be The Change is back for its 13th season
Be The Change is back for its 13th season, this time outdoors at the Collingwood Brewery (drinks and refreshments will be available for purchase). Please remember to bring your own chair/blanket!
We will be screening "Why We Cycle", a documentary that explores the impacts of cycling on Dutch society
and the environment. Any old tickets from the original (cancelled) event last year will be
honoured.
Trailer
New this year, tickets MUST be purchased in advance through our online booking system in order to comply with public health regulations.
Tickets:
Adults: $12
Students: $7
Kids (under 12): free with reservation
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Visit our website to purchase.
Clearview Township is selling County Road 91, one of the region’s busiest east-west thoroughfares, to a quarry for their private use. It is estimated that the sale value is well below market value.
To replace County Road 91, Clearview Township wants to pave a seasonal sideroad – damaging the environment, denying access to vehicles such as heavy trucks and farm equipment, and adding critical minutes to Emergency Services response times to Grey Highlands.
The road projects are already expected to be more than $1 million over budget – from Clearview taxpayers’ pockets!
We, the undersigned, are calling on Clearview Township Council to:
- Stop the closure of County Road 91;
- Withdraw its plans to upgrade 26/27 Nottawasaga Sideroad; and
- Commit to protecting the Niagara Escarpment and the Township’s rare natural heritage features.