Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has teamed with City of Brampton, the Federal Government’s Healthy Communities Initiative, United Way, and various community partners, including the BEA, to deliver projects in Bramalea’s K, E, and F sections. This is all part of the Bramalea Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP). The Bramalea SNAP integrates local community interests and sustainability objectives under the overarching theme of working together for a green, healthy, and welcoming Bramalea neighbourhood. The Action Plan is made up of six themes, each with their own integrated initiatives:

1. Eco-Parks – Re-shaping older parks including Eastbourne, Earnscliffe, Fallingdale, Edgebrooke, Folkstone, and Knightsbridge, into a network of Eco-Spaces that maximize ecological value, making nature more visible while providing opportunities for social services delivery,
2. Active Transportation – Encourage residents to choose active forms of transportation by improving the pedestrian and cycling experience through improved infrastructure that includes road diets and safe crossings,
3. Healthy Local Food System – Encourage opportunities for urban agriculture in backyards and towers and support access to affordable healthy food for vulnerable residents,
4. Residential building efficiency and resilience. Bramalea has one of the highest residential energy and water use intensity in the city. Lower tree canopy cover combined with urban heat make pockets of this neighbourhood more vulnerable to the effects of climate change,
5. Institutional energy & water use efficiency – Improve institutional energy and water use efficiency by working with businesses and property management companies to encourage building retrofits and landscape greening,
6. Community resilience & connectedness – Improve community resilience and connectedness through offering skills enhancement and knowledge activities and workshops.

The BEA has been involved in delivering projects in the Bramalea SNAP area for the past three years. This past summer, the BEA received SNAP funding to run 9 events between June and October. The purpose was to engage residents in activities to foster concern for natural spaces and encourage cycling as a logical way to navigate the community.

Two bike repair workshops were hosted at Bramalea S.S. servicing 29 bikes.

The project also offered 3 family cycling clinics on Wednesday evenings in July. Few participants took advantage of these sessions indicating that we still have work to do to normalize family cycling for transportation.

A bike clinic in October at Earnscliffe Sr.P.S. yielded better results. Nine students attended the workshop where they learned about cycling safety and how to perform basic repairs on their bikes.

The project also offered 3 nature journaling sessions in Earnscliffe Park. Nature journaling is where participants are guided in observing the details of their natural surroundings, understanding the connectedness of all living beings and appreciating the wonder and beauty of the natural world that lives in our neighbourhood. A total of 26 adults and children attended these sessions .

Overall, 69 people attended BEA Bramalea SNAP activities, 70% of whom were residents of Bramalea in the sections south of Queen St. All participants appeared to enjoy themselves.

We hope to provide more activities in 2025 with even a better turnout!