david.laing

10 April 202514 April 2025

April is Earth Month, Take the Pledge!

April is the time of year when we celebrate Earth’s bounties, take joy from daylight as it emerges from darkness’s sheath, and as we are released from the ravages of winter cold, snow and ice. April is also a time for us to reflect on the importance of the earth’s natural environment to our health and wellbeing, and the damage it suffers as a result of human pursuit of perpetual economic growth. The old adage that, “those who forget history are doomed to repeat it” is poignant today for many reasons but, perhaps, especially so for the environment. With government’s of all stripes and colours, north and south of the Canada, U.S. border, rolling back environmental legislation in the name of progress, growth and affordability, it’s worth looking back to the time before much of this legislation existed to examine the impact that unbridled growth can have on our quantity and quality of life.

7 April 20257 April 2025

Emerald Energy from Waste, Time to fight back

Sign the petition

Emerald Energy from Waste is a private waste burning company located on Brampton’s southwest border with Mississauga. Emerald has been operating this plant since 1992. Recently, they submitted a proposal to the Ontario Government for permission to dramatically increase their plant capacity, to accommodate the equivalent of 1/3 of all of Ontario’s household waste and become the largest mass burn facility in Canada.

Emerald claims they are a clean, green technology company turning unwanted waste into sustainable electricity. Representatives, including experts from Environmental Defence, Toronto Environmental Alliance, and Region of Peel Public Health Department, dispute those claims citing the following facts:

3 April 20253 April 2025

BEA Supports Events in Bramalea and Caledon East on March 22nd

Saturday March 22nd was a busy day for the BEA supporting two community tables.

In the morning, the Bramalea Community Network hosted a Health and Wellness Day at the Knightsbridge Seniors Centre. About 30 neighbourhood residents attended including seniors from the Centre as well as families from the surrounding community.

March 2025 Health & Wellness Day Knightbridge Seniors Centre

The event featured presentations on nutrition, mental health, and overall well-being by expert speakers from William Osler Health System and B.L.O.O.M. Empowerment Group.

It also included a short chair yoga session.

BikeBrampton/BEA table
Knightsbridge Centre — Brampton Bike Hub’s Sonia Maset , Health and Wellness Day

About 10 community service organizations, including BikeBrampton and the BEA, were invited to set up information tables around the room’s perimeter.

Feedback on the resources and information provided was positive.

That evening, the BEA attended an Earth Hour event in the Caledon East Community Complex. This first ever event was organized by Eco-Caledon and sponsored by the Town.

Caledon's Earth Hour Event — Caledon’s Earth Hour Event

Almost 300 attendees and 25 exhibitors spent the evening celebrating sustainability, environmentalism, and our collective efforts to protect the planet!

Exhibitors were encouraged to include interactive activities at their tables and they delivered. Magicians, kale smoothies, blue planet cookies, bean bag tosses, and heat pump demonstrations were all part of the mix.

Locally grown winter vegies from Mount Wolfe Farm

The BEA’s activity was a One-Planet Pledge. Participants were invited to select one of the ten principles from the One Planet Living Framework® and then pledge to take two actions that would help fulfill that principle.

Caledon Earth Hour celebration, Making the pledge. — Caledon Earth Hour participant makes a One Planet Living pledge.

Join the Contest, take the One Planet Living Pledge for Earth Day 2025

31 March 20251 April 2025

Creating a Sustainable Community One Project at a Time

Eco Heart Lake Community Outreach Project participants

Leo O’Brien is a community advocate in the Heart Lake community of Brampton and the administrator for Heart Lake Happenings, an on-line community Facebook group that has over 4,000 subscribers. Leo also looks for ways he can give back to his community. Enter the Eco Heart Lake Community Outreach Project.

24 March 202531 March 2025

BEA Hosts 2025 Annual General Member Meeting

The Brampton Environmental Alliance hosted its annual member meeting this past Wednesday March 19th at Greenbrier Recreation Centre. Thirty-one people, listened to the keynote address by Dr. Franz Hartmann, coordinator with the Alliance for a Livable Ontario, (ALO).

21 March 202531 March 2025

How Eating Less Meat Helps Address Climate Change

Canada’s Food Guide, produced by Health Canada, is a resource that provides practical, evidence-based recommendations to help Canadians make healthy food choices and develop healthy eating patterns. The guide aims to help Canadians meet their nutritional needs while reducing the risk of chronic disease and contributing to overall health and well-being. The first guide was introduced in 1942 and the recommendations have evolved over the years to reflect the latest scientific research.

11 February 20254 February 2025

News from the Litter Reduction Working Group

article by: Steve Papagiannnis

Meeting was held on Jan 30, 2025 at the main City Hall building and was attended by approximately 20 people from various organizations.

There was quite a bit of discussion regarding the Litter Charter endorsement event. Approximately 50 people and organizations signed the Charter and those who attended felt it was good to meet so many like-minded people. The types of organizations that signed were non-profits like the BEA, religious groups, and the Brampton Board of Trade. I asked if there would be a public listing of the groups that signed the charter and if there would be any commitments from those who did sign. Publicly listing the groups was being looked into and a follow up with the signatories will offer active measures that they can take to reduce litter and waste. There will be a request for some measure of what was accomplished.

4 February 202511 March 2025

Register for the 2025 BEA Annual General Member Meeting

The Board of Directors for the Brampton Environmental Alliance is pleased to invite members and guests to the Annual General Member Meeting.

When: Wednesday March 19, 2025, 7:00-9:00pm
Where: Greenbrier Recreation Centre, Community Room, 1100 Central Parkway, Brampton

Keynote presenter: Franz Hartmann. Franz is the Coordinator of the Alliance for a Livable Ontario and former Executive Director of the Toronto Environmental Alliance. He also served as Chair of the Greenbelt Alliance and was Jack Layton’s Environmental Advisor in Toronto and Ottawa. Franz will be speaking about the 5 ways that political parties can build affordable homes in Ontario without impacting the greenbelt or destroying the environment.

Brampton is the fastest growing city in Canada. This year its population surged past Mississauga’s and it is now the third largest in Ontario. Growth is putting extreme pressure on housing. healthcare, transit, infrastructure and the environment. These pressures, combined with the impacts of climate change, will lead to further degradation of our eco-systems and will have both direct and indirect impacts on the quality of life elements that make this city such a great place to live.

As a BEA member you can help the Alliance determine its priorities for 2025 and beyond, helping protect the natural heritage of Brampton for present and future generations. Participate in a workshop on being a good environmental citizen. Learn what personal actions you can take and how you can help hold our leaders to account for the actions they take that will either protect or destroy our environment.

The meeting is free and open to everyone whether you are a BEA member or not.
(Only BEA members are allowed to vote on BEA business matters).

BECOME A MEMBER

RENEW YOUR 2025 MEMBERSHIP

3 February 20259 February 2025

2024 BEA Year-end Review

It was difficult to write this year-end review for the Brampton Environmental Alliance. Not because we didn’t work very hard to make a difference but because several things conspired to make this a very challenging year, environmentally speaking.

Among the issues we faced: the Province prioritizing building Highway 413, and the efforts of the Emerald Energy From Waste company to expand its garbage burning operations in Brampton without appropriate environmental controls being in place. Of greater concern is the general apathy of the public towards environmental issues and the vitriolic response to public policies aimed at climate change mitigation, notably carbon pricing and rebates. The fact that we seemingly cannot have an adult conversation related to these important topics is deeply troubling.

3 February 20253 February 2025

Ontario Climate Emergency Network Town Hall

The Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign, (OCEC), is a non-partisan group promoting awareness on the climate crisis and environmental issues in the Province of Ontario. It’s aim is to empower citizens and urge political leaders with the power of democratic voice to drive the urgent transformational changes needed for the present and the future climate security of all Ontarians.