david.laing

22 March 202625 March 2026

TRCA Announces Climate Ready Homes Program

This past week I met with Sarah MacKell, from TRCA. Sarah is a Program Manager with the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Action Program (SNAP). You can read about the activities that the BEA has done with the Bramalea SNAP team over the past several years here.

Sarah was telling me about the Climate Ready Homes program that TRCA started in September 2025. The program builds on the success of SNAP. Climate Ready Homes is designed to help homeowners make practical, affordable upgrades that boost comfort, save money, and prepare for a changing climate. It provides access to personalized guidance, financial incentives and educational workshops on a variety of topics including:

9 March 202629 March 2026

BEA hosts most successful AGM in its history!

Over 100 people, aged 11 to 80, from all different walks of Brampton life, attended the Brampton Environmental Alliance Annual General Meeting this past Monday March 02nd. Co-hosted by BEA Board members Amisha Moorjani and Gunjan Sharda, the meeting took place at the Unifor Local 1285 Hall, where the group was warmly welcomed by Local 1285 President, Vito Beato following the land acknowledgement delivered by BEA Board member Yarim Hinojosa.

2 February 20262 February 2026

Brampton Council punches hole in east-west cycling corridor

This past week Brampton Council voted 10-1 in favour of removing the bike lanes along a section of Howden Blvd. between Williams and Dixie. Councillor Santos was the only member who upheld Vision 2040 and the principles of good city building. There is no candy-coating this; it is a huge blow to the city’s plans for sustainable transportation.

26 January 202626 January 2026

A feathered visitor draws much attention to our backyard

Who knew that one little bird, the size of a sparrow could create such a stir. It all started this past Wednesday when we looked out our kitchen window to see a woman, carrying a camera with a lens as long as a bus, taking pictures over our backyard fence. She wasn’t a stranger. We’d chatted with her often while on our twice daily walks, always carrying her camera, ready to take pictures of birds and animals that she saw along the way. But that day was different. She seemed very excited as she waved at us. Dayle went out on the deck to ask her what she was doing. It turns out she had sighted a Spotted Towhee, scratching for food under a forsythia bush in our yard.

18 January 202618 January 2026

Be a Part of Something Big – Join the Brampton Environmental Alliance

An appeal written by BEA youth council member Srishti Rao

Do you believe in a cleaner, healthier, more environmentally sustainable Brampton?
Imagine a city where we can protect green spaces, reduce waste, promote healthier lifestyles, and work together on environmental solutions that matter?

Look no further, it’s…

10 January 20261 February 2026

Register for 2026 BEA Annual General Member Meeting

The Brampton Environmental Alliance is pleased to invite
members and guests to the
Annual General Meeting.

When: Monday March 2, 2026
6:00-8:30pm
Where: Unifor Local 1285 Hall,
1 – 23 Regan Road
Brampton ON L7A 1B2

Members will elect the 2026 BEA Board and help the Alliance determine its priorities for 2026 and beyond. The action-packed agenda will cover topics of interest including:

Monitoring Brampton’s Air Quality (impact of the Emerald expansion),
Environmental Priorities – a city of Brampton perspective
Environmental Sustainability – A Brampton business perspective
On the Campaign Trail – Making the environment an 2026 municipal election issue

We are pleased to welcome the following guest speakers:

Pam Cooper – Manager, Environmental Planning, City of Brampton
Karen Wirsig – Environmental Defence
Jaipaul Massey Singh – CEO, Brampton Board of Trade

Register to receive agenda updates
The meeting is free and open to EVERYONE whether a BEA member or not.
(Only BEA members are allowed to vote on BEA business matters).

Space is limited. Register now to reserve your seat

You will be automatically added to the list to receive agenda updates and newsletters

BECOME A MEMBER

RENEW YOUR 2026 MEMBERSHIP

5 January 20266 January 2026

Extended Producer Responsibility, What is it? Why should you care?

Have you ever noticed how much packaging surrounds the products we buy? Tiny items delivered in oversized boxes stuffed with Styrofoam or bubble wrap, slices of cheese or bread individually wrapped in plastic envelopes, fruit or vegetables bundled on plastic trays covered in plastic wrap, blister packs for tiny items, embedded on large cardboard shelf hangers, (that are virtually impossible to open), or electronics wrapped in foam, inside a box which is then wrapped in another box.

All this may be about to change in Ontario. This past Thursday, January 1st, responsibility for residential recycling in the province shifted away from municipal governments. The costs of collecting and disposing of recycled material are now borne by retailers and packaging producers under a policy approach called Extended Producer Responsibility, (EPR).

29 December 20258 January 2026

Year End Report

Aneet speaks with students and parents about One-Planet Living

So what has the Brampton Environmental Alliance been up to in 2025 and why should you care? Let me start by answering the second question first. While economic challenges such as food inflation, home affordability and U.S. tariffs dominate the news cycle, the impacts of climate change and environmental destruction take bigger and bigger bites from our pay cheques each year while negatively affecting the lives of every Canadian.

22 December 20258 January 2026

Building a Healthy and Connected Bramalea wraps up another year

Since 2020, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has teamed with City of Brampton, the Federal Government’s Healthy Communities Initiative, and United Way, to fund projects in Bramalea’s K, E, and F sections as part of the Bramalea Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP). More background about the Bramalea SNAP project can be found in a previous post.

15 December 202521 December 2025

Do we need fewer Conservation Authorities in Ontario?

The Ontario government is once again proposing sweeping changes to Provincial Conservation Authorities. Since the PC Party of Ontario came to power in 2019 it has passed several pieces of legislation limiting the powers of Ontario’s conservation authorities. This latest proposal represents the most significant change to date. Why should you care?