BEA Board members David and Dayle Laing, along with BEA member Cindy Evans visited MP Sonia Sidhu at her Parliamentary Office on Wednesday June 19th. Topics discussed included the status of the Active Transportation Fund, the New Horizons for Seniors grant program and general concerns about current government policy regarding the environment.

Active Transportation Fund

Beginning in 2026-2027, the Government of Canada is investing in permanent public transit programming under the Canada Public Transit Fund to support transit in communities of all sizes across Canada. This includes targeted funding for specific types of public transit and active transportation projects ranging from capital to planning.

Established in 2021, the Active Transportation Fund earmarked $400M to be spent over 5 years to support the expansion and enhancement of active transportation infrastructure, to make travel by active transportation easier, safer, more convenient and more enjoyable. According to Velo Canada Bikes, a national cycling advocacy organization, very little of that money has been spent since program inception.. In 2023, Brampton submitted 2 “shovel ready projects” to the fund. This included infrastructure repairs to pedestrian bridges throughout the city and the construction of multi-use paths along Westcreek, Advance, and Alfred Khune Blvds. Most of the work on both projects has been completed but funds could now be allocated to other active transportation projects including infrastructure on Howden and Charolais where bike lanes either have or a destined to be removed. MP Sidhu asked for more details and committed to help Brampton secure federal funds for active tranportation projects in her riding of Brampton South.

New Horizons for Seniors grant

The New Horizons for Seniors is a federal grant program to support projects that are designed by seniors and for seniors in their communities. The program is designed to engage seniors in volunteer activities, mentor others, create community and support new and existing community projects aimed at seniors. The BEA is working on a grant submission for 2027 that will provide edcuational opportunities for seniors in climate adaptation, and healthy aging. More details will be provided in the coming months. MP Sidhu committed to providing a letter of support for the BEA proposed project.

Government of Canada Environmental Policy

Finally, the visit with MP Sidhu was an opportunity for the BEA to express concern about the Federal government’s position on increasing fossil fuel production and streamlining big projects at the expense of environmental controls. MP Sidhu listened to our concerns and reiterated the government’s position on the importance of the environment to long-term growth and economic stability.

All in all it was a good meeting that accomplished BEA objectives. We thank MP Sidhu for her time and attention.

Climate Change Award, Individual: Julius Lindsay
Stewardship Award, Individual: Jeya Thavachandren
Stewardship Award, Business/Organization: The Food Quotient
Environmental Youth Award: Human Nature Projects Canada
Environmental Legacy Award: Pauline Thornham

Amisha Moorjani, was recognized as owner of The Food Quotient a catering business focused on preparing healthy meals in an environmentally sustainable way. The business buys from local food sources and uses reuseable packaging wherever possible.

Amisha is member of the Brampton Environment Advisory Committee. She became a BEA Board member in 2024 and has been an active contributor to various BEA projects and events. She has recently taken on the role of BEA Community Outreach Coordinator to help bring organizations together in the common goal of having Brampton grow as an environmentally sustainable city.

Polly Thornham was recognized for her outstanding environmental work over many years. She is an active member of Sierra Club, BikeBrampton, and the Green Party of Ontario. She has run as a Green Party candidate at both the Provincial and Federal level. She is a past member of the Brampton Environmental Advisory Committee and the Brampton Active Transportation Advisory Committee. Polly joined the BEA Board in 2024 and is a tireless contributor to BEA projects and events.

The BEA congratulates all of the Brampton Grow Green Environmental Award winners for 2026!

What if your front yard, backyard, or boulevard could become a haven for bees, butterflies, and the plants that sustain them — right here in Brampton?

​Join us for a guided walk and talk at Dorchester Park with a representative from the Friends and Stewards of Dorchester Park — a passionate group of neighbours who have been quietly transforming this green space, one native plant at a time.

​This guided, interactive outdoor walk is designed to connect residents with real, local climate action happening right in our community. At each stop along the route, you’ll hear short talks, stories, and see firsthand demonstrations of what community-led environmental stewardship looks like on the ground.

​You’ll discover:

•  ​Which native plants and pollinators call Brampton home
• ​What the neighbours have planted and nurtured at Dorchester Park — and why it matters for local biodiversity and climate resilience
• ​Simple, practical ways you can bring this work into your own neighbourhood

​Whether you have a balcony, a backyard, or a patch of sidewalk garden, this walk will leave you inspired and equipped to take action where you live.

​The event is open to all residents, families, and youth — anyone curious about climate action in a local context is welcome.

​Light refreshments will be provided.

​A few things to know before you come:

• ​ This is a rain or shine event — dress for the weather!
• ​ Please bring your own water bottle
• ​ Pre-registration is required — space is limited to 20 attendees

These are important questions that our BEA team is aiming to answer at an upcoming interactive workshop on Thursday, June 04, 2026. There you will learn why it is important to separate your waste, how to dispose of it in a way that has the least environmental impact, and how discarded material, like an old yogurt container, eventually become new packaging again.

As part of Toronto Climate Week, the Brampton Environmental Alliance is hosting a What Really Happens to Your Recycling? community workshop

Date: Thursday, June 04, 2026
Time: 06:30 PM – 08:00 PM
Location: Paul Palleschi Recreation Centre, Room 2

This workshop will be an opportunity to have a practical, non-technical and interactive conversation about how Ontario’s recycling system is changing, what happens behind the scenes, and why it matters more than most people realize.

The BEA team will be joined by Arjun Krishan, Manager at EFS Plastics, who will walk through the process of how post-consumer recycled materials are transformed into new packaging products righthere in Canada, supporting the circular economy and generating great Canadian jobs.

Whether you’re deeply involved in sustainability or recycling at home and curious about where it all goes — this workshop is for you. We look forward to seeing you there!

After introductions I started each session by explaining the ecosystem services that trees provide. Trees help to keep our cities cool during increasingly hot summer months. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen that all animals, including humans, need to breathe. They help to slow down winter winds keeping our cities warmer during the colder months. They provide habitat for urban wildlife, And, finally trees are beautiful to look at. They provide city – dwellers an opportunity to engage with nature which has been shown to improve both physical and mental health.

Alice Casselman, ACER’s President instructed students on the use of tools used to measure tree height, trunk diameter and the volume of the tree crown, (the area covered by branches and leaves). The students also learned to identify tree species, and common diseases affecting tree health. They received instruction on proper mulching techniques to ensure that the ground around the tree trunk stays moist while preventing trunk mold growth and protecting delicate roots.

The students then went out to the planting areas to perform the measurement tasks, record the results on their data sheets, and spread city provided mulch around each tree as required.

Over 100 trees were measured over the two days and over 200 trees received mulch.

Brampton’s Forestry Department will receive the collected data and use it to help inform the city’s urban forest management plan.

It seems a good time was had by all.

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:

The program is free and available to all residents within TRCA’s jurisdiction. For Brampton that is anyone living within the Etobicoke Creek, Mimico Creek, or Humber River West watersheds. If you live on or east of Hurontario/Main St. you are eligible to participate, although downtown Brampton west to Mill St. is also included.

When you sign up for a home consultation, you will receive a FREE incentive of your choice! Options include a rain barrel, DIY air sealing kit, basement flood alarm, tree or shrub, and an emergency preparedness kit.

Check out the BEA events page for information about Climate Ready Home workshops coming up later this month and in April. Learn about Flood Protection, Rain Gardens 101 and, Beautiful Native Plants. These workshops are in Richmond Hill and Etobicoke respectively. I’m hoping to convince Sarah to host a workshop here in Brampton in the coming months. Stay tuned.

Food

The meeting started with informal networking, snacks and refreshments provided by The Food Quotient

Notable Guests

The meeting was attended by several notable guests including:

• Ruby Sahota- MP Brampton North – Caledon, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime) 
• Sonia Sidhu – MP Brampton South,
• Graham McGregor – MPP Brampton North, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
• Dr. Therese Chan – Dean Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Medicine
• Sharanjit Kaur – Chief Administration Officer TMU School of Medicine,
• Dr. Priya Chopra – Course Director TMU School of Medicine
• Dayana Gomez – Executive Director, Credit Valley Conservation Foundation

Speakers

Pam Cooper, Manager of Environmental Planning at the City of Brampton, provided an overview of City environmental plans and activities. Things to look forward to in 2026 from Brampton include:

• Grow Green Festival and Awards Ceremony – Saturday June 6th at Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre,
• Climate Change Adaptation Plan
• Invasive Species Management Plan
• Numerous Community Stewardship Events and
• A Mystery Restoration Project (details to be announced soon).

Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager with Environmental Defence then spoke about how her organization is continuing to challenge the Province’s plans:

• To build highway 413 when there are more effective options for moving goods and services within the GTA,
• To import fracked natural gas from the United States to meet Ontario’s energy needs when local renewable energy can be provided more reliably and at less cost,
• To support the expansion of a Brampton-based waste burning facility that will become the largest in Canada, rather than implementing policies to reduce non-recyclable packaging and encouraging proper waste separation.

Jaipaul Massey-Singh, CEO Brampton Board of Trade spoke about the role and responsibility of businesses to protect the environment and reduce emissions that contribute to climate change.

He said that consumers can use their purchasing power to make businesses more environmentally responsible and that, when businesses become more environmentally conscious they do so at scale which truly does have a positive global impact.

Dr. Theresa Chan, Founding Dean of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Medicine and their Vice-President of Medical Affairs.

Dr. Chan spoke about the importance of working with the community in collaborations and partnerships for the betterment of health outcomes. TMU is engaging first year medical students in a community project (CAP), where teams of students collaborate with a community partner on a project that deeply affects community health. The team working with the Brampton Environmental Alliance is focusing on the health impacts of air quality in the environment.

BEA Environmental Awards

• Civic Leadership Awards
  • Rowena Santos, City and Regional Councillor Wards 1 & 5 for her work in championing various environmental causes and events throughout the city both as Councillor and as Brampton’s representative, both nationally and abroad
  • Graham McGregor, Brampton North MPP and Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism for his work advocating for funding Brampton’s wetlands restoration work
• Eco-citizen Award
  • Cindy Evans for her project leadership over the past 2 years working with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority as part of the Bramalea Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program
• Corporate Sustainability Award
  • Medtronic Canada for its work, collaborating with community organizations to educate its employees on the importance of environmental sustainability,
• Green Organization Award
  • People Against Littering for its tireless efforts in organizing clean up events to make Brampton the first litter-free city in Canada

BEA Business Meeting

David called the business meeting to order

• Approval of 2025 AGM minutes – moved by Steve Papagiannis, carried
• Election of Board of Directors:
  • Board Executive
    • David Laing – President,
    • Steve Papagiannis – Vice-President,
    • Harry Bridgemohan, Treasurer,
    • Dayle Laing, Secretary
  • Board Members
    • Amisha Moorjani,
    • Chaya Chengappa,
    • Ghazanfar Jawaid,
    • Gunjan Sharda,
    • Polly Thornham,
    • Sumit Sharda,
    • Yarim Hinojosa,
    • Rhythm Verma,
    • Gauravi Sani,
    • Jashan Gill,
    • Rajbalinder Ghatoura
  • Moved by Polly Thornham, carried
• Treasurer’s Report presented by Harry Bridgemohan
  • Harry indicated the BEA is in a strong cash position entering into 2026 with positive prospects for the coming year
  • Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report – Dayle Laing, carried
• President’s Report
  • David provided an overview of what environmental sustainability in Brampton looks like over the coming years and how it fits within the City’s 2040 vision document, “A cultural Mosaic”. He spoke about the role of the BEA in making that vision become a reality, acting as a strong voice for advocacy and as a catalyst bringing together, individuals, groups, corporations and institutions for the greater good of the community.
  • BEA Priorities for 2026
    • Increase impact on local government policy through projects like ClimateFast,
    • Build on strategic relationships with other environmental groups, conservation authorities, educational institutions, professional organizations, and city and regional departments
    • Participate in collaborative projects including Bramalea SNAP, TMU CAP, the City’s One-Million Trees Program, BEA loves Pollinators project, and the Credit Valley Trail
    • Continue growing BEA’s reach and impact through increased social media, tabling opportunities and educational seminars and workshops
• The meeting was adjourned at 8:26pm followed by informal networking

The Youth!

The Certificate

2025 Year end Video

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…

Brampton Environmental Alliance!

 We want you to be a part of this initiative.
We are a community-wide network of people and organizations with a vision for Brampton to be a place that is environmentally, socially and economically resilient for everyone.

Why you should join

• Advocacy with Impact:
  Your voice contributes to a collective effort that advocates for key environmental priorities in our city, including clean water, zero waste, sustainable transportation, climate resiliency, and local biodiversity.
• Meaningful Events and Engagement :
  BEA organizes and supports community events and educational activities, from workshops and campaigns to local environmental celebrations, that raise awareness and bring people together
• Education and Shared Resources :
  Gain access to valuable environmental knowledge, tools, volunteer opportunities, and resources that will help you make even greater contributions locally
• Collaboration and Networking :
  Connections with like-minded residents, community groups, non-profits, and environmental leaders unlock new opportunities to learn, partner, and make change happen
• Grow your Reach:
  Whether you’re an individual, student, or organization, membership helps expand your capacity to impact Brampton’s sustainability journey through collective action

Your Membership Makes a Difference ,

• Add your voice to community-wide environmental advocacy campaigns
• Participate in shaping BEA priorities and actions
• Be part of a respected city-wide network that’s focused on driving real change
• Stay informed with newsletters and educational events
• Gain opportunities to volunteer
• Contribute to an organization that is 100% volunteer led and that contributes to the community on your behalf and on behalf of Brampton’s environmental sustainability

When we work together as a community, our impact grows stronger every day! Together we can:

1. Protect natural habitats and water resources
2. Promote sustainable living and community well-being
3. Build a legacy of environmental stewardship in Brampton

This is more than membership!! It’s your chance to be a part of the movement that’s shaping our future in the place where we live, work, and play.

 Join today!

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