Environmentally we degraded into scandal surrounding the Greenbelt, and carbon pricing carve-outs, while the Supreme Court ruled against the Federal Impact Assessment Act and emboldened Provinces to become even more aggressive in their challenge against Canada’s plans for clean fuel standards and an emissions cap on the oil and gas industry. All of this in a year of unprecedented environmental disasters including floods on both coasts and raging forest fires from New Brunswick to B.C. Continuing conflicts in many parts of the world including Ukraine and, most recently, the middle east, have added significantly to our sense of angst.

In that context, your Brampton Environmental Alliance team worked to maintain positive focus on local environmental issues that matter to Brampton residents and to take actions to move Brampton closer to being a sustainable community. The actions of the BEA fall into four categories, Advocacy, Events, Education/Resources and Collaboration/Networking. Looking back on 2023, the BEA has had a successful year in each of these categories. Let’s review a few of the highlights.

Advocacy

The BEA was involved in many advocacy initiatives during the year. In January BEA members made a submission to the Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) on improving the Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights. We continue to follow up with the LCO to ensure our voices are being heard.

We met with Brampton North MPP Graham McGregor several times during the year on different topics ranging from the implementation of Green Building Standards as part of the Conservative Government’s target of building 1.5M homes, to suggestions for improving the wildlife corridor along Brampton’s Heart Lake Road. We also supported MPP McGregor’s initiative for the Ontario Government to partially fund a City and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Shoreline Restoration Project at Loafer’s Lake.

BEA members participated in the Walk for Soil to raise awareness about regenerative farming and the importance of healthy soil and to encourage government to enact policies for the protection of soil health.

Members of the BEA supported a Lead Now initiative to encourage the Federal government to implement carbon emissions cap on the oil and gas industry. We gathered hundreds of signatures and presented a petition to Brampton North MP Ruby Sahota that she subsequently raised in the House of Commons.

The BEA also participated in many environmental committees including Peel Enviro-Hub hosted by Environmental Defence, Sierra Club Peel Chapter meetings, Caledon Climate Collaborative organized by the Town of Caledon, Best Practice webinar on Farmland and Natural Heritage Protection organized by Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Credit Valley Trail Symposium organized by Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVC), Brampton Climate Change Adaptation Plan and Litter Reduction Forum organized by the City of Brampton, Watershed Alliance organized by TRCA, Future Ground Network Building Power symposium organized by the David Suzuki Foundation, and the Ontario Climate Emergency Network.

Finally, the BEA delegated to both Regional and Brampton City Councils on environmental matters related to development projects and active transportation.

Events

Working with our members and partners, the BEA was involved in planning and organizing 35 environmental events in the past year. 30 of these events were delivered as part of two projects where the BEA received grant funding.

In the spring, the BEA was awarded a New Horizons for Seniors grant from the Federal Government to deliver the Graceful Aging Through Connecting with Nature, GATCWN, project. It was designed to encourage seniors to participate in outdoor physical activities with objectives to improve physical and mental health and to increase awareness of the benefits of and the threats to local natural elements including woodlots and wetlands.

BEA partnered with four of its member organizations to deliver workshops and events throughout the spring, summer and fall of 2023 in various locations throughout the City. It also partnered with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), to deliver a workshop and an event specifically tailored to seniors living in the Bramalea SNAP area near Bramalea City Centre . This was part of the TRCA’s “Building a Healthy, Connected Bramalea Program”. You can read posts about the GATCWN events and see the GATCWN final report here.

In the summer, the BEA was awarded an Ontario Seniors Community grant by the Ontario Government. This project, Rooted in Hope (RIH), was designed to connect seniors’ groups with secondary school students to plant trees and then learn how to monitor their health and growth over the coming years. Sixteen youth from three high-schools, joined 12 seniors who, along with other community volunteers, planted 300 trees in Gore Meadows Park. The youth and seniors also participated in two tree monitoring training sessions with another session planned for this spring. See Rooted in Hope posts here.

Education

The BEA created its first-ever Youth Council to provide opportunities for environmental youth engagement and mentorship. A York University student intern helped organize YC events and activities.

Educational newsletter posts touched on many topics including, why Greenbelt lands need continued protection, how to navigate the grant process for home energy retrofits, and debunking myths about coyotes in an urban environment.

Guest speaker, Sarah Syed spoke eloquently at the BEA annual general meeting this past January on the importance for communities to take action on climate change. Sarah, an 18 year old environmental activist from Toronto, is the founder of You are the Change. She has won 2 regional science fair gold medals for her research into bioplastics made from food waste and is a Canadian Top 25 under 25 award winner.

In the fall, the BEA was invited to provide a guest panelist at the International Film Festival South Asia’s. It’s Interactions, Take Action! segment aims to leverage the power of cinema to spark discussions around issues of environment and climate change, and ignite positive change within our communities.

Collaboration and Networking

The BEA provided plenty of opportunity for collaboration this past year. Member organizations and community partners worked together to deliver the GATCWN and RIH projects as noted above.

Many thanks to individual and organizational members from, Friends and Stewards of Dorchester Park, People Against Littering, Heart Lake Turtle Troopers, Sierra Peel and BikeBrampton for their dedication and support of these projects. Thanks also to Association of Canadian Educational Resources (ACER), CVC, TRCA, Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS) and Brampton City staff from Parks and Environmental Planning for their services that contributed to the success of these projects.

Finally, thanks to all of you for being interested in local environmental issues and for making whatever contributions you can to make a difference. It’s yet another proof point of the power of alliances within communities to address issues of a global nature. Wishing you all the best for 2024. Happy New Year!

2023 09 19 PLEIN AIR PAINTING IN DORCHESTER PARK

This was the last of the Plein Air painting sessions. The focus was on learning to paint with oil using fall colors as inspiration.

I would like to let you know how wonderful the Plein Painting in Dorchester Park was.  Dorchester Park is an absolute gem, we are so fortunate to have this beautiful park, recreational space in our midst.  It is so much more than a park, it is a hub for individuals in the area young and old to come exercise, play, relax and learn. The various events that have been going on this park, have brought members of our community together, we have learned so much through Stacey Wilson, the Friends and Stewards of Dorchester Park, and the BEA, about native plants, invasive plants, nature, and most recently this wonderful series of plein air classes for seniors. The artist/ instructor Stephanie Schirm was amazing!  As a senior this was so wonderful to enjoy the park in this way. 

Karen Miller

2023 09 20 ROOTED IN HOP TREE PLANTING

We had nearly 40 participants students and seniors alike as well as public participants dropping in. The event was well received and many students expressed interest in measuring and leadership training to take the plantings another step further.

We planted a total of 300 trees over the course of three weeks with this being the final planting.

People of all ages came together to help and engage one another, engage with one o take ownership of their community’s greenery.

The final September event was a GATCWN Seniors Workshop held on September 30th in the Knightsbridge Community Centre. A small but eager turn out received useful information about the importance of moving in the outdoors as we age to improve balance and help maintain an independent lifestyle!

Look for the final wrap up report on the GATCWN project in the week’s to come! Thanks to the Government of Canada and to the TRCA SNAP/United Way for financially supporting this project! And thanks to the Government of Ontario for its financial support of the Rooted in Hope Project which continues until March 2024.

Thanks to all the candidates who put their names on ballots and who had the courage to stand up for what they believe in. Congratulations to the winners who now have challenge and responsibility of following through on their campaign promises.

And thanks to those who took the time to research their candidate positions and then to vote for the candidate of their choice.

Municipal elections are important as municipal governments affect many aspects of our daily lives, more so than those at the provincial and national level which tend to receive much broader media coverage. It should be easier than it is to contact candidates and to really understand what they stand for. There has to be a better way than mailbox flyers and door-to-door canvasing. Maybe next election.

In the meantime, the BEA looks forward to the next four years, working with our political leaders to make Brampton a sustainable community, healthy and resilient, economically, socially and environmentally!

Rajbalinder Ghatoura is a fourth year student in Environmental Studies at York University. He is also a Brampton resident who has been involved in several environmental initiatives starting when he was in Grade 7! As a secondary school student, Rajbalinder was one of the founding members of Human Impact Environment, a youth focused environmental not-for-profit organization.

Here is a video that Rajbalinder produced summarizing his time working with the BEA as the Director of Memberships.

Gavin Lin is also a fourth year student at York University in Environmental Studies. Gavin’s focus is urban planning and incorporating sustainable practices as part of city building. Although he is a resident of Mississauga, Gavin chose to join the BEA as a student intern last fall. He continues to support the BEA as a Board member at large. Here is Gavin’s description of his time at the BEA.

“My experience working with the Brampton Environmental Alliance (BEA) as a student placement has been very pleasant. The BEA is a professional organization with an active board of members who are each very passionate about their role while creating positive change in the city of Brampton through different environmentally focused initiatives. I was able to attend their regular meetings and take part in different aspects of the organization such as marketing, website development, and research.“

“Outside of board meetings I had weekly meetings with my supervisors Stacey and Rajbalinder, they were extremely friendly and were able to help me stay organized during my placement. They also continuously encouraged me to build and improve on my skills throughout the term. The entire placement was a very good opportunity for me and I appreciated the level of professionalism and communication I experienced. “

“In my experience with the Brampton Environmental Alliance, I have been able to be a part of a growing community of passionate individuals looking to create a positive change for Brampton and I would encourage any environmentally driven students and individuals to apply and be a part of this initiative.“

The BEA currently has opportunities for student interns to fill roles for the spring, summer, and fall of 2022. Anyone interested is welcome to apply by forwarding their resume and cover letter to, info@bramptonea.org.

Whether we were born in Canada or came here later in life, it seems many of us don’t like Canadian winters. Did you know there is a scientific reason why winters make us feel so lethargic and unhappy?

It turns out the lack of light affects our brain’s ability to generate serotonin and melatonin, two chemicals that help regulate our sleep cycles, energy, and mood. It’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Lack of exposure to full-spectrum natural light also reduces the body’s production of vitamin D, a chemical necessary for calcium absorption. Low vitamin D levels have been linked to many diseases including, breast, colon, and prostate cancers, heart disease, depression and weight gain.

Low levels of vitamin D in children are related to rickets which causes soft, poorly formed bones. Children can also experience SAD and the affects can be similar to clinical depression. This includes negative thinking, changes in sleeping or eating, and lower overall energy. Loss of concentration is another symptom, which may affect the child’s school results.

For many children and teenagers, an effective antidote to SAD and low vitamin D levels is to get outside and absorb the natural light. Even 30 minutes of winter light exposure per day on the face can generate sufficient levels of vitamin D, serotonin, and melatonin.

The World Health Organization recommends children and adolescents aged 6 through 17 get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise daily to maintain healthy bones and muscles. But, according to the Region of Peel, fewer than half of Peel’s kids are getting the minimum amount of daily activity. And 27% are overweight or obese.

Walking or riding to school and back, at least some of the days of the week, may be the simplest and easiest solution to these related problems. It builds physical activity into the child’s daily routine which supports better mental health outcomes, higher concentration abilities and better academic performance.

February is Winter Walk Month and there is no time like the present to put your child on the “Road to Health”! Encourage them to walk or ride. Walk with them if you have the time or join with a group of parents to form a walking school bus or bike train. Who knows, you may find that winters become enjoyable for both you and your family!

Visit Ontario Active School Travel, or Walk + Roll Peel for more information about walking and riding programs in Peel.

What’s walking and riding to school have to do with the environment? Well, 20-25% of Peel’s morning and afternoon vehicle traffic is from children being driven to school. Increasing the amount of walking or riding will decrease vehicular traffic which is the single biggest producer of carbon emissions in Brampton.

The City of Brampton has created a new award program to recognize individuals, businesses, organizations and institutions in the city that have demonstrated environmental leadership and have significantly contributed to the “Grow Green” vision of conserving, enhancing, and balancing our natural and built environments to create a healthy, sustainable, and resilient Brampton. Nominations will be accepted until February 28th, 2022 and the awards will be handed out during an Earth Day Environmental Festival to be held at Norton Place Park on Saturday April 23rd.

The Climate Change Award will be given to an individual and a business/organization that has significantly contributed to advancing climate change mitigation, adaptation, awareness/knowledge, and or actions.

The Stewardship Award will be given to an individual and a business/organization that has significantly contributed to the advancement of environmental sustainability iniitiatives related to the conservation and/or stewardship of trees, natural heritage systems, water, and/or the reduction of waste.

The Environmental Youth Award will be given to an individual or youth group that has demonstrated exceptional achievement in the advancement of environmental protection, climate change actions, and/or sustainability.

The Environmental Legacy Award will be given to an individual who has provided outstanding personal service and ongoing contributions to advance the “Grow Green” vision of conserving, enhancing, and balancing our natural and built environments to crate a healthy, resilient and sustainable city.

The primary purpose of the transitional board will be to set up the CCET as a not-for-profit organization, hire an Executive Director and set the operational priorities for the first year.

Nine Board positions will be selected to work with five members of City staff to set up the CCET organization. The CCET will then act as a catalyst to help residents and businesses reduce energy consumption and move to lower carbon energy sources.

If you have experience in finance, governance or setting up a new organization, consider applying. The deadline to apply is February 25, 2022. Find full details and submit a board member application at www.brampton.ca/CCET.

This past Wednesday Brampton Council unanimously approved seed funding for the Centre for Community Energy Transformation, or CCET. This is a very important milestone on the city’s path to a low-carbon future.

The concept for the CCET started in 2018 as part of the Brampton 2040 Vision exercise, one of the most comprehensive public engagement process the City has ever undertaken. The Vision maps how the City will grow over the next 18 years, living the cultural mosaic of our diverse population.

The importance of Brampton as a green, environmentally sustainable city, featured prominently in the public feedback sessions. In response, the vision document called for the creation of an independent organization that would help steward Brampton’s green journey. The CCET is now that organization.

Using 2016 as the baseline year, the City set targets to cut carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, 50% by 2040 and 80% by 2050. Improving building energy efficiency is an important part of achieving Brampton’s Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan.

Residences are the second largest source of climate changing emissions. The average Brampton home consumes more than twice as much energy compared to an A-rated home in Germany. Brampton has a large number of older homes that are less efficient. And most homes burn natural gas for heat and hot water.

A major purpose of the CCET, therefore, will be to help residents reduce energy consumption and convert to lower carbon energy sources. The CCET will work with banks, municipalities and other governments to make it easy for homeowners to finance building retrofits. It will also work with industry and post secondary institutions to recruit and train the auditors, technicians, contractors and installers necessary to create low-risk retrofit solutions at scale that will pay for themselves over time through reduced heating and air conditioning costs.

Depending on the age of the house, retrofits could be as simple as sealing doors and windows or adding insulation to attics, walls, and basements. Or, it could involve replacing natural gas furnaces with high efficiency electric heat pumps, installing solar hot water systems or tapping into a “district energy node”. Regardless, the changes promise exciting times for both residents and business as the Centre for Community Energy Transformation develops over the coming year.

The latest request is from Rogers Communications Inc. which is looking to build a new 200,000 square foot office/retail complex in Brampton’s downtown in the block south of Railroad St., east of Elizabeth St. N. and west of George St. N. The land in question is currently mostly open field and a disused surface parking lot.

Rogers is also seeking an MZO that would permit the conversion of existing space held at 8200 Dixie Rd. into 1.2M square feet for industrial logistics uses plus up to 25 acres for residential development along Dixie Rd with a range of housing types being proposed.

The Rogers proposal involves much needed investment in both housing and jobs in the downtown core. The Rogers downtown site would support approximately 3,000 employees relocated from the Dixie Rd. location and establish the downtown as a “transit-oriented” complete community. This would likely act as a catalyst for further downtown investments and strengthen support for extending the HuLRT up Main St. to the Brampton GO station.

What isn’t clear is why the need for an MZO that would effectively cut the public out of the planning process and limit the time available for staff to analyze the impact of these major developments on the City’s land use plans, sustainable development goals and environmental protections.

The development proposals may be just the right thing for Brampton at this time. But why the rush? How will the opportunity be affected by taking the necessary time to step through the City’s planning process? On the other hand, what’s the risk to the City of not taking the time to analyze the proposals impact? If these MZO are approved by Council, we may not know, until it is too late. It will be interesting to see if Council votes to support the MZO requests or if it will give staff the time to analyze and develop a process for MZO approvals. More information on the City’s use of MZOs can be found here.