Brampton Environmental Alliance
Community and natural/organic gardening, park stewardship, rewilding, forest management, litter clean up.
Pollinators are birds, bats, bees, butterflies and other small mammals that pollinate plants. They do this by collecting pollen on their bodies as they move about in search of food. In the process of travelling around they leave some of that pollen behind on many plants allowing those plants to re-produce.
Continue reading “Pollinator Week June 17-23”
The smell of clean clothes pulled from the dryer, may rival that of brewing coffee or freshly baked bread as a “comfort” aroma. Of course that excludes clothes that have been soaked in fabric softener or dried with dryer sheets for that is both a personal and an environmental turnoff subject to an article for another day. Beyond that though, we all want to wear freshly laundered clothes. Most of us wear our clothes only once before tossing them in the wash basket. And more than 60% of the clothing we wear is made from synthetic materials derived from fossil fuels. Aka, it’s made of plastic!
Continue reading “Your Washing Machine has a Dirty Secret”May has been a busy for BEA involvement in environmental events.
On Saturday May 11th, the BEA participated in Reconnect Brampton’s Clothing Swap. Remember that most of our clothes today are made of plastic. Fabrics such as Nylon, Polyester, Spandex, and many other man-made products are derived from fossil fuels. Keeping these clothes in circulation rather than having them become garbage in landfill is very important. These fabrics take decades to break down in the environment but when they do, they end up as microplastic pieces that travel by water and air all over the world and are now ending up in almost every living organism including unborn babies.
Canada alone dumps 500 MILLION kilograms of clothing into landfills each year! Clothes swapping is a far better alternative that saves money and contributes to a healthier planet! If you missed the event but please visit Restyle Boutique – a local family-owned clothing store that sells chic lightly used items.
Continue reading “BEA May 2024 Past Events”
The Rooted in Hope 2023-24 project hosted its final event on Sunday April 21st. About a dozen and a half participants, one third seniors and two thirds secondary school students, enjoyed the bright sunshine yet below seasonal temperatures for the final tree monitoring training at Gore Meadows Community Centre.
Continue reading “Rooted in Hope 2023-24 Project finishes”
April is a great time of year. It heralds the true beginning of spring with longer days, warm sunshine and soaking rains that wash away the winter blahs. Signs of love are everywhere, from the birds gathering nesting material to the young folk, holding hands in the park.
Perhaps the best part of April is that it heralds Earth Month, a time to think about all of the environmental challenges we are facing and to take positive action to create a sustainable future for us and all the creatures sharing this small planet we call home.
Continue reading “It’s Earth Month – Give your planet a hug!”
This past week, City and TRCA staff hosted three community engagement sessions at the Paul Palleschi Recreation Centre to provide more details about the Loafer’s Lake and environs wetlands enhancement project.
This past Thursday the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario submitted a joint application to the Federal Court to withdraw the federal environmental assessment for Highway 413. The withdrawal means that arguments about the legalities surrounding the Federal Impact Assessment Act will not be clarified by the courts. It also means there will be no opportunity for the court, (and thereby the public) to adjudicate the environmental impacts of building this highway.
“The federal government needs to urgently introduce legislation that updates the Impact Assessment Act and that re-designates the Highway 413 project under it. Revoking the designation before a new Impact Assessment Act is in place was irresponsible and unnecessary,” said Laura Bowman, Staff Lawyer, Ecojustice.
Continue reading “Federal Government withdraws 413 environmental assessment requirement”
Join members of the BEA at the Eco-Sphere, an environmental conference and market dedicated to raising awareness about sustainability and eco-friendly practices. The event, hosted by Acheve EYE (Environmental Youth Engagement), will feature engaging speakers, hiring employers, and a vibrant market showcasing sustainable businesses and products.
Event Details: Date: March 30th Time: 9:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Venue: Paul Palleschi Recreation Centre (30 Loafers Lake Ln, Brampton, ON L6Z 1X9).
Continue reading “Calling all Youth to the 2024 Acheve EYE Eco-Sphere Conference and Job Fair!”
The Brampton Environmental Alliance (BEA) hosted its second annual general meeting this past Wednesday March 13th. Twenty-two individual and organizational members attended along with 9 non-members and 5 guests. Among the guests was Brampton North MPP Graham McGregor who engaged with members at the conclusion of the meeting.
Continue reading “Brampton Environmental Alliance hosts Annual General Meeting”
When I was a boy growing up in Erindale, a hamlet that is now part of Mississauga, I would often see animals and plants rarely seen today. Bluebirds, Eastern Meadowlarks, Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting; these birds would often be seen around our backyard feeder. Salamanders could be found under almost every rock in our garden and smelt and brook trout were easy to spot in the Credit River running behind our house.
Continue reading “The Far-reaching impacts of Provincial Highway Building”