Tag Archives: climate change

Lanark County and Smiths Falls release new Community Safety and Well-Being plan

Hometown News caught up with Stephanie Gray, Coordinator, Lanark County Situation Table, Community Safety and Well-being Plan as she made her presentation at Montague council on March 18. Photo credit: Heddy Sorour.
HEDDY SOROUR

A new Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) plan for Lanark County and Smiths Falls has been released, replacing the 2019 version. The plan is mandated under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, which requires every municipality to complete one.

In the fall of 2023, the CSWB Advisory Committee for Lanark County and the Town of Smiths Falls provided an update on the 12 identified risk areas and the actions taken under the 2019 plan.

“Over the last four years, we have made progress in all of the identified risk areas, but there is more work to be done,” said then-Smiths Falls Deputy Police Service Chief Jodi Empey, who co-chaired the advisory committee at the time. Empey is now the police chief in Smiths Falls.

“A number of programs and services have been created or expanded to meet needs and fill gaps, and our community agencies continue to show remarkable collaboration in order to get important work done.”

Among the highlights of the first plan were the creation of programs such as the Mobile Crisis Response Team, the Lanark County Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, Lanark County’s Homelessness Response Team, a victim advocate position, the Inclusive Voices video series, and the See It, Name It, Change It campaign.

Like its predecessor, the new plan engaged community partners from various sectors, including local government, climate and environmental organizations, justice, community groups, youth, health care, education, social services, and victim services.

“Building off the previous plan was a key first step toward creating the updated plan. The new version works from the base provided by the previous plan and adds current data and information while reflecting how the world has changed since 2019,” said Stephanie Gray, coordinator of the Lanark County Situation Table and CSWB plan. “The updated plan identifies new issues and some new pillars, but the main risk categories highlighted in the previous plan provide a baseline for the themes, pillars, goals, and strategies in the new plan.”

Two new issues were identified based on feedback from numerous surveys and focus groups: climate change and inclusivity and diversity.

According to Gray, the advisory committee reviewed the 12 previously identified risk areas and established four new theme areas for the updated plan: health; affordability and quality of life; violence against persons; and priority populations. These themes are supported by several pillars.

“The pandemic has helped shape many of the themes and pillars in the new plan. The affordability and quality of life theme in particular reflects some of the impacts from the pandemic, including issues related to housing, income, and food security. The belonging and civic engagement pillar addresses issues around social isolation and encourages more engagement in the community. Evidence shows families have been struggling since the pandemic, and the plan aims to increase connections between families and the supports they may need,” Gray explained.

Regarding climate change, the committee identified its negative effects on those exposed to the elements, as well as its serious impact on mental health. Surveys and focus groups revealed heightened concerns about natural disasters, extreme weather events, power outages, loss of shelter, and air and water quality. Recommended solutions are advocacy and education. 

The CSWB plan applies to the entire county and Smiths Falls; however, individual municipalities have the option to develop their own plans. Regardless, each municipality must approve a plan before next steps can be taken.

Currently, Gray is presenting the 2025-2029 plan to area municipalities for approval. Once approved, the advisory committee will begin working on an action plan.

“[This] will include a work plan and identifying teams most suited to working on specific goals. We hope to begin this work in late spring,” Gray said.

While the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, does not require municipalities to track progress or provide updates, the local CSWB advisory committee chooses to do so and releases annual reports to the public.

A copy of the progress report from the previous plan is available at https://lanarkkids.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CSWB-Plan-for-LC-and-SF-Progress-Report-2020-condensed-final.pdf.

Like its predecessor, the new plan is a living document that will guide the advisory committee over the next four years.

“A lot of the plan is based on the idea of making progress. We’re not going to solve poverty, but it’s about making a difference,” Gray concluded.

A copy of the 2025 CSWB plan can be viewed on municipal websites as Gray presents it to local councils.

Seniors for Climate to celebrate National Seniors Day

Seniors for Climate with signs say "WE ONLY HAVE ONE" with a picture of earth. Other signs that read, "WE NEED CLIMATE ACTION NOW!", "CLIMATE CHANGE KILLS", "HONK FOR CLIMATE ACTION" and more...
Photo credit: Submitted.
SUBMITTED

October 1, 2024 is National Seniors Day in Canada, and also the United Nations International Day of Older Persons.

Climate Network Lanark is enthusiastically joining Seniors for Climate for a day of action, to bring attention to the worsening climate emergency. Seniors and other members of the greater Perth and Lanark County community are invited to gather together along Hwy 7 at Wilson Street in Perth, on Tuesday, October 1, from 11:45 am to 1:15 pm. If you are planning to drive, please park away from the site.

Photo credit: Submitted.

Canada’s seniors know that the number one existential threat to life on Earth is climate change. This threat is not being addressed with the necessary speed and urgent attention that the crisis demands. On October 1, seniors will hold over 50 climate events across Canada, to call on governments of all levels to take climate action now. Later is too late!

In recent times in eastern Ontario we have experienced ticks and Lyme disease, increasingly hot summers and mild, rainy winters, droughts and floods, intense smoke from raging wildfires, and disasters like tornadoes and the deadly derecho. The list goes on. The cause of all of this is global heating, caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

Seniors for Climate is a Canadian coalition of six climate groups mobilizing to bring attention to the worsening climate emergency. 

  • We’re in the race of our lives. We need to act NOW. Later Is Too Late! 
  • We want faster and deeper action on climate by all levels of government. 
  • We must phase out the burning of fossil fuels. 
  • We need to speed up the transition to renewable power and clean energy. 
  • We must move the financial sector away from its support of fossil fuels.
  • We need climate action that is broad-based and preserves a livable future for our grandchildren.
Photo credit: Submitted.

Local action on “Fossil Fools Day” contributes to RBC announcements

Photo credit: Submitted.
SUBMITTED

More than two dozen people rallied in front of the Perth branch of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) on Saturday April 6 to stop RBC from financing the climate crisis and violating Indigenous rights. Climate Network Lanark activists were joined by members of the Lanark County Drum Circle.  The rally was part of a national day of action in the lead up to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Royal Bank of Canada held in Toronto on April 11th.  

Demonstrators called on RBC CEO, David McKay, to rapidly phase out fossil fuel funding, respect Free, Prior, and Informed Consent of Indigenous Peoples and Nations, and ramp up investments in climate-safe solutions.

Photo credit: Submitted.

A recent report from a coalition of environmental groups shows that the Royal Bank of Canada was the biggest fossil fuel financier in the world in 2022 providing over $42 billion US in funding. Since Canada signed the Paris Agreement in 2015, RBC has invested $262 billion dollars in fossil fuels, and increased their fossil fuel investments last year by $19 billion.

RBC is also a key investor in Coastal Gas Link — funding not only environmental destruction, but also violent assaults on Wet’suwet’en people who are defending their land and waters.  “It is obvious that RBC executives put shareholder profit before human rights and the climate crisis”, stated event co-organizer, Linda Kulkarni. “The choice is clear: RBC can listen to the science and help lead the way to a sustainable economy, or destroy our ecosystem chasing short-term profits and create stranded assets.”

Good news!  Through a nation-wide groundswell of support, sustained pressure over the past two years and negotiations at the table, on April 11, RBC agreed to the following:

  • Indigenous Rights: RBC has expanded its Environmental and Social Risk process, examining the impacts of its clients’ activities on Indigenous lands and communities (I-ESR), amended its human rights statement to invoke internationally recognized standards for Indigenous rights and agreed to include a review of its new I-ESR policies in its racial equity audit to be completed in 2025.
  • Climate Change: RBC will regularly disclose its ratio of clean energy supply financing to fossil fuel extraction financing (Energy Supply Ratio) and its underlying methodology. This agreement is a critical step to better assess the role banks play in the climate transition, and whether or not they are on track to meet their emissions reduction commitments.

Perth event co-organizer Anita Payne commented “Local action can lead to national results!”

Smiths Falls gets mini miracle: Tiny forest planned for Corbett Park

Dave and Joni Thornley
Dave and Joni Thornley stand at the perimeter of the proposed tiny forest at Corbett Park. Photo credit: Sally Smith.
SALLY SMITH

Let’s think about forests — leaves underfoot, tree canopy overhead, birds, bugs and bees. It’s wonderful to get out, to breathe, to listen.

In town that’s hard to do…but soon people in Smiths Falls will be able to see a tiny ‘forest’ growing in Corbett Park.

It all starts in April.

Dave Thornley and a crew of volunteers are building it; it’s based on a Japanese concept — the Miyawaki Method — developed, initially, to counter deforestation in that country after the War.

But first, after planting the seed at a REAL board meeting, he had to find land. Not much of a problem…there’s lots around. The issue was timing…and then getting permission. “I was under the gun,” Thornley remembers.

The deadline to apply to Trees Canada for $9000 of funding for the project was rapidly approaching — he had five days to get it submitted. He went to the Town, suggested four spots for the tiny forest, and the final decision was made for Corbett Park.

Mini (tiny) forests provide a variety of ecosystem services that offer both environmental and social benefits. From reducing air pollution to increasing biodiversity, and providing necessary habitat for wildlife, these small plots can have a big impact on their local environments. They provide much-needed green spaces for people to enjoy, offering mental health benefits and improving air quality. Mini forests also help reduce runoff, prevent flooding and mitigate the urban heat island effect.
• Green Communities Canada

SIDEBAR

He grins when he remembers this… ”within less than a week we got the land. Amazing! It can happen…!”

They hope to hear about the funding this March but if it doesn’t come through, REAL has agreed to go ahead with it anyway; a Go Fund Me site has also been suggested.

The tiny forest will grow between Chambers and Sussex, the northwest corner of Corbett park. Presently it’s a small park, bare except for children’s playground equipment. The planting will go at one end lending coolness on hot summer days.

There are other tiny forests around, Thornley says. Kingston has planted “six or nine of them over the last three years.”

He describes the work. “We’re doing the minimum size — 100 square metres. That’s about half a tennis court, not very big for 300 trees. Each square metre has three trees.” And because Kingston has done this before, the city is lending spreadsheets with methodology and what needs to be done.

There are two aspects, Thornley says — the first is planting the forest floor and the second is planting the trees. “You  plant the floor first…which emulates the forest floor, and then the trees, three trees in one square metre.

”The idea is to plant close together. The undergrowth fights against each other, grows faster, and turns into a forest in 10 years.

“That’s the whole idea of a tiny forest.”

But you need a proper forest floor to do this. This is the layering to be done: cardboard, leaves, compost, and wood chips. All of this is coming from the landfill site in Smiths Falls “except for the cardboard,” Thornley explains. On April 13, when the initial work starts, he asks everyone to bring cardboard, the bigger the better. “We’re looking for b-i-g boxes.”

Cardboard keeps the weeds from growing and when the layering is complete, and the forest floor is down, the trees go in.

“The recommendation is to let it sit for six months and then, in October, plant the trees.”

How is all this going to happen?

“Volunteers,” Thornley says. “We need people,” men and women with trucks, teens who need volunteer hours, moms and dads and grandparents, and then wheelbarrows, rakes, hoes, gloves, sun screen. His hope is to make it a community event.

He suggests people give an hour or two and says it could be done in “four to six hours.”

Why trucks? Not for compost, he quickly says, knowing how guys and gals feel about their trucks, but to get leaf bags and cardboard to the site. There are 120 bags at the landfill — “they fill them, we just put them in cars or trucks and take them.”

And then, in October, the trees go in — three trees per square metre. Thornley says they have a list of 300 trees — “all sorts, canopy, mid-canopy, normal, bush, a mixture…not mature trees with the largest being small and easy to plant, saplings…”

He foresees only one problem — water.

The planting will have to be watered initially and then “once in a while, two or three times a summer.” He’s looked at the site and knows there are two fire hydrants fairly near. “Maybe the fire chief could give us an old hose to hook up,” he says, putting the thought out there, or maybe nearby houses could co-ordinate.

“We only need it a few times a year, not a lot.”

The new plants will be colour co-ordinated with tiny flags to identify location and type. “We care for it up to three years [this is where volunteers for watering and weeding come in], and then it should look after itself.”

In 10 years it will be a good looking forest.

So put this on your calendar:

What: Planting a tiny forest
Where: Corbett Park between Chambers and Sussex
When: April 13, 9 a.m.
Why: Environmentally sound planning for Town; attracts birds
Who: Grandparents, parents, kids, teens who need volunteer hours
What to bring: Trucks, wheelbarrows, hoes, rakes, gloves, trowels, large pieces of cardboard.

And one last thought, Thornley grins. This is going to happen sun, sleet or snow…To contact Dave, email him at thornley.j.d@gmail.com.

Perth council hears recommendations from Official Plan preliminary review

Town of Perth
The Town of Perth dove into the preliminary review of its Official Plan on March 12, looking at recommendations by their consultant. Photo credit: Laurie Weir.

Getting feedback from Indigenous communities at the top of the list

LAURIE WEIR

A three-hour special committee of the whole meeting in Perth on March 12 reviewed preliminary recommendations of the town’s preliminary planning and policy review.

Forbes Symon, consultant with Jp2G Consulting Inc., spoke to the recommendations from the review and next steps. 

An Official Plan (OP) helps to shape the physical and social structure of municipalities, guiding development decisions, and ensuring sustainable and equitable growth for the benefit of present and future generations. It is a comprehensive document that studies land use planning, growth management, infrastructure planning, environmental protection, community services and facilities, social and economic development, and public participation and accountability.

Symon said he was pleasantly surprised by the public feedback on the OP. 

Coun. Jim Boldt was concerned with requests for rezoning. 

“We are constantly having people want to change zoning to accomplish what they want, not necessarily what is best for the community,” he said. At what point does the town say no to requests for rezoning? If someone purchases a home in the town, they don’t want to worry about a shopping mall going up behind them.

Symon said that the way planning is done in communities now everyone is being challenged by traditional standards. 

“Zoning and our vision of the ideal that is in zoning should not be a barrier for good ideas and good design, and thoughtful change within a neighbourhood. I think the idea that zoning is static is something that is no longer the case,” Symon said. “I think what we need are policies that give us direction and guidance on how we fit new into old … that change is inevitable. There is nobody that should be moving into a neighbourhood in this day and age thinking that everything is going to stay static and it’s not going to change. That’s just not realistic anymore.”

Symon recommended a toolkit to help with the change to better manage it, “because you’re not going to stop the change.”

INDIGENOUS VOICES

A critical element Symon said was engaging Indigenous communities. “You have retained the services of a consultant and I’ve worked with that consultant in the past. I have a very clear idea of how Chief Richard Lalonde can see improvements to your plan so that they reflect traditional Indigenous values,” he said. 

Symon said the town should have information about pre-colonial occupation, working with language from other communities that has been used. It would tell the story of the lands pre-1800s. 

“We should also have very clear policies on when archeological assessments are triggered and what happens when pre-colonial discoveries are made,” he said. 

The other value area is related to the natural heritage and water systems, which is fundamental.

“There will be a need to speak about engagement and how we community with our First Nations communities with respect to natural heritage.”

CLIMATE CHANGE

Flood plain risks and the need to plan for infrastructure are other critical pieces to the updated OP. Symon said Perth was leading Lanark County in their climate change plans.

“You’re very progressive in how you deal with stormwater management, and how you’ve been minimizing infiltration into your sanitary system. Those are all the types of practices that need to continue and to be highlighted.”

Symon said the OP should be more flexible with the details coming into play in the zoning bylaw, “which is a much easier document to modify and tweak.”

RECOMMENDATIONS

Symon recommended other points in the review, including growth management; economic development and prosperity; land use compatibility; housing and intensification; public spaces, recreation, parks, trails and open space; sewage, water and stormwater; transportation and infrastructure corridors; natural heritage; cultural heritage; natural hazards; public service facilities; and emergency management.

Regarding urban agriculture in front yards, Coun. Gary Waterfield asked the consultant what the trend was in other municipalities. 

Symon said he was a proponent of growing and cooking food and “we should be encouraging that and not restricting that.”

“Having general aspirational policies in the plan is a good idea but it comes down to your yards’ bylaw and property standards.”

Some people like Kentucky bluegrass in the front yard – some like tomatoes and squash, therefore a bylaw to reflect individual needs should be attempted, he said.

NEXT STEPS

Joanna Bowes, the town’s director of development services said even though it is time for a complete do-over of the OP, “based on budget, we went ahead and just did an update. Seeking clarification as to whether or not council wants a full update,” due to the cost involved. 

Budget and staff time, currently, “do not make it realistic to do a complete review,” Waterfield said. 

Symon said he would work with the council on the budget and be flexible, “and get as much done as humanly possible.”

It won’t be a new plan, “but I think we can accommodate some of the aspirations (that were discussed).”

Council received information, the preliminary planning issues and policy report, as presented by Symon, to draft the Official Plan amendment and related policies, including working with town staff to improve concise and plain language wording. This will be brought forward to council for future consideration.

Rideau Lakes veterinarian honoured with prestigious accolades

Dr. Shane Renwick
Dr. Shane Renwick earned the WVA Global Veterinary Award for the Medicine Stewardship category, as presented by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and Ceva Santé Animale. Photo credit: Courtesy of Ceva.

Dr. Shane Renwick earns WVA Global Veterinary Award

LAURIE WEIR

The Township of Rideau Lakes has recognized another prestigious award winner. 

Dr. Shane Renwick of the Elgin area, won the Medicine Stewardship category of the World Veterinary Association Global Veterinary Awards. 

On Monday, Feb. 26, he was presented a certificate from the Township of Rideau Lakes during its municipal services committee meeting. It was just a few weeks ago that the township recognized Portland’s Marco Smits on his Emmy Award from coverage of the Beijing Olympics. 

Renwick was nominated by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) for his active role in the field of antimicrobial stewardship, as well as other issues of national importance, including One Health and the role of the Canadian Veterinary Profession in addressing the challenges of Climate Change.

He spearheaded the development of the Stewardship of Antimicrobials by Veterinarians Initiative (SAVI) as well as a mobile app called Firstline. These tools help veterinarians working with many species to select the most appropriate antibiotic, if indicated, as well as dosage and withdrawal times.

According to a release Ceva Worldwide, colleagues praised the Elgin area veterinarian. 

Dr. Olatunji Nasir, Chair of the WVA Pharmaceutical Stewardship Working Group said: ‘Dr. Renwick’s work over the years has been phenomenal and this award has proven his mettle in his field. His several contributions have not gone unnoticed by colleagues and the veterinary community. I congratulate him for this recognition.”

Dr. Trevor Lawson, Canadian Veterinary Medicine Association (CVMA) president, added, “We are immensely proud of our staff veterinarian, Dr. Shane Renwick, being named as the winner of the WVA Medicines Stewardship award. He has been thoroughly dedicated to antimicrobial stewardship since he joined the CVMA nine years ago. The SAVI project has seen this dedication come to fruition by providing veterinary professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions on antimicrobial use in a wide range of species, including point of care guidance to practitioners via the Firstline app. We are very proud of Dr. Renwick’s contribution to the veterinary profession that is sustainable, innovative, and future-ready.”

The accolades continued at council on Monday. 

“Rideau Lakes congratulates Dr. Shane Renwick on winning (this award),” said Mayor Arie Hoogenboom. “On behalf of council and residents of Rideau Lakes, we congratulate you.”

Renwick and his wife Ann have been living in the township for nine years. The project that he was working on which resulted in this award was “born in Rideau Lakes,” he said. 

Renwick will receive the award in South Africa in April, he said. 

There is a video in which he and his wife are featured along with a “Rideau Lakes” header, that will be shown as part of the award presentations.

“Maybe I’ll get questioned … where is Rideau Lakes?” Renwick said. 

The mayor said he watched the video and noted that a part of the veterinarian’s success was being able to work from home – remotely with the help of WTC Communications, the fibre optics internet option in the township. (Smits also praised the high internet for his ability to also work remotely on the coverage of the Olympics.)

Perth briefs: From Crystal Palace to heritage gems, community upgrades, and future visions

The glass roof of the Crystal Palace
The glass roof of the Crystal Palace in Perth is being replaced by a metal roof to the tune of $488,000. The work should be finished by the end of March. Photo credit: Laurie Weir.
BY LAURIE WEIR

Crystal Palace roof-lift

The glass roof is coming off the Crystal Palace, as work to replace it has begun. The cost to replace the glass panels with metal is $488,000. Cathy McNally, director of community services, said she cautioned the Perth and District Chamber of Commerce to be aware that the work may bump up against the timing for the Festival of the Maples which takes place the last Saturday in April. As it stands now though, they look to have the roof finished by the end of March. 

Heritage Perth Architectural Conservation Awards

The following property owners will be recognized under the town’s Heritage Perth Architectural Conservation Award program for 2023: 

  1. Jennifer and Matthew Newby, 15 Thom St.
  2. Alex Goodfellow and Devon De Rose, 65 Drummond St. E. 

They will be invited to the Feb. 20 council meeting to receive their certificates. 

Coun. Isabel Anne McRae said she visited both properties. “They’ve totally embellished the fronts of both of these buildings in keeping with our mantra of heritage and certainly done with a lot of heart,” she said. “They’re very welcoming, (and) inviting and I look forward to this presentation.”

Community centre upgrades

Council directed McNally to apply for a Trillium grant to the upset limit of $200,000. If successful, the monies would be used to upgrade the second floor of the community centre. It’s currently storage space, but in the past had been used for office space for hockey and figure skating clubs. McNally said working with the architects they would come up with a plan to utilize the area – possibly giving some office space back to user groups, and creating a events space, or recreational programming. They may also be able to make it a “livable space” from which to view the ice surface. 

“If we’re going to be there for another 15-20 years, we might as well stop making that an unusable space, explore our options for making it up to code and a benefit to the community,” McNally said. 

Deputy Mayor Ed McPherson suggested that if they don’t get the grant, they’d like to see this come back to the table for future discussion. 

Perth Sports Hall of Fame 

Tim Zander is the chair of the Perth and District Spots Hall of Fame. He requested $300 per year for the term of council, to help support the cause. This year’s annual induction will take place on May 26. More information will come forward at a future COW meeting as Zander will be asked to speak about the HOF and the funding request.

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Pat Evans, advocate for Parkinson’s Community Network requested from council that a proclamation come forward to their March meeting that would declare April as Parkinson’s Awareness Month to help spread the word. April 11, join individuals and organizations in a commitment to “stand up to Parkinson’s disease” by collectively completing one million sit-to-stands in 24 hours, “ideally in a position that would attract attention,” Evans wrote. 

Resignation of John Clement

The town received, “with regret” the resignation of John Clement from the Climate Change Advisory Panel. Clement sent his letter on Jan. 24, but noted he’d still continue to be part of various projects and assist where possible. “Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this important panel.”

On the morning of Feb. 7, the town posted an advertisement for a new member. 

The Climate Change Advisory Panel is a committee of concerned residents and elected officials, working together to encourage all residents of Perth to make our town a greener place to live, work and play. 

“We are currently seeking a new member and invite you to apply to serve on the CCAP for the remainder of the term of council. To qualify, applicants must be a resident or property owner of Perth. We encourage those with diverse backgrounds to apply so that the community may benefit from a broad and diverse range of lived experiences and perspectives.

Visit Perth.ca/CcapApplication for more information and to apply. Applications must be submitted by 12 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23.

‘Boring’ drinking water report

CAO Michael Touw gave a shout out to Grant Mahan, director of environmental services, who was not in attendance for the water report review. 

“Drinking water is extremely important, especially in light of (Walkerton E. coli contamination in 2000), and it’s best when it’s boring, when we never hear about it, and when we turn on our taps and it works,” Touw said. “Our system here in Perth has consistently gotten very high marks and I want to commend Grant and the staff for all the work they do behind the scenes … that’s thanks to the few but dedicated staff we have.”

Darou Farm working group

A working group will be established for the development of not only a dog park at Darou Farm, but to take a look at what else can be done at the 50-acre property. Part of the mandate will be working with the dog park group on fundraising and creating the dog park. 

McNally said the off-leash dog park is still in the plans, and now there will be a working group to help establish other uses for the rest of the property.