Green Neighbours 21 is a grass-roots, action-oriented group of people who live in Ward 21, Toronto (and beyond) who are working together to respond to climate change and other environmental issues. It is based on the belief that although the problems we face are complex and challenging, there is a lot that we can do to make a difference, and it’s a lot more fun and effective if we work together. The group helps members of the community to learn more about the issues and to live more lightly on the planet. It offers an opportunity for neighbours to meet, and helps build strong community.
The group was launched in February 2007 at a community meeting attended by 60 enthusiastic people who shared their concerns about the environment and ideas for action. Since then we have held monthly meetings, which often include a speaker, organized a number of special events, and implemented a special project - Green Together - to help people make energy saving changes in their homes [link to section on Green Together]. We have an extensive email list providing notification of Green Neighbours 21 events and other green events in the city. All work is done by volunteers, under the direction of a steering committee, with task groups formed for specific projects.
Some accomplishments
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co-sponsored Strawberries & Asparagus in Cedarvale Park, a celebration of community, the environment, and local food (June 2007 and June 2008)
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had information tables at numerous community events including Environment Days, Strawberries & Asparagus, school fairs, and the local farmers’ market
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directed volunteers to help with the recycling program at Salsa on St. Clair, and with the local Farmers’ Market
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held an all-candidates’ meeting for the provincial election focusing on climate change and energy issues (September 2007)
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held a climate change evening “Convenient Solutions for An Inconvenient Truth” at Oakwood Collegiate (a live presentation of the slides from Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth followed by a panel discussion of solutions) (November 2007)
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co-hosted, with the Conservation Council of Ontario, a Conservation & Solar Fair where people met directly with organizations and companies that could help them go green (March 2008)
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co-sponsored with the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto an information evening “Putting a Price on Carbon” which included a panel discussion with representatives from the candidates in the federal election (October 2008)
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produced several fact sheets [link to “Resources”]
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hosted film screenings:
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“The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil”
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“Garbage! The Revolution Starts at Home”
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“Be the Change: Uplifting stories of real people living lightly and loving it”
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“Escape from Suburbia”
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Invited speakers at our meetings have included
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Janet McKay, LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests)
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Ben Marans, Smart Living St. Lawrence
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Chris Winter, Conservation Council of Ontario
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Rhonda Teitel-Payne, The Stop Community Food Centre
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Jeff McCormick, City of Toronto, Water Efficiency Program
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Lorraine Gauthier, Now House
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Randy Park, Post Carbon Toronto
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Andrew Knox, Transition Toronto
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Blake Poland, Transition Oakville, on “Building Transition Communities”
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Councillor Joe Mihevc on Toronto’s Green Vision
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Geoff Singer, Urban Planner, on “Building Sustainable Communities”
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Mike Schreiner, Food policy consultant, on “Local Sustainable Food Systems and the Emerging Green Economy”
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Leehe Lev, Toronto Cyclists’ Union, on “Safe Cycling”, and Tom Devenishek, Autoshare, on “Car-sharing”
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Liz Curran, The Stop Community Food Centre, Susan Poizner, Growing for Green & Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard, and Laurel Atkinson, Not Far From the Tree, on “Join the Local Food Revolution”
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David Carrington, Toronto Hydro, on ways of reducing your summer electrical bills, and Mike Alkema, LEAF, on gardening to cool your home and save on water use
Green Together
To come
