Our Founding
Oakvillegreen is a grassroots, non-partisan community organization that was founded in 1999 when concerned citizens who started attending Town Council meetings about palns to develop 7,600 acres of agricultural land north of Dundas kept running into each other outside of Council Chambers. They began to share their concern about the planning process and the apparent lack of concern about protecting the lands important woods, wetlands and wildlife habitat. They decided to band together to advocate for protection for North Oakville's natural environment, for a sounder planning process and for more public participation. They did their own research, they called on the help of experts, they engaged OAkville citizens in preserving what's precious. They decided to call their group Oakvillegreen Conservation Association.
Some of Our Accomplishments
Stopping
The Incinerator
Oakvillegreen led opposition to Halton
Region's plan to spend $800 million to build a polluting incinerator. The
Region cancelled the plan and is focusing on waste diversion.
Pesticide
Bylaw
Working with Gardens Off Drugs, we convinced
Council to enact a bylaw that bans the use of cosmetic pesticides in Oakville.
The bylaw took effect January 1 2008.
Preserving
Old Growth Forest
Oakvillegreen worked to have 24 acres of old
growth forest adjacent to Ford Drive preserved. The Province has agreed to turn
the land over to Conservation Halton as a new Concervation Area.
New
Conservation Area
Oakvillegreen lobbied to have Ontario Realty
Corporation-owned lands in North Oakville remain in public hands instead of
being sold to developers as was planned. In the fall of 2006, the Province
announced 650 acres of land would be preserved in a new Conservation Area.
Planted
Trees and Launched Tree Programs
Through the Ground Breakers program, community
volunteers have worked with Oakvillegreen to plant more than 4,500 native trees
and shrubs in Oakville since 2004. Last year, Oakvillegreen launched our first
Heritage Tree Hunt. This year, Oakvillegreen is launch the Tree Seed Collection
Program and the Foster Tree Parent Program. (More on these initiatives soon!)
New
Initiatives
Several new environmental initiatives resulted
out of the appeal of OPA 198 - the urbanization plan for 7600 acres in north
Oakville including: the protection of a Natural Heritage System in North
Oakville, the establishment of the Town's Environmental Strategic Plan and the
establishment of a trust, directed by The Community Foundation of Oakville,
that will fund local environmental initiatives.
Helped
to Establish Burlingtongreen and Miltongreen
Oakvillegreen helped bring together concerned
citizens in Burlington and Milton to found two new environmental and
sustainability advocacy groups.
Winning
Awards
In 2003 we received the Conservation Award of
Excellence from Conservation Halton "in recognition of our outstanding
contribution in the Halton Watershed."
Getting
Elected
Three of our founding Directors have been
elected to local and regional council. This has resulted in additional
environmental voices in local and regional affairs.
Influencing
Legislation
Oakvillegreen has input on Provincial
Legislation and Town Bylaws. Provincially we have commented on the Greenbelt
Plan, the Provincial Policy Statement, the Planning Act, Ontario Municpal Board
Reform and the RFP process for new energy generating plants. Regionally we have
commented on Halton's Official Plan and the Durable Halton Plan. Locally we
have commented on Oakville's Official Plan, The Environmental Strategic Plan
and innumerable development plans and bylaws.
Serving
The Community
Oakvillegreen's President and members have served on many
boards, committees and advisory groups including among many the Energy Plant Stakeholder Group
and the Environmental Strategic Plan Implementation Committee.
Raising
Awareness
We have raised awareness locally and
provincially about environmental issues including urbanization of north
Oakville , retaining public ownership of the Oakville Land Assembly (ORC
lands), the importance of the Trafalgar Moraine and the Greenbelt Protection
Act.
Helping
Other Green Groups
Oakvillegreen works cooperatively with
Oakville's other environmental groups and causes for instance cosponsoring The
Great Community Garage Sale with Gardens Off Drugs, participating in the
Oakville Community Centre for PEace, Ecology and Human Rights' EcoFest and
holding a fundraiser for those trying to save the Bronte Oak. Together we are
stronger.
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