2009: BUILT CAPACITY IN OTHER GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY GROUPS THROUGH "ORGANIZE TO WIN" SEMINARS
Oakvillegreen recognized that in order to be successful, grassroots community groups needed to learn how to: organize; develop strategies and tactics; understand politicians and bureaucrats; become effective advocates; and keep their organizations strong. To that end, our president created a half-day seminar called Organize to Win which she has given to groups in communities all over Ontario including London, Cobourg, Aurora, Grimbsy and Newcastle. The feedback has been fantastic and many of these groups have now reported wins on their issues in their community. Oakvillegreen is committed to helping other grassroots groups and will continue this outreach in years ahead.
DECEMBER 2009: REGIONAL COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES NATURAL HERITAGE SYSTEM
Working with other Halton Environmental groups, Oakvillegreen successfully lobbied for a natural heritage system to be a part of the regions' new official plan that will guide development in Halton until 2031. The NHS, which consists of about 36% of the region's land mass, will protect Halton's natural areas as well as its valuable agricultural lands.
JUNE 2009: OAKVILLEGREEN'S LIZ BENNEIAN, WINS EARTH DAY CANADA'S HOMETOWN HERO AWARD
Earth Day Canada has announced that Oakvillegreen Conservation Association president Liz Benneian has been selected, from more than 90 nominations from across the country, as the recipient of 2009’s Hometown Hero Award. The Hometown Heroes Award Program, established by Earth Day Canada in 2004, recognizes and celebrates environmental leaders who foster meaningful, long-term community awareness and action. The Hometown Heroes Award includes $10,000 in prize money: $5,000 for the award recipient and $5,000 for the environmental organization of their choice. Benneian has chosen Oakvillegreen Conservation Association as the organization of her choice.
APRIL 2009: HALTON BACKLASH KILLS PROPOSED FREEZE ON FEES
A citizen backlash over "developer welfare" prompted Halton Region Council to back down – unanimously – on a proposal to freeze development charges. Liz Benneian led citizen's reactions at Town meeting and Oakvillegreen members were vocal in the more than 450 emails sent in opposition of proposal to their Councillors and Mayor Rob Burton.
February 2009: Council listens to residents and stops plan to pave Petro Canada trail
Oakvillegreen helped local residents when, despite the Town's good intentions, the project to pave the Petro Canada trail in Bronte provoked a massive outpouring of complaints. At the Town meeting, OCA Director Enver Domingo said Oakvillegreen had deep concerns about the impact the construction, particularly excavating the trail and cutting down numerous trees in the process, would have on the local environment. It is a vital area for migratory songbirds, who depend greatly on some of the affected parkland areas after their long crossing over Lake Ontario.
Winter 2009: Stopped plan to put paved paths through Natural Heritage System
Oakvillegreen alerted Council to the cost, both fiscally and environmentally, of Parks and Rec's plan to put paved paths throughout the Natural Heritage system. The plan also would have violated the Ontario Municipal Board decision on the lands. The plan has been shelved until Parks and Rec can prove such paths will not damage the Natural Heritage System features or functions.
2008: Tree Protection Bylaw
Fought for and won a tree protection bylaw that will stop developers from clear cutting properties and protect Oakville's valuable mature trees.
2007: Establishment of a Natural Heritage System in North Oakville and Good Planning in new Development North of Dundas
As a result of our appeal of the urbanization plan for 7600 acres in north Oakville, the Town has persevered about 30% of the land as a Natural Heritage System. The system is comprised of environmentally sensitive areas their buffers and linkages that join them together into a system capable of preserving wildlife and plants in a healthy ecosystem. A precedent setting Ontario Municipal Board hearing concluded that this systems approach is how planning "should be done". This will lead to the preservation of more green space throughout Ontario. As well, Oakvillegreen lobbied for a new urbanist approach to development in North Oakville which means a walkable, mixed use, energy efficient, transit-first community. These good planning practices have also been adopted.
2007: Stopping The Incinerator
Oakvillegreen led opposition to Halton Region's plan to spend $800 million to build a polluting incinerator. The Region canceled the plan and is focusing on waste diversion.
2007: 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.
2007: 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, Wildflower Woods.
2006 & 2007: 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.
2006: Establishment of Glenorchy 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.
2004 to Present: Planted Trees and Launched Tree Programs
Through the Ground Breakers program, community volunteers have worked with Oakvillegreen to plant more almost 10,000 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. Visit our Tree Initiatives section for more information.
2003: Winning Awards
In 2003 we received the Conservation Award of Excellence from Conservation Halton "in recognition of our outstanding contribution in the Halton Watershed."
2002 – 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 an environmental trust that will fund local environmental initiatives. About 30% of the land in North Oakville has been preserved as a Natural Heritage System. In a [precedent-setting ruling in 2007 the Ontario Municipal Board concluded that taking a systems approach to protecting natural features and functions is not only a good idea it’s “the way planning should be done”.
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 Municipal Board Reform and the RFP process for new energy generating plants. Regionally we have commented on Halton's Official Plan and Sustainable Halton. 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 the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Sustainability, Mayor's Advisory Group on Trails, Energy Plant Stakeholder Group, the Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee, the Pesticide Bylaw, Education Task Force 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, the Greenbelt Protection Act, Sustainability and Zero Waste.
Helping Other Green Groups
Now that Oakvillegreen has fought and won several battles we are using our expertise to help others. Our president, Liz Benneian, has created a half-day workshop called Organize To Win that she gives free-of-charge to grassroots groups around the Province who want to become more successful in their advocacy efforts. She has worked with groups from Durham, Brantford, Elora, Burlington, Beamsville, Grimsby and Cobourg and she looks forward to helping many more groups in the future. Oakvillegreen also works cooperatively with Halton's other environmental groups and causes, for instance participating in The Great Community Garage Sale with Gardens Off Drugs, participating in the Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights EcoFest.
