December 20, 2010

THINK LIKE A MOVEMENT

Sing along with us now: "A billion bottles of beer (and liquor containers of all types) to the store"... 

On December 11, we passed a milestone with Bag it Back, a program introduced three years ago to take advantage of the deposit-return system of The Beer Store. The program has increased return rates dramatically.

Congratulations to the Ministry of the Environment, The Beer Store, and of course, all of you!

What do liquor and community action have in common?  It's about the power of individual action, that's what.

1 billion liquor containers and an 87 per cent return rate on large glass containers is an impressive record, and it is all due to the commitment of Ontarians to recycling.  It's a prime example of how an efficient program combined with a deep-rooted commitment to conservation can achieve wonders.

It shows the potential of a voluntary and community-oriented conservation movement in Ontario. 

There's been a tremendous surge over the past decade in local businesses and organizations that offer conservation solutions -- everything from energy conservation and green power, community gardens, farmers' markets, natural food coops, safe cycling, community amenities and events, and so much more.  It's as if we, the people, are taking control over our individual and collective destiny.

This is the trend we are working to support through our Community Action Program. While Oakville and Oshawa are still in the early stages of creating community action networks, our collaborative project in Toronto is now entering its third year and coming to grips with some of the special challenges of organizing community-based action in Canada's largest city!

Community Action is a great addition to any municipality that has a sustainability plan or climate change plan.  We've started a map of organized communities in Ontario.  Let us know if your municipality or community needs to be included.
 

... to all of you who made a great year possible:

There's a new movement in planning circles these days -- "complete communities".  It goes beyond looking at intensity, or transit-centred development, and focuses on planning communities for people.

Complete communities work best at the neighbourhood level, where we can look at enhancing community assets, but it also works at a municipal level

The concept of "complete communities" was introduced to Ontario with the Places to Grow Act in 2006.  Through the Ontario Smart Growth Network, we have made a submission to incorporate "complete communities" into the Provincial Policy Statement under the Planning Act. 

Courtesy of students at the Master Planning Studio at Ryerson, you can now visit www.completecommunities.ca for more information.

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