East Gwillimbury approves its enviro vision for the community

East Gwillimbury (EG) is pleased to announce the approval of the new Thinking Green Environmental Strategy, a document that outlines the Town’s goals and objectives to support and protect its natural environment while guiding the municipality's journey toward building a more diverse, resilient, and sustainable Town for years to come.

Creating EG’s Environmental Strategy was a collaborative and community-driven journey that began with the thoughts, ideas, and unique enviro visions of the people who call EG home.  Feedback, concerns, and suggestions received about the environment were incorporated with the thoughts and ideas from Town Council and staff, the Environmental Advisory Committee, local authorities, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation to develop a robust set of 45 actions that support the municipality’s commitment to fostering a healthier community.

The Strategy is made up of five thematic areas. Four areas reflect a holistic view of the environment, and the fifth area, empowerment, reflects community action as the key element that enables, interacts, and impacts all the other themes. Climate change is also a key component of strategy that is addressed within the thematic areas. To ensure it gets the proper focus and analysis, mitigation to climate change will be planned in the Corporate and Community Energy Plan, and adaptation in the Climate Adaptation Plan.

The Strategy’s thematic areas are:

• Water: Initiatives that impact water quality and conservation.
• Land: Forests, gardens, parks, land use, planning, buildings, and practices such as waste production and diversion, and recycling.
• Biodiversity: Living organisms, plants, and animals that are part of the natural landscape, and the protection of wildlife.
• Air: Air quality, greenhouse emissions, air pollutants, and active transportation.
• Empowerment: Embrace and support internal and external education, events, and action for all thematic areas.

“Protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility,” says Mayor Virginia Hackson. “The approval of the Thinking Green Environmental Strategy is our commitment that we will do the work to ensure East Gwillimbury is environmentally responsible and resilient for future generations.”

Residents will be engaged throughout the implementation of the Strategy through community events, campaigns, and information shared via Town communications channels. This Strategy aims to create positive change and contribute to a greener, more sustainable East Gwillimbury. To view the Strategy, upcoming events, and tips, please visit the Environmental Strategy page.