BARC's 'Welcome to Canada' Series on our Environment

Should I trust the tap water? Where does the water in bottled water come from? Are their dangerous animals in the woods? How does Hamilton’s water treatment system work? Where do I bring those funny swirly lightbulbs anyway?

These were just a few of the questions that new Canadians posed at the Bay Area Restoration Council’s four-part ‘Welcome to Canada’ series on Hamilton’s Environment.

Each session, we met at the Red Hill Branch of the Public Library, thanks to the invitation of Shahira Nabab Jhan, of the Settlement and Integration Services Organization (SISO).

When some one comes to a new area, it’s not only the language and customs that they may need to learn, but all of the environmental information that many of take for granted.

During the sessions we were able to share important information about local waterfalls, conservation areas and hiking trails – as well as how to access them all, whether by foot, car, bike, bus or trolley. We talked about ways to keep chemicals out of our water, the ‘ins and outs’ of Hamilton’s water treatment system, as well as our waste and recycling programs.

People were encouraged to ask any and all questions about BARC, Hamilton Harbour and our shared environment. The event was such as success that we hope to bring it to more libraries in the Hamilton area.

Sustainability Network Partner Clean Air Partnership Hosts Webinar on Building Better Relationships with First Nations

Sustainability Network is pleased to announce that Environment & Diversity Project collaborative partner Clean Air Partnership is hosting a one-hour webinar on Building Better Relationships with First Nations on Wednesday, October 6th @ 10 am EST.

The webinar will feature:

Ron Plain and Kathleen Padulo who will share their expertise and experience on what environmental NGOs and municipalities can do to improve relationship building with First Nations and how groups unwittingly undermine those relationships.

Ron is from Aamjiwnaang First Nation, a small community located in Sarnia, Ontario. He co-founded the Aamjiwnaang Environmental Committee, has worked with Environmental Defence Canada and Kathleen is from the Oneida Nation of the Thames. She has 15 years working experience planning, developing and coordinating programs with Aboriginal organizations and First Nations communities.

Join the webinar to find out more about First Nation priorities and perspectives.

Register for the webinar.

Bay Area Restoration Council and SISO Host Successful First Annual Multicultural Festival

Photo credit: L. Tessier

Sustainability Network's Environment & Diversity Project partner Bay Area Restoration Council (BARC) co-hosted a very successful First Annual Multicultural Festival with Hamilton's Settlement and Integration Services Organization (SISO) last weekend!

Generous donors covered the cost of an HSR shuttle to bring people from Hamilton's diverse East End out to the Bay Front. Said BARC's Rhoda deJonge, "New Canadians were invited to try out canoes, sail boats, kayaks and dinghies in a fun and safe environment. They loved it!"

Photo credit: T. Wiercioch

Over 300 people came to the boating event which also included activities such as fishing lessons from FutureWatch, henna and face painting as well as door prizes from Mountain Equipment Co-op. BARC also partnered with local boating clubs, police, firemen, other local non-profits, the power squadron and even the navy to pull of a wonderfully fun-filled gathering!

Check out more pictures and find out more about BARC's engaging and working with Hamilton's diverse communities on BARC's Facebook page.

New Series of Bus Tours to Explore Indigenous History and Knowledge

The Native Canadian Centre is running a series called The Great Indian Bus Tours, which will offer people with a chance to learn about Toronto's indigenous history, aboriginal wars, lifestyles, medicines, and forms of government.

For more information and to find out how you can participate, check out this article from this week's Yonge Street magazine.

HR Council launches new project to increase cultural diversity in Canadian nonprofits

The HR Council recently launched a new project to increase the cultural diversity of Canadian nonprofits.

The project aims to:

• identify key issues preventing nonprofits from accessing the talents of visible minorities
• deliver practical and realistic outcomes to help the sector develop a more inclusive labour force

This is an important project because cultural diversity in the nonprofit sector is very low - take a look at the following statistics from the HR Council’s 2008 survey of nonprofit employers and employees:

• 6% identified themselves as a visible minority (compared to16.2% visible minority across Canada)
  
• 88.9% of respondents were born in Canada
• 8.6% born outside of Canada (compared to 19.8% foreign-born across Canada)
  
• 1.8% considered as landed immigrants

The HR Council is introducing the project and seeking questions, thoughts and perspectives during an interactive, live conversation today at 1pm EST. Sustainability Network will be joining the discussion because we are working to improve the diversity of environmental nonprofits.

Will you be joining the conversation?

Sustainability Network at Roadmap: 2030!

I'll be speaking at Roadmap: 2030 tomorrow afternoon at the Toronto Reference Library. What is Roadmap: 2030?

"Roadmap: 2030 will be a thought-provoking two days of innovative ideas and best practices. With an eye to Canada’s future, Roadmap: 2030 will answer a crucial question: how can the public sector better engage with, and reflect, cultural minority, Aboriginal and disability communities in the development of public and political policy?"

I'll be on the Citizen 2.0 panel, which will explore whether social media and new communications technologies have offered benefits to Canada’s diverse populations and whether these tools have increased their ability to engage with their governments and communities. We'll also talk about how new technologies be used to promote representation, engagement, integration and prosperity.

Hope to see you there!

Be part of Car Free Day@ Queen's Park 22nd Sept.2010

Join us for Toronto's 10th Annual Car Free Day
@ Queen’s Park, Wednesday, Sept. 22nd from 10am - 2pm

Toronto's biggest Car Free Day is at Queen's Park North this year. Car Free Days aim to be fun, free events encouraging people to get out of their cars and run, walk, cycle or take public transit. We are partnering with U of T for their Environment Week festivities and including space for community groups. Contact us to reserve a free tables for your non-profit group: email Emma Cane (emmac@sierraclub.ca) or call 416-960-9606.

Are you available to help out at the event?
The event will take place from 10am to 2pm and we need volunteers and supporters en masse. Join us for the volunteer orientation session at Sierra Club headquarters, 24 Mercer St. (near King St. and John St.) on Wednesday September 15th @ 6:30 - 8pm.
Or give us a call/email and we can arrange your volunteering at the day of the event. Contact Emma Cane (emmac@sierraclub.ca) or call 416-960-9606.

We are able to provide documentation for community service hours for high school students. Volunteers can earn up to 20 hours for Car Free Day. And, of course, you get the warm, fuzzy feeling of doing something good for the community!

Please support the event using your networks if you can't participate.
All the best,
Your friends at Sierra Club
http://www.facebook.com/l/0f80eI_QNag3CFpruDlPkRlnzBg;www.ontario.sierraclub.ca/en/car-free-day