York  Region  Environmental  Alliance                          Finding  solutions  for  community  sustainability    

     

2014

Annual Report  

     

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YORK REGION ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE  WHO WE ARE

 Formed   in   1999   to   initially   campaign   against   the   cosmetic   use   of   pesticides,   the   York   Region  Environmental   Alliance   (YREA),   a   non-­‐profit,   registered   charitable   organization,   has   continually  expanded   its   mandate   to   address   ecological   issues   that   impact   our   health   and   the   health   of   our  environment.    We  reach  thousands  of  people  annually  in  York  Region,  the  Greater  Toronto  Area  and  beyond,  through  community  events,  workshops,  seminars,    e-­‐news  and  our  website.    

The   York   Region   Environmental   Alliance   is   governed   by   a   volunteer   board   of   directors   and   is  administered  by  part-­‐time  staff  and  volunteers.  

2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Susan  Sigrist,  Chairperson  Sharon  Bradley,  Secretary  Sylvia  Bowman,  ON  rep  

Mike  O’Hara        Peter  Secord  

Peter  Simmonds  

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Gloria  Marsh,  E.D.  &  Biochar  Field  Trial  Coordinator  Patty  Ella,  Accountant,  PME  Management  Solutions    

   

       

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BIOCHAR UPDATE

 We  have  completed  first  year,  soil,  root  and  tissue  sampling   and   lab   analysis   of   urban  trees  in  our  Markham  and  Vaughan  biochar  study  areas.  This  will  form  the  baseline  from  which   to   assess   soil   microbial   changes,  benefits   and   tree   health   as   we   continue  sampling  and  monitoring  in  2015  &  2016.        We   have   committed   to   a   final,   year   3,  growing  season   for  2015   in  our  agricultural  trials.   Many   research   projects   span   a   5-­‐8  year   period,   but   with   studies   already  completed   the   world   over,   we   will   have   a  sufficient  body  of  statistics  to  proceed  with  our  biochar  social  enterprise  plans.    

 Some  current  findings  include:  • Bartlett  Tree  Experts'  recent  research  concludes  that  biochar  can  reduce  tree  stress  from  

transplanting  and  drought.  Read  more…  • STUDY:  BIOCHAR  ALTERS  WATER  FLOW  TO  IMPROVE  SAND  AND  CLAY  -­‐  Rice  University's  research  

shines  light  on  soil  additive’s  seemingly  contradictory  benefits.  Read  more…  

Our   own   research   work   could   not   take   place   without   the   funding   support   of   the   JPM   Charitable  Foundation   and   the   collaboration   of   York   Region   Natural   Heritage   and   Forestry,   City   of   Vaughan  Environmental  Sustainability  and  University  of  Guelph  Agricultural  Research.  

HUMBER GATEWAY PARKETTE IN OAK RIDGES OFFICIALLY OPEN

An  area  of  land  has  been  commemorated  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Yonge  St.  and  King  Road  where  the   East   Humber   River   begins   to   channelize   as   the   water   flows   through   a   large  marsh   from   Lake  Wilcox.   There   is   now   a   short   path   to   an   outlook   and   kiosk   with   information   on   the   river   and   its  headwaters,   a   map   of   local   trails   and   a   bronze   plaque   celebrating   Canadian   Heritage   River  designation  for  the  Humber.  

The  project  was  initiated  by  the  Oak  Ridges  Friends  of  the  Environment  (ORFE)  with  the  intention  of  highlighting  this  patch  of  East  Humber  River  shoreline  and  educating  residents  and  visitors  about  the  role  of  the  marsh  as  headwaters  of  the  river.  

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In   partnership   with   York   Region  Environmental  Alliance  (YREA)  funding  was   received   from   RBC   Blue   Water  Project   with   full   endorsement   from  the  Oak  Ridges  Royal  Bank.  

With  resources  and  expertise  provided  by   Richmond   Hill   and   TRCA,   we   are  delighted   that   the   Parkette   was  officially   opened   on   September   24,  2014.  

To   highlight   what   we   can   all   do   to  maintain  our  water  quality,   YREA  and  ORFE   earmarked   a   portion   of   the  funds   towards   a   brochure   entitled  CLEAN   RIVERS,   CLEAN   LAKES   =  CLEAN  DRINKING  WATER.  Read  more…  

STRENGTH IN PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATIONS

 Besides  our  own  projects,  YREA  belongs  to  a  number  of  organizations  that  we  support  owing  to  our  likeminded   views   and   goals.     Adding   our   endorsement   and   that   of   other   member   groups   in  addressing  an  issue  strengthens  the  advocacy  and  submissions  made  by  the  initiating  party.    YREA   is   a  member  of   the  ONTARIO  ZERO  WASTE  COALITION   (OZWC)   and  has   strongly  denounced  incinerating  garbage  –  the  smoke  and  mirrors,   'energy  from  waste'  concept  -­‐  at  the  municipal   level  since   2006.   Liz   Benneian,   Founder   of  OZWC,   on   behalf   of   its   20  member   organizations,   submitted  these  prescient   recommendations   for   the  development  and   implementation  of   an   improved  waste  diversion  strategy  to  the  Ontario  Ministry  of  Environment  and  Climate  Change.      We   are   proud   to   be  one  of   nearly   100  member   groups   of  ONTARIO  CLEAN  AIR  ALLIANCE   (OCAA)  that,  among  other  things  has  campaigned  for  electricity  swapping  between  Ontario  and  Quebec.  The  Province   has   listened!   It   is   very   heartening   to   have   Premier   Wynne   end   electricity   separatism.                        Read  more…    NORTH  GWILLIMBURY   FOREST  ALLIANCE   SUCCEEDS   IN  ADVOCATING   FOR   REVISED   LSRCA  DRAFT  POLICY  FOR  SUBDIVISIONS-­‐IN-­‐WETLANDS  POLICY.  Read  more…    A  huge  problem  in  these  instances  is  out-­‐dated   policies   and   grandfathered   development   applications.     With   three   upcoming   provincial  plan   reviews,   it   is   imperative   to   put   policies   in   place   that   incorporate   stringent   environmental  standards  and  put  a  time  limit  on  grandfathered  development  applications.    Visit    http://www.yrea.org  and  browse  ECO  NEWS  for  more  articles  and  full  details.    

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NEONICOTINOIDS

 YREA  submitted  comments  via  the  Environmental  Registry  (EBR)  to  the  province  as  follows:  

York  Region  Environmental  Alliance  (YREA)  strongly  supports  the  Government  of  Ontario's  proposal  to   reduce   the   use   and   sale   of   neonicotinoids   and   to   develop   a   Pollinator   Health   Action   Plan   to  improve  the  state  of  pollinators  in  our  province.  We  urge  you  to:  • Proceed  with  the  plan  to  reduce  the  use  of  neonicotinoids  by  80  percent  by  2017  • Maintain  a  broad  scope  (addressing  all  pollinators,  multiple  threats)  • Ensure  that  the  necessary  support  is  in  place  to  enable  farmers  to  transition  to  other  means  of  pest  

management  (untreated  seeds,  credible  information  on  the  impacts  of  neonicotinoids,  expert  government  advice  and  assistance  with  implementing  alternatives)  

• Support  incentives  and  recognition  programs  that  promote  the  preservation  and  restoration  of  pollinator  habitats  

• Invest  in  research  regarding  pollinator-­‐friendly  farming  practices  and  the  economic  value  of  supporting  pollinators  for  farmers  and  their  crops  

• Plan  to  move  towards  a  full  ban  on  neonicotinoids  and  other  harmful  pesticides  

(York   Region   Environmental   Alliance   seeks   sustainable   solutions   for   the   betterment   of   agricultural  and  municipal  soil  management  practices  through  our  present  research  on  the  efficacy  of  biochar  as  a  soil  amendment  and  climate  change  mitigation  tool).  

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YORK REGION ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE

2014 FINANCIAL YEAR END  

     

   

   

Government  grants  10%  

Foundations/Corporations  

52%  

Donations  38%  

Income  

Government  grants  

Foundations/Corporations  

Donations  

Biochar  Field  Trial  Program  65%  

Operations  7%  

Biochar  Field  Trial  Coordinator  

28%  

Expenses  Biochar  Field  Trial  Program  

Operations  

Biochar  Field  Trial  Coordinator  

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SINCERE GRATITUDE TO OUR 2014 FUNDERS

A HEARTFELT THANKYOU TO ALL OUR INDIVIDUAL DONORS, AND ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE GENEROUSLY SUSTAINED YREA WITH YEARLY DONATIONS. GUARDIAN    $2000  &  UP      Chris  Chopik,  Sage  Real  Estate      Gloria  Marsh      Anonymous  

PROTECTOR    $1000  -­‐  $1999    Cynthia  Hyland      Marilyn  Isaac-­‐Stewart  

CUSTODIAN    $500  -­‐  $999  

STEWARD    $200  -­‐  $499      Leslie  Atkinson      Jack  Gibbons      Ada  Ghilardi      Diane  Keating      Susan  Sigrist  &  Mark  Hubbard        KEEPER    $100  -­‐  $199      Karen  Armstrong      Sharon  &  Jim  Bradley  

   Martin  Chen      Terry  Knight      Jean-­‐Paul  Morson      Debbie  Schaefer      Deb  Schulte  

FRIEND    $20  -­‐  $99      Laura  Bowman      Sylvia  Bowman          Mike  O'Hara      Angela  Marsh      Liz  Morin      Michael  Moorhouse      Miriam  Mozes      Joanne  Nonnekes      Katia  Picada      Diana  Piche      Peter  Secord

We   thank   the   following   volunteers   who   have   helped   us   with   our   activities   or  represented  YREA  at  meetings  and  community  events:  

Sylvia   Bowman,   Sharon   Bradley,   Jim   Bradley,   Sylvia   Halligan,   Gloria   Marsh,   Tanya  Marsh,  Teresa  McCrimmon,  Mike  O'Hara,  Peter  Secord,  Glenn  Shukster,  Susan  Sigrist.    

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LOOKING AHEAD TO 2015

We  look   forward   to  continuing  our  biochar  agricultural   field   trials  and  analysing   research  results  at  the  end  of  this  period.    Monitoring  the  urban  tree  trials  will  be  ongoing  for  a  number  of  years  to  come  and  site  visits  will  be  maintained  on  a  regular  basis.  

What  with  the  ice  storm  casualties  and  extended  clean  up  last  year,  our  planned  initiation  of  a  forest  study   of   biochar’s   efficacy   to   suppress   soil   phytotoxins   produced   by   the   alien   and   invasive   Garlic  Mustard  was  deferred  to  2015.  

Discussions  are  ongoing  regarding  suitable  biochar  pyrolysis  technology  and  we  will  continue  to  liaise  with  Ontario  Ministry   of  Agriculture   and   Food   and  Alberta  Biochar   Initiative   regarding  progress   on  certification  and  registration  of  biochar  as  a  soil  amendment/additive.  

We  will  carry  on  our  outreach  activities  at  community  and  agricultural  events,   raising  awareness  of  the   benefits   of   biochar,   industrial   hemp,   shrinking   our   ecological   footprint   and   what   we   can   all    personally  do  to  reduce  our   impact  on  climate  change.  We  will  be  available  to  provide  stakeholder  input  during  municipal  consultations  in  areas  of  our  concern.  

               

SUSAN SIGRIST GLORIA MARSH

CHAIRPERSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

   

YORK REGION ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE

85 DARIOLE DR

RICHMOND HILL ON L4E 3A5

T: 905-660-9782

E: INFO@YREA.ORG