TheBulletin.ca Journal of Downtown Toronto
Happy new year, everyone! This promises to be an exciting year for smartliving St. Lawrence as we launch some new initiatives, celebrate some past achievements and continue to build a movement based on a conservation culture.
Keep reading to find out more about some great upcoming events and how you can get involved.
- Organic Food Buying Club Info Session – January 23
- Free Energy Conservation Workshops & CFLs!
- Community Gardening Workshops – Scholarships Available
- SLNA Holiday Reception & Volunteer Awards – The Winners
- Volunteers needed for slSL Working Groups
1. Organic Food Buying Club Info Session – Tuesday, January 23 @ 7.30pm
Are you interested in buying organic and natural foods, household items and cleaning products? How about buying them at wholesale prices? What if we told you that you could order them anytime you like and in whatever quantity you desire?
If so, please join us on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at the St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre (230 The Esplanade) for a free information session about the Ontario Natural Food Co-operative (ONFC). Start time is 7.30pm.
ONFC Staff Kate Jarvis and Graeme Hussey will be on hand to discuss the ins and outs of setting up a food buying club. Light refreshments will be provided (including samples of organic products available through the ONFC).
The Ontario Natural Food Co-op (ONFC) is a co-operative federation of retail food co-operatives, food buying clubs, and non-collectively structured retailers. The ONFC serves as a member-owned and directed wholesaler for its members. They also sell to non-member natural food stores, daycares, and non-profit organizations. To learn more about food buying clubs, please visit http://www.onfc.ca/buying_club_info.html
For more information or to RSVP, please call 416.488.3966 or email ben@smartliving.ca
2. Free Energy Conservation Workshops & CFLs!
From January 2006 to the end of March, smartliving St. Lawrence will deliver at least 20 interactive workshops and distribute thousands of compact fluorescent light bulbs and water efficiency kits in exchange for a commitment on the part of all residents to “Lighten Up!” and put an end to wasted energy.
The first phase of the program involves a free interactive workshop at your condo/co-op that will help you to understand energy and water use within your unit and the building as a whole. With practical examples designed around your building, this workshop will demonstrate the impact that conservation can have on the environment and your pocketbook.
Topics include simple steps each of us can take to save energy and money and the ways in which whole buildings can work together to help support a greener environment.
After the workshop, we’ll return to your building to give out free compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and water efficiency kits to all residents who sign the Conservation Council of Ontario’s Lighten Up 2006 Pledge. Working together, we will be able to reduce our green house gas emissions and save thousands of dollars!
Stay tuned for upcoming dates when we’ll be coming to your building! In the meantime, if you are interested in being a part of this exciting activity and would like to join our working group, please email bmarans@eneract.org or call 416.488.3966.
3. Community Gardening Workshops – Free for Local Leaders
Over the past 18 months, smartliving St. Lawrence has been working with some very talented volunteer gardeners to develop and maintain some of the best community gardens around. To date, there are three exciting locations in the neighbourhood – Dan O’Leary’s Children’s Organic Garden at the foot of Princess Street, the KPYO Garden at 176 Sherbourne and the Butterfly Garden we planted in Crombie Park across from the Rec Centre.
In an effort to keep the momentum going and establish yet another garden in the community, we would like to send a number of local residents to an interactive and informative workshop being run by FoodShare.
In fact, smartliving St. Lawrence is willing to fully compensate those community members who commit to joining a working group to establish a garden in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood. To find out more about this program, call 416.488.3966.
Here are the details:
Introduction to Community Gardening Saturday, January 27, 2007 – 10am-3pm Lawrence Hts. Community Centre, 5 Replin Rd (Lawrence and Allen Rd.)Topics include: Finding a site, Securing funding, Establishing partnerships, Internal communication, Decision-making, Leadership, Outreach
Advanced Community Gardening Three Wednesdays in February and March from 7-9 pmThese sessions are designed to give people who are already involved in starting or running a community garden the tools to be successful.
February 7 – Gardening This session will be split for new gardeners and experienced gardeners February 21 – Fundraising Where and how to get money for gardens March 7 – Unified groups How to run a group so that people are satisfied and the garden is successfulAll workshops will take place at the Lawrence Heights Community Centre, 5 Replin Road, near Lawrence and Allen Road (TTC accessible).
Registration Fee is $25 for the beginner workshop $25 for the advanced series or $40 for both. For more information about the workshops, please contact Ravenna Barker at 416.363.6441 x225 or ravenna@foodshare.net
This program is being organized by the City funded Food Animator Project (a partnership between FoodShare, The Stop Community Food Centre, The Afri-Can Food Basket, and Second Harvest).
4. SLNA Holiday Reception & Volunteer Awards – The Winners
On behalf of smartliving St. Lawrence and the residents of the St. Lawrence neighbourhood, we would like to congratulate the following folks who were recognized for their contributions to the community at a gala event in December:
- Volunteer Recognition Award: Dennis Glasgow, Stig Harvor, Aurie Hensman, Dan O’Leary
- Special Recognition Award: Suzanne Edmonds
- Business Recognition Award: Jorge Carvalho
- SLNA Award of Merit: Ronny Yarron
- Citizen of Old Town Toronto: Cameron Miller
We are very honoured to have worked alongside many of these great men and women and can attest to the incredible impact of their contributions in making the St. Lawrence neighbourhood a greener, healthier more vibrant community for all.
5. Volunteers Needed for slSL Working Groups
The key strength behind the smartliving St. Lawrence program are the dozens of dedicated volunteers who donate their time, talent and ideas to make this project a reality. This model of community development seeks direction, action and motivation from the community members intent on making their neighbourhood a cleaner, greener, healthier place to live.
We have been using this model for the past 18 months and we have seen first-hand the incredible accomplishments achieved by local residents: free bike maintenance workshops, vibrant community gardens, planting of the neighbourhood’s biggest butterfly garden, designing and building the EcoShed and helping residents learn about environmental issues and ways to save money by reducing their energy costs.
Much has been accomplished by the over 100 volunteers who contributed over 2500 volunteer hours last year and there’s more to be done.
smartliving St. Lawrence is looking for area residents who are interested in joining one of several different working groups. Together with neighbours and other community stakeholders (e.g. City staff, environmentalists, teachers, parents, etc.) you will work on a specific project that will help promote a greener, healthier and more vibrant community.
Upcoming projects include:
- Renewable Energy Installations
- Anti-idling Education & Outreach
- Green Roof Promotions & Installations
- Communications Planning
- Sustainable Transportation
- Community Organic Gardening
If you are interested in being a part of a team and would like to join a working group, please email bmarans@eneract.org or call 416.488.3966. We are looking for people who are committed to improving the neighbourhood, providing 4-6 hours per month of volunteer time (e.g. attending planning sessions every other week) and who want to be a part of a pioneering program that will make a true difference on a local level.
And hey, it’s never too soon to start planning for next year’s volunteer recognition awards…
For more information about smartliving St. Lawrence, please send an email to ben@smartliving.ca or call 416.488.3966.
As well, be sure to check out www.smartliving.ca/stlawrence for our upcoming events and workshops!
