Sustainability

It’s not always just fun and festivals for the people of the Durham Region. Some things we take quite seriously. One of those things is sustainability.

Wikipedia defines sustainability in general terms…“Sustainability is the endurance of systems and processes. The organizing principle for sustainability is sustainable development, which includes the four interconnected domains: ecology, economics, politics and culture.”

Pickering did their best to bring together all four aspects of sustainability for the day, to encourage the community in fun and inspiring ways to get involved and do their part. The City itself contributes in many ways. You can find “Dogi Pots” provided by the city at many parks in the area. These stations provide biodegradable bags for you to use when stooping and scooping. They are then collected  and disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. On Friday, April 22, 2016, you and your school, community group or neighbourhood association can join forces and participate in the 12th Annual 20-Minute Pickering Makeover. The city will provide the supplies and you supply the elbow grease and at least 20 minutes of your time. You can find more ways to help out by visiting Sustainable Pickering.

Amy Dunslow, Regional Dairy Educator of the Durham Region, was on hand with Maple the cow to provide information and answer questions on how the Dairy Farmers of Ontario respond to consumer demands about food safety, animal care, environmental sustainability and more. The kids were treated to a yummy cup of chocolate milk and Maple let them have a hands-on experience with milking. The Dairy Farmers of Ontario also provide a free interactive program for the classroom providing some unique insight into the Dairy Industry. You can check that out here

The Pickering Public Library was there with some fun for the kids. They even had a 3D printer creating tools to engage the kids to learn about their involvement in bringing Atlantic Salmon back to Lake Ontario. The Central Library is even housing  a Salmon Hatchery.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               There were lots of other experts on hand to explain things. You could learn about all the plants native to the Durham Region, non-invasive plants for your garden and about Pollinators from Native Plants in Claremount.

Durham Master Gardeners offered insight and advice to home gardeners from certified horticultural experts, providing in depth sustainable gardening information. You would be shocked to learn how many different kinds of trees exist in Durham! Trees Ontario has a very good handle on all of them and on several tree planting subsidies available including “Durham Region 5 Million Tree Program“. The “Toronto and Region Conservation for The Living City” has a Stewardship program here in the Durham Region.

“TRCA Stewardship offers opportunities for people who want to get their hands dirty looking after the environment in their own communities. When you join us, you’ll connect with people like yourself who share an interest in taking action. From hands-on demonstrations and workshops, to tree plantings and community clean-ups, your efforts will have an immediate and positive impact on the environment.”

On day is not enough to learn everything that you can do to help make your community sustainable. If you really want to know what is available, please click on the links provided here and contribute to the Durham Region’s sustainability.