HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLN 15-19DICKERING
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Report to
Executive Committee
Report Number: PLN 15-19
Date: June 17, 2019
From: Kyle Bentley
Director, City Development & CBO
Subject: Sustainable Pickering Year -in -Review
File: D-7300
Recommendation:
1. That Report PLN 15-19 be received for information.
Executive Summary: A Sustainable Pickering Year -in -Review has been created to provide a
high level, reader -friendly summary to highlight awards, events, programs and projects. The
document promotes the City of Pickering and our partners' effort and serves to inspire others to
connect with us and get involved. Going forward, the Year -in -Review will be released annually in
the first quarter. The Year -in -Review will be posted online and promoted through social media.
Financial Implications: Not applicable.
1. Discussion
The City of Pickering's award winning sustainability efforts span many areas of interest from
energy, pollinators, waste, local food, sustainable development, community engagement,
and more. City staff have developed a comprehensive set of tools to communicate these
efforts including the website, social media, eNewsletters, events, Measuring Sustainability
Report, Pickering 101, and presentations to external groups. In an era when our community
members are busier than ever, it is important to utilize a variety of outreach opportunities.
The Sustainable Pickering Year -in -Review provides a reader -friendly synopsis of activities
and metrics where applicable.
Attachment
1. 2018 Sustainable Pickering Year -in -Review
PLN 15-19
June 17, 2019
Subject: Sustainable Pickering Year -in -Review Page 2
Prepared By:
Chantal Whitaker, BESc (Hons), CSR -P
Supervisor, Sustainability
CW:Id
Approved/Endorsed By:
Kyle Bentley, P. Eng.
Director, City Development & CBO
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering City Council
6/1) Z.0/7
Tony Prevedel, P.Eng.
Chief Administrative Officer
CORP0227-07/01 revised
2018
Sustainable Pickering
Year -in -Review
Sustainable
PICKERING�1.,
pickering.ca/sustainable
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Table of Contents
A Message from our CAO 1
Awards and Accolades 2
Enhancing the natural environment 3
Helping our pollinators 4
Engaging with our community 5
Reducing our waste 7
Becoming more energy efficient 8
Looking towards the future 9
Year -in -Review
A Message from our CAO
Page 1 1
am proud to present the City's first Sustainable Pickering,
Year -in -Review for 2018. This opportunity allows us to
showcase key sustainability highlights and accomplishments
from 2018.
Ensuring the long-term social, environmental, economic and
cultural health of the City remains a corporate priority, and
over time, our sustainability program has evolved to meet the
growing needs of our organization and community.
am proud to say that we are a recognized leader of many
award-winning initiatives, and invite you to reflect on our
collective achievements, and be inspired on how together,
we are forging a path toward a more sustainable future.
Tony Prevedel
Chief Administrative Officer
Year -in -RI
Awards and Accolades
Page 1 2
Smart Commute Gold Designation
The City was awarded the Metrolinx Smart
Commute Gold Workplace Designation for our
efforts in promoting and supporting sustainable
travel options for staff, such as carpooling and
biking to work.
Smart Commute Gold Designation Award
Ea)Business Network Leadership Award
The City received the Leadership Award from
Ecobusiness Network for its dedication to
environmental leadership and overall impact
reduction within community. The City
demonstrated leadership in sustainability
through various initiatives such as coordinating
the Pickering Farmers' Market, undertaking
natural environment enhancements and other
projects.
Leadership Award from Ecobusiness Network
Named World's Smart2l
Communities of 2017 and 2018
Pickering was named a Smart2l Community for
2017 and 2018 by the Intelligent Community
Forum. These awards recognized Pickering's
commitment to creating a more connected,
engaged, inclusive, and sustainable City.
Pickering City Hall
Lighting - Largest Savings Award
The City proudly accepted the 'Lighting -
Largest Savings Award' from Powering Up
Durham. This award recognized a number of
our sustainable initiatives including the
conversion of over 7,000 streetlights to LED, as
well as City facility lighting retrofits.
Largest Savings Award from Powering Up Durham
Year -in -Review
Enhancing the natural environment Page I3
Take Pride in Pickering Tree Planting
The City of Pickering, in partnership with Ontario
Power Generation, Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority, and Environmental
Stewardship Pickering hosted two tree -planting
events in Duffin Heights and the Waterfront
Trail. 100 attendees joined together to plant 600
trees and pick up litter. Educational and
interactive displays taught residents about the
importance of conservation, biodiversity and
keeping the community clean.
Planting trees in Duffin Heights
Picking up litter in Duffin Heights
20 -Minute Pickering Makeover
Over 2,500 people participated in the
14th annual 20 -Minute Pickering Makeover to
help beautify the community. Thank you to the
many community groups, schools, businesses
and residents that picked up litter from City
streets and parks.
Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Release
The City of Pickering, in partnership with the
Pickering Public Library, Ontario Federation of
Anglers and Hunters and Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources, supported a salmon
hatchery at the Central Library. Students and
library patrons were able to observe and learn
about the Atlantic salmon and the importance
of biodiversity. The hatchery resulted in the
release of 97 Atlantic salmon into Duffins
Creek.
Atlantic salmon hatchery at Pickering
Public Library
Year -in -Review
Releasing Atlantic salmon into
Duffins Creek by the Claremont Nature
Centre
Helping our pollinators
Page I 4
Mayors' Monarch Pledge
As part of the Mayors' Monarch pledge, the City
provided garden training workshops to teach
people how to maintain healthy pollinator
gardens that are designated as Monarch
Waystations. A Monarch exhibit was featured at
both City Hall and the Pickering Museum Village.
The City also helped prepare a butterfly -shaped
garden in Claremont, which is now designated as
a Monarch Waystation through the International
Monarch Waystation Registry.
Pollinator garden training session at Rick Hull Memorial Park
Designated Monarch Waystation at Pickering Museum
Village
Whitevale Garden Project
The City assisted the Whitevale Arts and
Culture Centre with expanding a pollinator
garden at their Centre using funds from the
City of Pickering's Community Grant Program
and the Retired Teachers Association Fund.
City staff were able to assist with construction
of the site, selection of plant material, a
landscape plan, and planting. The garden is
now designated as an official Monarch
Waystation.
Local Partnership to Enhance
Pollinator Habitat
Canada Bread Company Limited funded and
planted 300 pollinator -friendly plants in Ernie
L. Stroud Park through its Good Neighbour
program, to help naturalize a previously
mowed area and help local pollinator species.
Dunbarton High school students helped plant
the garden.
Canada Bread Company Limited funds pollinator -friendly
planting
Year -in -Review
Engaging with our community
Page 1 5
Sustainable Pickering Day
The 13th annual Sustainable Pickering Day, in
partnership with the Pickering Town Centre,
brought the community together to raise
awareness about sustainability in Pickering. The
event focused on local food, natural environment,
and gardening. Over 400 visitors shopped the
indoor Farmers' Market, and spoke with experts
on gardening, trees and energy. They also had
the opportunity to recycle unwanted garments
and e -waste.
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority's interactive
booth at Sustainable Pickering Day
Attendees speaking to City's energy expert at Sustainable
Pickering Day
Environment Day
The City of Pickering, in partnership with Ontario
Power Generation and Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority, celebrated Environment
Day at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School. Over
100 students and parents enjoyed an
educational, fun -filled day with nature -related
crafts, an interactive display from Parks Canada,
and the viewing of the award winning film,
`Backyard Wilderness' to end the night.
Pickering Farmers' Market
The Pickering Farmers' Market provided an
opportunity for residents to purchase fresh
produce, baked goods, meats, and handcrafted
jewelry from local farmers and businesses. The
market helped support the local community,
while encouraging healthy and environmentally
friendly foods and goods. Residents enjoyed
weekly live entertainment and themed event
days such as Healthy Living, 55+, and Energy
Awareness, and Mutts at the Market.
Residents buying fresh produce at Pickering Farmers' Market
Year -in -Review
Engaging with our community
Page 1 6
Enhancement project through Celebrating
Sustainable Neighbourhoods program
The Celebrating Sustainable Neighbourhoods
program is about connecting with members of
the community to spark a positive change -
environmentally, socially or economically.
In 2018, SoRo Good Neighbours won the $10,000
community enhancement prize and revitalized
Rick Hull Memorial Park through interpretive
signs, tables, pollinator plantings and trees.
Dunbarton High School won the $3,500 runner-
up prize and enhanced Alex Robertson Park and
Ernie L. Stroud Park with interpretive signs about
Shinrin-Yoku and invasive species.
The City was proud to have the Hon. Elizabeth
Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
take part in celebrating the outstanding
contributions of its community members.
Shinrin-Yoku interpretive sign at Alex Robertson Park
Pickering Blooms Garden Celebration
As part of the City of Pickering Blooms
program, Pickering residents were invited to
celebrate the art of gardening and a season of
beautiful gardens in Pickering. Attendees were
able to learn helpful tips on how to maintain a
healthy garden.
Pickering WI
The Pickering 101 program provided an
opportunity to present the City's sustainability
efforts to participants, highlight opportunities
to get involved, and help build a culture of
community engagement. The program
educated residents on how municipal
government works and gave them an
opportunity to build relationships with City
staff.
Pollinator garden, interpretive sign and reclaimed
ash tree bench at Rick Hull Memorial Park
Accessible tables with shade cover at Rick Hull Memorial park
Year -in -Review
Reducing our waste
Dog Waste Diversion Program
As of 2018, the Dog Waste Diversion Program
was available in 16 parks across Pickering. A total
of 5.2 tonnes of dog waste was collected and
delivered to a facility that converted it into
electricity, heat, and nutrient dense fertilizer.
Dog waste diversion station in Millennium Square
Household Hazardous Waste and
Electronic Waste Collection
During the 2018 collection event, in partnership
with the Region of Durham, Pickering residents
dropped off 10.49 tonnes of electronic and
hazardous waste, free of charge. Residents were
also able to drop off non-perishable food items
for the local food bank.
Page 1 7
Compost Giveaway
In partnership with the Region of Durham,
Pickering hosted its annual compost giveaway.
At this popular event, 1,100 residents were able
to pick-up free compost made from the
organics collected through Durham's curbside
green bin and yard waste programs.
Battery Recycling Program
This program allows residents to drop off their
batteries at the Pickering Recreation Complex,
Pickering Central Library, George Ashe and
East Shore Community Centres. The batteries
are stored and then picked up to be responsibly
recycled.
Batteries collected at Pickering Recreation Complex
Milk Bag recycling program
Pickering's staff -driven Milk Bag program
collects clean milk bags from Pickering staff for
delivery to local community groups that collect,
weave, and send completed bed mats to
poverty-stricken areas throughout the world.
Year -in -Review
Becoming more energy efficient
Page 1 8
Street Light Conversion to LED
The City of Pickering converted over 7,000
streetlights to Light Emitting Diode (LED)
lighting, through its light conversion project.
The new street lights consume less energy, have
a longer lifetime, and offer increased safety. A
$642,282.35 cheque was presented to the City
from Veridian as part of the Save on Energy
Rebate program. The City will also save
$690,000 per year in combined electricity and
maintenance costs.
LED streetlights initiative
Encouraging Residential Participation
The City's energy conservation initiatives align
with its' Corporate Energy Management Plan.
Actions have resulted in financial savings, as
well as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
However, upon learning of the limited
residential participation in the utilities' energy
and money saving programs, the City partnered
to develop and implement a comprehensive
promotional strategy to increase awareness to
households, including low-income.
Energy Retrofit Projects
As part of Pickering's commitment to energy
efficiency, LED lighting retrofits were completed
in three Pickering facilities: Pickering Recreation
Complex, Pickering City Hall, and the Eastshore
Community Centre. The Pickering Recreation
Complex also added building automation systems
and upgraded their boilers to help save energy.
New Electric Vehicles & Charging
Stations
The City added two electric vehicles to our fleet
as well as four electric vehicle charging stations.
Benefits of the new electric vehicles include
improved air quality, cost savings, low
maintenance, and reduced greenhouse gas
emissions.
Electric vehicle charging stations
City of Pickering electric vehicle at charging station
Yea r -in -Review
Looking towards the future
Measuring progress towards sustainability
The Measuring Sustainability Report updated
statistics on key indicators of sustainability in the
City. A total of 52 indicators were grouped into
five categories of Healthy Environment, Healthy
Economy, Healthy Society, Responsible
Development, and Responsible Consumption.
These measurements help drive future progress
in meeting our evolving sustainability objectives.
Durham Community
Climate Adaptation Plan
Pickering joined in the development of the
Durham Community Climate Adaptation Plan to
help Durham Region identify the impacts of
climate change and how these changes relate to
the vulnerability of specific areas in the region.
The Region of Durham, local municipalities, and
other organizations are now participating in
program implementation.
2017
Measuring Sustainability Report
Reporting on key indicators of
sustainability in Pickering
Measuring Sustainability Report
Page 1 9
Durham Community Energy Plan
Pickering participated in the development of a
Durham Community Energy plan. The plan
strives to improve energy efficiency, reduce
energy use and greenhouse gas emissions,
while encouraging green energy solutions at
the local level. This will establish groundwork
for future growth and development, energy
generation, delivery and use. The plan is
expected to be complete in late 2019.
In 2019, the City of Pickering will continue its longstanding commitment to create a
more sustainable community. Join us on the journey to become one of the most
sustainable cities in Canada. There are many fun and inspiring ways to make Pickering
a better place environmentally, socially and economically. To learn how you can get
involved visit: pickering.ca/sustainable
Year -in -Review
We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. Please contact the City's Sustainability staff at
sustainability@pickering.ca.
Alternate formats available upon request at 905.683.7575 or customercare@pickering.ca.
Year -in -Review