Organizing a community to take action at the household level is a powerful approach to environmental improvement. Our communities are the largest scale at which most of us feel personally connected and capable of direct meaningful participation. They are also the smallest scale at which it is possible to mobilize the resources needed for a major initiative. Our active programs address many dimensions of environmental concern and are designed to mobilize people at home at work, and in the community.
On September 24 at Sheppard's Bush in Aurora, in celebration of Canada's and Ontario's 150 birthday, Windfall Ecology Centre hosted the Windfall Harvest Festival... A Celebration of Diversity: Food, Land and People. The festival featured First Nations dance and drumming, pioneer life reenactments, celebrity chefs, food sampling, nature walks and many more kids and family activities.
As part of Doors Open Aurora, Windfall Centre hosted guided tours of the Sheppard House and grounds as well a Healthy Kids Nature Play Pop-Up and bike blender smoothie stand.
Healthy Kids in the collaboration with the Town of Aurora launched the Power Boost Menu pilot project. The menu provides fresh and healthy snack and beverage options to families at local Aurora recreation centres from August through to the end of October.
Healthy Kids helped Rick Hansen P.S. kick-off their school garden and celebrate Canada's 150th with some tree planting. Over 200 people came out ready to get their hands dirty and nourish the school garden.
On May 23rd, 2017, Windfall Ecology Centre depaved over 100 square metres of pavement from the schoolyard at Light of Christ CES with the help of students, teachers, parents and project partners! Following the depave event, an additional 350 square metres of pavement was removed with the help of heavy machinery, for a total of 450 square metres! The previously paved space was replaced with mulch, native trees, a large native plant garden, and outdoor classroom components.
On Saturday, April 29th, Windfall Centre and Healthy Kids took part in Aurora's Eco Festival at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex. Families took away inspiration for how to save energy, harness rain water and some great prizes. Healthy Kids gave away 300 pieces of fruit to eager and happy kids and families.
Food For Learning Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast Healthy Kids as part of the Food for Learning committee, helped celebrate and give thanks to over 100 student nutrition program volunteers across York Region.
Healthy Kids Community Challange along with the Lester B. Pearson Healthy School Committee hosted the school's first Family Fitness Night. Over one hundred students, siblings, and parents came out to try out Taekwondo, Zumba and Yoga! Families also learned about the benefits of drinking water, and took in information on how to stay healthy together.
New funding is available to subsidize the cost of energy efficiency projects. This ClimateWise event helped business owners and financial managers understand the business case for energy efficiency and sustainability, and learn how to fund their projects.
Healthy Kids and Windfall hosted a Sugarbush Maple Syrup Nature Play Pop Up to cap off the end of March Break. Over 180 kids and parents came through our adventure playground for unstructured active play and to try some tasty and sticky maple syrup taffy treats.
ClimateWise was invited to speak at a CME (Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters) Smart Fund information session to talk about sustainability in York Region. CME represents more than 10,000 leading companies nationwide, and — through various initiatives, including the establishment of the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition — touches more than 100,000 companies from coast to coast, engaged in manufacturing, international trade, and service-related industries. More than 85 percent of CME members are small and medium-sized enterprises.
Windfall formally announced a new festival, which will take place September 24, upon receiving a significant boost from the Newmarket-Aurora MPP Chris Ballard and the Ontario Government through the Community Celebrations Program to mark the 150th anniversary of Canada and the Province of Ontario. The new Harvest Festival will Celebrate Diversity: Food, Land and People.
Healthy Kids Community Challenge and Windfall ran a Nature Play pop adventure playground at the Town of Aurora's Arctic Adventure Family Day event at the Town Park. Families and kids had the chance to learn about and try out unstructured creative play with loose parts.
