Caledon Environmental Progress Action Plan Update

Transcription

1 Caledon Environmental Progress Action Plan Update

2 MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR Caledon s natural beauty is comprised of the Niagara Escarpment, Peel Plains, Oak Ridges Moraine and a number of headwaters of major river systems, including the Credit and Humber Rivers. The Town takes a progressive approach to environmental leadership, working to preserve its lush surroundings through forward-thinking initiatives. Decisions, actions and commitment from both the Town and its citizens play a key role in creating a community that not only desires a sustainable environment, but embraces and champions green. As we present this Environmental Progress Action Plan update, we reflect upon where we ve been, look ahead to where we re going and continue to drive toward what we will achieve. The intention of this Plan is to be a catalyst for change. It is an evolving document based on partnership building, innovation and support. We continue to build upon our achievements to develop challenging new actions that enhance and protect our natural environment as we strive for environmental excellence in the Town of Caledon. 2

3 CALEDON ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE The Plan Update Process Review of Town Plan and Policies: Town staff felt it was important to determine how and where all Town policies and plans fit together. Specifically, this exercise determined how Energy and Environmental plans and strategic initiatives are embedded into Town policies and procedures. Best Practice Scan: To remain a municipal green leader, the Town wanted to challenge itself against other municipal environmental best practices. By understanding the successes and challenges experienced by other jurisdictions in implementing similar environmental strategies, it helped authenticate the Town s originally proposed energy and environmental actions. Internal Consultation: Three staff engagement sessions were held which were attended by over 80 staff. These sessions included discussions about what else the Town and individuals could do to lower the impact on the environment. External Consultation: Staff held a community external consultation session attended by over 40 individuals and group representatives. The session began with photo based Pecha Kucha style presentations to engage and inspire conversation, followed by world café conversations. All Our Ideas: As a final stage to the engagement process, All Our Ideas -- an open sourced platform developed by Princeton University -- was used to allow staff and community members to rank between two randomly selected actions, as well as suggest new actions/initiatives to be considered for the final Action Plan. Almost 1,400 votes on over 60 actions were collected and considered in finalizing the plan. 3

4 The Environmental Plan Update provides recommendations in the following key action areas. Air Quality ENHANCE local air quality and MINIMIZE harmful air pollutants Page 6 Climate Change MITIGATE the contributors of Climate Change and be PROACTIVE in adaptation Page 8 Energy REDUCE energy consumption at Town facilities and PROMOTE efficient energy management to the public Page 10 Sustainable Planning PLAN for sustainable communities and businesses that ENHANCE the natural environment Page 12 Greening Town Hall COMMITMENT to environmental leadership and WALKING the TALK Page 14 Community Capacity SUPPORT community groups and individuals to FOSTER sustainable behaviour Page 16 Food and Agriculture PROMOTE a local food and agriculture SYSTEM Page 18 Sustainable Transportation ENCOURAGE alternative transportation systems and framework Page 20 4

5 CALEDON ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE Using and Implementing the Plans: Now What? The Environmental Plan Update acts as a guiding document for implementing environmental actions. Containing 30 + actions within eight priority areas, progress on these actions will be continually tracked. With a strong focus on staff and public education and awareness, the Plan presents a call to action. A Note on Accountability and Transparency Climate Change Air Quality Transportation Energy The Town s Energy and Environment Section is responsible for developing, implementing and ensuring performance in collaboration with Town Staff. Two staff groups, the Staff Environment Committee and a Corporate Energy Management Team, have been established to assist. To demonstrate implementation and performance tracking, the Town has committed to biannual reporting. If you require any additional information on the Plan, please visit or Energy and Environment Staff at environment@caledon.ca Greening Town Hall Community Capacity Food and Agriculture Sustainable Planning 5

6 Greening Town Hall COMMITMENT to environmental leadership and WALKING the TALK WHY IT S IMPORTANT The Town continually strives to get its own house in order to lower its environmental impact and to inspire others to do the same. These initiatives include tangible actions, such as introducing a three-stream waste diversion program in the Town café. Other actions focus on greening internal Town processes and practices. WHAT WE VE DONE Staff Carpooling: The Town became a member of Smart Commute Brampton Caledon in Since that time, staff have embraced carpooling as a commuting option. As a result, three priority parking spots were created and 234, 021 vehicle kms were avoided, resulting in a reduction of 50.8 tonnes of GHG emissions. Paper Use and Reduction: Since 2008, the Town has used Canadian made paper with Forest Stewardship Council and Eco Logo certification. Also, most printers are preprogrammed for double sided printing and Council agendas and minutes are primarily available on-line. Drinking Water: The Town banned the sale of plastic water bottles at Town Hall and installed water coolers that rely on municipal tap water. This is equivalent to diverting 1,000 water cooler jugs from the landfill annually. Caledon Day, Caledon s largest community event, also encourages tap water through the ban of bottled water at vendor booths and by providing filtered tap water. 6

7 CALEDON ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE Greening Town Hall WHAT S NEXT Actions Implementation Approach Priority Level/time line Anticipated Outcomes Environmental stewardship part of goal setting and employee performance review system Embed environmental stewardship into employee goal setting and goal setting and performance review system. Work with Human Resources to determine requirements. High priority (July 2014 July 2015) Behaviour change Improved staff environmental awareness Accountability Corporate responsibility Demonstrated leadership in environmental stewardship Waste reduction program Expand waste diversion programs at Town Hall to other facilities. Initiate a pilot at a large recreation facility. Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Reduced waste generation Demonstrated leadership in waste reduction Staff and community awareness and engagement Bottle water ban Ban bottled water in all Town facilities. Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Reduced waste generation Demonstrated leadership in waste reduction Staff awareness and engagement Greening Town events checklist Develop a green checklist for Town staff to complete when organizing an event within Town facilities. High priority (July 2014 July 2015) Demonstrated leadership in environmental stewardship Corporate responsibility Staff and community awareness Green implications section on Council Reports Include a green implications section on Council Reports. High priority (July 2014 July 2015) Demonstrated leadership in environmental stewardship Corporate responsibility Staff and community awareness Town Hall staff garden Establish a working group of interested staff to build a staff garden at Town Hall. Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Staff engagement Staff appreciation Improved work environment Paperless forms and pay-stubs Transition away from paper forms to electronic formats. (e.g. pay-stubs, agendas, procurement forms, records, etc.). High priority (July 2014 July 2015) Reduced paper waste Reduced cost Increased efficiency in staff time to process forms 7

8 Air Quality: IMPROVE local air quality and MINIMIZE harmful air pollutants WHY IT S IMPORTANT Although the 2011 Ontario Ministry of Environment Report indicates that air quality has improved significantly over the past 10 years, certain pollutants like ozone continue to be a problem. Concern about the quality of air has been a long standing issue in Peel Region. According to the 2008 Region of Peel s Discussion Paper on Air Quality, there are numerous air quality related health impacts and the elderly and young children are at greatest risk. There are also economic impacts from increased health care costs and general environmental impacts including soil and water quality, vegetation and impacts. The Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change operates a provincial monitoring system with two air monitors in Peel Region; both of which are in Mississauga and Brampton. This monitoring system is designed to monitor air quality over a large region and to identify trends in air quality. Consequently, a detailed community-wide picture of air quality in the Town of Caledon is lacking and the drivers of poor air quality locally are not well understood. As a result, in 2012 Peel Region implemented a Peel wide air quality modeling program. This will provide data to help understand and address sources of poor air quality and assist in the assessment of planning and transportation issues. The Region s Program will help Caledon better understand its air quality, which is critical given the Town s population growth projections and high traffic volumes due to the nature of Caledon being a commuting route. 8 WHAT WE VE DONE Air Quality Survey: The Ministry of Environment conducted a regional airshed characterization survey in the summer of 2006 to determine if a provincial Air Quality Station was warranted and to collect data on fine particulate matter. Smog and Idling: The Town communicated the importance of turning off vehicles through distributing anti-idling signs at Town Facilities, and local schools. More recently (2014), Town Council passed an Idling Control By-law. Transportation: Caledon s Trails Master Plan was expanded to include cycling routes and active transportation. The Town enjoys over 354 km of active transportation routes. The Town also participated in the Region of Peel s Active Transportation Plan; a 20 year plan that highlights the infrastructure, policies, programs and networks to increase active transportation participation and infrastructure throughout the Region. Tree Seedling Program: Since 2003, the Town of Caledon and its residents have committed to a tree seedling program to reduce air emissions and promote local native tree diversity by offering 18 different tree species for landowners. In 2014, the Town provided up to 10 free replacement tree seedlings to Caledon property owners who were affected by the December 2013 ice storm.

9 CALEDON ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE Air Quality: WHAT S NEXT Actions Implementation Approach Priority Level/time line Anticipated Outcomes Fleet vehicle purchasing policy Develop a green fleet policy for replacing / purchasing new fleet vehicles and for the consideration of hybrid, electric, or alternative fuelled vehicles. Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Reduced emissions and improved air quality Improved carbon footprint Demonstrated leadership in reducing GHG emissions Green fleet driver training As part of the current green fleet initiatives, implement a driver-training program for all staff that drive Town vehicles (e.g. York Region s fleet fuel challenge, Shuttle Challenge). Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Reduced waste generation Demonstrated leadership in waste reduction Staff and community awareness and engagement Air quality monitoring Support the Region of Peel s air modelling and monitoring program. Ongoing More accurate understanding of local air quality Baseline understanding of air quality in the Region of Peel Tree planting strategy Work with applicable agencies (e.g. Region of Peel and Credit Valley Conservation) to increase the tree canopy in Caledon. High priority (July 2014 July 2015) Improved Town aesthetics Better air quality Increased tree canopy and variety of trees 9

10 Climate Change: REDUCE climate change CONTRIBUTORS and be PROACTIVE in adaptation. WHY IT S IMPORTANT Climate change is defined as the change in the average or normal weather conditions (i.e., changes in precipitation patterns, increase in extreme weather events, heat waves, droughts, etc.) for a particular area over time. In 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the leading international body for the assessment of climate change established by the United Nations, stated that the warming of the climate system is unequivocal and Human influence on the climate system is clear [which is] evident from the increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere This means more frequent severe weather events such as the 2013 Toronto and area ice storm, the 2013 Calgary floods and the July 8th, 2013 flooding event in the GTA. Since municipalities are said to have direct or indirect influence on 44% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada (according to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities), municipalities must be proactive in responding to the local impacts and threats of climate change. WHAT WE VE DONE Partners for Climate Protection Program: The Town has been a longtime supporter of taking action on climate change as a Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) member for close to 10 years. Caledon is joined by more than 204 municipalities across Canada who have committed to climate change action through the completion of a five milestone framework. Joining in 2003, the Town has since fulfilled milestones one through three -- conducting an extensive inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, setting short and long term goals for GHG reduction, and producing the Community Climate Change Plan. Peel Climate Change Strategy: The Town was an active and integral partner in the development of the Peel Climate Change Strategy. The unique partnership is comprised of the Region of Peel in collaboration with area municipalities (Caledon, Brampton and Mississauga) and two Conservation Authorities (Toronto Region Conservation and Credit Valley Conservation). The Strategy consists of multiple mitigation (actions to reduce the magnitude of climate change effects) and adaption (actions to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to climate change impacts) actions. Caledon Community Climate Change Plan: This progressive and wide reaching Plan was created through the leadership of a Community Working Group. This Group comprised more than 15 internal and external stakeholders and was key in developing a series of proposed greenhouse gas reduction actions. These actions are categorized in the following areas: transportation; green development; energy; schools; agriculture; community awareness; tree planting and naturalization; waste and local food. This Plan received a 2011 Credit Valley Conservation Award of Distinction and was a finalist for the Ontario Power Authority Community Conservation Award. 10

11 CALEDON ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE Climate Change: WHAT S NEXT Actions Implementation Approach Priority Level/time line Anticipated Outcomes Milestones for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program Address and complete remaining PCP milestone commitments for both the Community and Corporate sectors. Ongoing Demonstrated leadership in climate change protection Public and corporate commitment to reducing GHG emissions Utilizing a recognized method to measure success Caledon Community Climate Change Action Plan Ensure actions from the Climate Change Plan are implemented and progress is tracked in line with the PCP program and Peel Climate Change Strategy. Ongoing Accountability Alignment of Town goals and actions Reduction in GHG emissions Engagement of all sectors within Caledon Demonstrated leadership in climate change Peel Climate Change Strategy Town staff to work with Region of Peel and partners on implementation of the Peel Climate Change Strategy. Consider development of a Town climate change adaptation plan or an infrastructure vulnerability assessment. Ongoing Demonstrated leadership in climate change Reduction in GHG emissions Improved carbon footprint 11

12 Energy: REDUCE energy consumption at Town facilities and PROMOTE energy to the public. WHY IT S IMPORTANT According to the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, buildings are the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in Canada. At the provincial level, the Ministry of Energy established a 6 year Conservation First framework starting January The framework forecasts an ambitious energy conservation target equivalent to taking more than 440, 000 homes off the grid by 2020 to stay on track with Ontario s Long Term Energy Plan. The Province has also introduced public agency energy reporting requirements through the Green Energy Act, 2009 Ontario Regulation 397/11. The Town has complied with this legislation through the 2014 Corporate Energy Management Plan update. WHAT WE VE DONE Updated Corporate Energy Management Plan: In conjunction with the Town s updated Environmental Progress Action Plan, an updated Corporate Energy Management Plan has been developed to comply with the Green Energy Act 2009 Ontario Regulation 397/ Corporate Green Building Standard: The Town mandated a Corporate Green Building Standard, requiring all new facilities over 10, 000 sq ft to be built to LEED Silver. The newly built OPP Facility in Caledon East recently received LEED Gold certification. LED Street Lighting Standard: The Town mandated that all new developments or streetlight replacements must be replaced with LEDs. The Town is also considering LED streetlight retrofit options. Green Energy: The Town has a history of purchasing green electricity. Currently, the Town purchases 238MW of green electricity for the new LEED Gold OPP facility. Three Solar Projects: The Town owns three solar projects through the Province s micro-fit program which help fund a corporate energy reserve fund. Energy Efficiency Grants: The Bolton Community Improvement Plan offers grant opportunities to support energy efficient retrofits.

13 CALEDON ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE Energy: WHAT S NEXT Actions Implementation Approach Priority Level/time line Anticipated Outcomes Community energy plan (CEP) Investigate funding and grant options for the development of an integrated Community Energy Plan (e.g. the Municipal Energy Plan funding) Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Increased energy reliability Improved energy security and cost control Leadership in community energy management Understanding of community energy footprint Tool for improved community development and planning Alignment of Town goals with OR Compliance with Green Energy Act, 2009 Ontario Regulation 397/11 Corporate energy management plan (CEMP) Ensure actions from the CEMP are implemented and progress is tracked annually. High priority (July 2014 July 2015) Accountability Reduced energy consumption Alignment of Town goals and actions Alignment of Town goals with OR compliance with Green Energy Act, 2009 Ontario Regulation 397/11 LED streetlight retrofit Establish a streetlight baseline inventory, and retrofit and replace existing Cobra style streetlights with LEDs as appropriate. Ongoing Better understanding of streetlights and cost savings Energy savings (kwh) Cost savings (energy and maintenance) 13

14 Sustainable Planning: PLAN for sustainable communities that ENHANCE the natural environment WHY IT S IMPORTANT Planning sustainable communities can be crucial in controlling and reducing energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. For example, by planning walkable communities, with a variety of transportation choices (i.e. public transit, active transportation) it may contribute to reducing emissions from transportation, one of the highest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Caledon. WHAT WE VE DONE Enhanced the Town and Region s Official Plan: In 2010, the Town ingrained sustainability principles into the Official Plan. Some features of this include green development patterns and sustainable community design, energy and water conservation, alternative and renewable energy generation, adaptive environmental management and sustainability indicators. Mayfield West Phase II Sustainability principles: Council adopted sustainability principles for the Mayfield West Development to influence the planning process. There has been strong emphasis to ensure that this community promotes active transportation, accessibility, integrated design process, and maximizes conservation and innovation (i.e. water, waste and energy). A Guide to Eco-Business Zone Planning and Development: This Guide was developed in early 2014 to provide staff guidance on the planning, design, and subsequent development of eco-business zones throughout the Town of Caledon. Eco Business Zones are areas of employment or industrial activities that promote environmental quality, economic vitality and social benefits. Characteristics of an Eco Business Zone include rain water management, sharing resources (i.e. loading docks, or office supply orders from companies), choice in transit, shared/multi-use office spaces, building design (i.e. environmentally friendly and energy efficient), etc. 14

15 CALEDON ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE Sustainable Planning: WHAT S NEXT Actions Implementation Approach Priority Level/time line Anticipated Outcomes Community design standards Implement the sustainable residential planning policies that were created for Mayfield West Phase 2. Low priority (July 2017 July 2019) Greener communities Demonstrated leadership in sustainable community development Sustainability checklist for reviewing planning applications Finalize and implement a sustainability checklist for reviewing planning applications. Consider City of Brampton, Town of Richmond Hill, and City of Vaughan collaborative work on sustainability performance metrics. Medium (July 2015 July 2017) Improved land use and community planning Greener developments Improved accountability of developers District energy Investigate opportunities for district energy in new community developments. Low priority (July 2017 July 2019) Reduced energy consumption Integrated design Demonstrated leadership in alternative energy sources Low impact development Develop guidelines that require low-impact development features for all existing and new Town projects to manage storm-water as close to its source as possible (see City of Mississauga and Toronto and Region Conservation and Credit Valley Conservation low impact development guidelines). Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Improved water quality Improved groundwater recharge Restored aquatic habitat Reduced number of flood events Reduced inflow and infiltration into sanitary sewers Septic inspection program Develop a septic system re-inspection program to ensure watershed and groundwater protection. Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Improved watershed and groundwater quality Reduced run-off and contamination 15

16 Community Capacity: SUPPORT community groups and individuals that FOSTER sustainable behaviour WHY IT S IMPORTANT The way people live, work and play all have significant impacts on the natural environment. In Caledon, the community has and continues to play a Region of Peel - Let your green show program significant role in its greening efforts. Therefore, it is important for the Town to continually find effective ways to empower residents, local businesses and educators to embrace a culture of sustainability and conservation. Community engagement, interaction and education are the building blocks, followed by developing meaningful partnerships and collaboration. Although the Town has initially focused its greening efforts in the past five years to leading by example, the Town has recognized the need for strengthening community capacity. This has been achieved by the following actions. WHAT WE VE DONE Green Funds: The Town established two annual funding programs to support community greening initiatives the School Green Fund, and the Community Green Fund. The Community Green Fund, created in 2006, has distributed more than $143,000 dollars that supported 32 community projects. The School Green Fund is fairly new and has provided grants in 2012 and 2013 for various school greening projects. Caledon Environmental Advisory Committee: Caledon has had an Environmental Advisory Committee for over 15 years. The Committee is a group of citizens that advise and assist the Council and the citizens of the Town of Caledon in the protection, enhancement, restoration, management and appreciation of our common natural heritage and to ensure that our communities are planned for environmental sustainability, health and respect for all life. Earth Hour Initiatives: The Town has a history of engaging the community with Earth Hour events. In 2013 and 2014, the Town coordinated free movie screenings of popular green movies that help educate the public about environmental issues while having a call to action. Community Climate Change Action Plan: The Town established a Community Working Group comprised of 16 varied stakeholders to draft an action plan. The Town also held various community engagement meetings and collected surveys to gain input on the plan. 16

17 CALEDON ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE Community Capacity: WHAT S NEXT Actions Implementation Approach Priority Level/time line Anticipated Outcomes Biannual reporting Develop a biannual report on the Town of Caledon s Energy and Environment progress. High priority (July 2014 July 2015) Information sharing Education of staff and public Improved communication about energy and the environment Community Green Fund Incorporate annual green themes into the Community Green Fund to align with the Town s work plans and goals. High priority (July 2014 July 2015) Aligned community and Town goals Community engagement Increased number of green initiatives within the community Community environmental stewardship committee Establish a community environmental stewardship committee that plays a role in assisting in developing work plans and projects. Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Aligned community and Town goals Community engagement Fostering partnerships between the Town and the community Sustainable neighbourhood competition Develop a sustainable neighbourhood competition (i.e. City of Pickering), or a Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan with Toronto Region Conservation Authority. Low priority (July 2017 July 2019) Community engagement Increased number of green initiatives within the community Community awareness and behaviour change 17

18 Sustainable Transportation: ENCOURAGE alternative transportation systems and framework WHY IT S IMPORTANT The Town of Caledon, a true community of communities, is spread over 700 square kilometres- the largest geographic area in Peel Region. This, coupled with an extensive rural presence, a lack of public transportation and its nature as a commuter community makes it challenging for encouraging sustainable transportation options. Given that transportation has been identified as the largest greenhouse gas emissions contributor, it is important to provide the ingredients for a more sustainable, reliant transportation system through public outreach and education. Sustainable transportation infrastructure is also critical, such as cycling lanes, trails and more innovative technologies that support low emission transportation, like electric vehicle charging stations. WHAT WE VE DONE Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: The Town recently installed two electric vehicle charging stations in downtown Bolton, as part of a road and parking lot reconstruction project. The Town s Corporate Green Building Standard also states that new facilities 10, 000 square feet and larger must have electric vehicle plug in stations. Trails and Cycling: The Town recognizes the importance of its extensive trail network and cycling options as a means of active living and as a mode of transportation. Boasting over 260 kilometres of publicly accessible trails, the Town updated its Trails Master Plan to further demonstrate the Town s ongoing commitment to addressing the needs of residents and trail partners in establishing and maintaining a well-connected, safe and environmentally sound trail network. A few recent trail and cycling initiatives include: increased bike parking spaces at Recreation Facilities; approval for a multi-use trail plan linking the community of Bolton to the Albion Hills Conservation Area; ongoing construction of the Airport Road Caledon Trail crossing to improve safety for users crossing regional roads, and offering a Bike Valet Service at the 2014 Caledon Day and Bolton s Midnight Madness. Transportation Demand Management: Town staff have and will continue to work closely with the Region of Peel to implement their new Five-Year Transportation Demand Management Plan. This Plan intends to help reduce the number of vehicles on the road and encourage the use of active transportation (biking and walking) and transit use where applicable. Determining ways to successfully promote sustainable transportation within residential neighbourhoods is an important component of the Plan. 18

19 CALEDON ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE Sustainable Transportation: WHAT S NEXT Actions Implementation Approach Priority Level/time line Anticipated Outcomes Offsite work arrangement Implement the off-site work arrangement pilot program currently ongoing with Smart Commute Brampton Caledon. Make HR policy recommendation based on pilot. Ongoing Increased staff productivity Reduction in GHG emissions Electric vehicle plug-ins Investigate further opportunities for electric vehicle plug-in stations based on pilot stations in downtown Bolton. Low priority (July 2017 July 2019) Reduction in GHG emissions Demonstrated leadership in green fleet technologies Smart Commute Brampton Caledon Expand on Smart commute Brampton Caledon efforts as appropriate Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Reduction in GHG emissions Reduction in individual car trips 19

20 Food and Agriculture: PROMOTE a local food and agriculture SYSTEM WHY IT S IMPORTANT Promoting local food is a win-win for the environment and the community. It significantly reduces transportation costs and the associated greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants involved in moving food from farms to our plates. It supports the local farming community and fosters partnerships between producers, retailers and other value chain participants. It also creates local jobs and promotes healthier lifestyles. For example, farmers market studies show that market customers consume more fruits and vegetables and have increased physical activity levels. Subsequently, most municipalities are including some variation of sustainable food and agriculture within their environmental strategic plans. In fact, according to Municipal Food Policy Entrepreneurs: A preliminary analysis of how Canadian cities and regional districts are involved in food system change, 64 local and regional municipalities across Canada are working to improve the food system using a mix of municipal policies, programs and civil-society interventions. WHAT WE VE DONE Caledon Farmers Market: The Town of Caledon launched the Bolton Farmers Market in Community and School Green Fund: The Town s two annual funding programs have supported numerous local food initiatives, including outdoor education gardens and kitchen projects. Staff Education Campaigns: To recognize Earth Day, local food tastings and education campaigns were coordinated to promote the importance of local food and its connection as an environmental issue and benefit. Community Climate Change Plan: This Plan identified local food as a priority focus area. Bolton Farmer s Market 20

21 CALEDON ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ACTION PLAN UPDATE Food and Agriculture: WHAT S NEXT Actions Implementation Approach Priority Level/time line Anticipated Outcomes Local food and farming production and distribution Ensure actions from the Agriculture and Local Food and Farming Production and Distribution from the Caledon Community Climate Change Plan are implemented and progress is tracked. Low priority (July 2017 July 2019) Accountability Alignment of Town goals and actions Community Gardens Support the development of community gardens where appropriate and explore a community garden policy. Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Reduction in GHG emissions Reduction in car trips Food security Local economic development Local Food Charter Consider the development of a local food charter- a guiding document to assist in the development of local food related policies and programs and to ensure food security and a sustainable food system. Medium priority (July 2015 July 2017) Reduction in GHG emissions Reduction in car trips Food security Local economic development 21

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24 6311 Old Church Road Caledon, ON L7C 1J6 T F