Do a tick check every time you come back from the outdoors. Tick populations are growing and intensifying due to climate change.

These snowbanks are something else

I get so much out of these new Low Impact Developments the City has recently developed (since when can I say I get so much out of any other stormwater infrastructure system!). Not only are they attractive greenspaces within the built environment, but they are a low GHG, highly functional, and cost effective at treating stormwater. Yes this oversized rain garden even removes heavy metals, fertilizers, and petrochemicals from the stormwater. I’m proud the City is applying these as best practices, a practice that will help us become much more resilient in the face of increasing rain events in the future!

It is up to us to ensure the prosperity of pristine ecosystems

I have started using a clothesline instead of the electric dryer in my house. It not only saves energy but also sunlight can kill bacteria and give the laundry a fresh smell. Besides not contributing more to our carbon footprint, we will be saving money too.

The rising average temperatures in NW Ontario this summer led to some droughts early in the growing season. I was looking forward to a great gardening year but it was very hard to get the veggies to take root and fruit trees to blossom without rain for weeks in May. Changes to weather patterns go with climate change and concern me. We need to do what we can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep the climate stable if drought/flood is the alternative, or it will be tough to adapt.

Plants and animal species are facing climates that are not usual. This forces migration irregularities, impacts habitats and can introduce invasive species. With changes like climate change wildlife will adapt, move elsewhere, die off or be taken over by invasive species.

Climate change is resulting in an increase in earth’s temperature globally. This temperature rise will result in disappearance of mountain glaciers, sea ice and rivers. Sea level rise can displace 10% of the world’s population.

This is my daughter’s sunflower. I hope she continues to appreciate the interconnected relationship with our beautiful Earth. It is our children’s strength and resilience, and their sense of wonder and love for this place that will lead the movement toward sustainability.

Due to the cycles of freezing and thawing, the concrete is cracking and breaking creating holes that get dug deeper by our cars that pass through them. These are almost impossible to keep maintained due to the abundance of them!