Hi. I'm Cliff Coppolino
and I'm a project manager here at TRCA.
I'm thrilled to be presenting you with highlights of our work throughout 2014.
It is an opportunity to recognize our staff,
volunteers, partners, and the generous support of our member municipalities.
Because TRCA's vision of The Living City is rooted in sustainable
communities,
this year we want to present our stories through the lens of
communities themselves.
So, how has TRCA made a difference in all these communities in 2014?
Let's take a look. TRCA is helping people better understand and take care of their
environment with hands-on
local community programs.
In 2014 the stewardship team delivered
over 200 events and engaged close to 12,000 residents across our jurisdiction.
Nine River City was one of Harbourfront's most popular exhibits.
Second-year exhibit, No Flat City opened to the public in June.
The Conservation Youth Corps program engage 174 high school students
from York and Peel Region.
With the funding from the City of Toronto, Black Creek SNAP will promote
the City's home
energy loan program. Bayview Glen staff was awarded Federation of Canadian
Municipalities' grant of $70,000
as well as $95,000 from the City of Markham.
Amberlee Creek erosion control project in the Pickering
Community was approved.
TRCA received half a million dollars in funding from the Ministry of Natural
Resources
for three flood infrastructure projects. An Ontario Municipal Board settlement
was reached
that resulted in $23,000 for restoration work in the
Curuthers watershed.
The Frenchman's Bay Harbor entrance reconstruction project was substantially
completed
The official opening will take place in June 2015.
Restoration services in partnership with City of Vaughn
completed a major erosion mitigation project along a section in the East
Humber River using leading-edge bioengineering techniques.
TRCA works with private business communities, planners and developers to
provide guidance,
resources and opportunities to advance and implement their sustainability goals.
In 2014, 100 Intact Insurance staff took a day to plant trees and shrubs at
Alfred Koon Park in the Peel Region.
Partners in Project Green Materials Exchange Program
exchanged and diverted over 238,000 kilograms of waste.
The Energy Leaders Consortium members of Partners in Project Green
exceeded their annual energy savings target by 21 percent.
Toronto Hydro sponsored Greening Health Care and will continue its support in
2015
The Living City Campus was recognized as one of the top three businesses in
environmental leadership for the Vaughn Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Award
400 industry professionals attended the third annual TRIECA Conference,
a stormwater management and erosion and sediment control conference.
MossCorp's seven developments agreed to provide $307,000
to support the construction of trail link within the Valley Wood Community.
At TRCA our staff work to study, reestablish, and improve the habitat of
native species
in order to better understand our environment and plan accordingly for the
future.
In 2014 staff banded the young
of the first successful nesting pair of Trumpeter Swans at Tommy Thompson Park.
TRCA hosted the 2014 BioBlitz in the Humber Watershed
with over 1,500 species recorded. Staff collecting data in the Rouge National
Urban Park
confirm the presence of two significant plant species:
Upland Blueberry and Seneca Snake Root.
Resistance Boardweir in the Duffins Creek revealed a rare Golden Red Horse.
TRCA recorded Holly Fern at Paul Grave Mill Pond Forest and Wildlife Area.
Staff observed a Bullfrog in Bob Hunter Memorial Park wetlands,
the first recorded sighting in 10 years.
It was a record year for Snowy Owls across Ontario
as a result of an increase in reproduction.
Over the past six decades TRCA has been delivering innovative environmental
learning programs in our field centers,
classrooms and outdoors. In 2014
70 secondary and college students were employed for the summer to
redevelop Bolton Camp.
TRCA introduce the newly rebranded
Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow Program. The education team collected,
reared and released more than fifty Monarch Butterflies.
The Aquatic Plants program welcomed a total of 5,000 students
who planted 11,000 plants at 9 sites.
TRCA celebrated the achievements of M2P
and pay graduates with eighty-four percent of participants finding jobs in
their field.
A student discovered 40 to fossils in Mimico Creek Watershed.
The Ontario Climate Consortium and Trent University
launched its inaugural Town Hall in Peterborough with two hundred people in
attendance.
Through funding by the University of Toronto, the first TRCA groundwater monitoring
wells were installed in Mimico Creek Watershed.
The 2014 Kortright Nature Day Camp Program had a record summer with 524 campers.
The TRCA Archaeology Uunit delivered 17 educational and public events,
reaching approximately 500 people. Albion Hills Field Centre celebrated its
50th anniversary.
Almost everything we accomplish at TRCA is made more effective with support of our
communities and partners.
In 2014 Toronto City Council approved the Scarborough Waterfront
Access Plan Environmental Assessment work.
York Region is funding phase two of the Oak Ridges corridor spine trail
at $170,00. The Ontario Climate
Consortium received
$135,000 from University of Waterloo
and $50,000 from the University of Michigan. TRCA is
working with Pan Am Path in Toronto
in the implementation of an integrated trail system in Clairville Conservation
Area.
Intact Insurance provided $40,000 cash
and $80,000 in-kind donation for BRE
Innovation Park at the Living City Campus. The stewardship program
$158,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation
for a three-year project in the Valleywood and Southfield communities.
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters committed to invest $200,000
in Atlantic salmon restoration in the Duffins Watershed.
Environment Canada approved the three-year commitment for monitoring
water quality
in Ajax and Pickering nearshore. A Spirited Affair Dinner for Black Creek
Pioneer Village
was attended by 135 people and raised over
$18,000.
TRCA staff participated as panel experts on low impact development and
shoreline restoration
for a deep green forum in Ottawa.
The Living City Dinner welcome 400 attendees and generated over
$170,000.
In today's digital environment
it is more important than ever to embrace the many social, mental and
physical health benefits of making nature a part of our daily lives.
In 2014, 385 canoes participated in Paddle the Don,
raising $105,000 for conservation work in the Don River.
Over 3,000 people attended the 16th annual Mill Pond Splash
eco festival. The first annual bike the creek event
attracted 180 riders in Etobicoke Creek Watershed.
The Black Creek SNAP Harvest the Rain Residential Program
introduced a surplus harvest donation initiative with over 36 homeowners
donating products.
Albion Hills Conservation Area hosted Mud Hero
with over 8,400 participants.
The Heart Lake Dragon Boat Festival welcomed over 230 paddlers plus
spectators.
TRCA and its farm partners celebrated local food and farming at the annual
Feast of Fields. The annual salmon run in Highland Creek was attended by 675
people.
Humber River celebrated 15 years as a Canadian Heritage River
with an event at Ettienne Brulier Park. Katy Perry visited Black Creek Pioneer
Village
and shared her photo with her millions of followers on social media
There are so many more TRCA stories in 2014 beyond what we can fit in this
short video
Talk to anyone of us to find out what we've been up to.
All of our accomplishments are a direct result from the exceptional support from
the members of our board,
the inspiration that our partners provide, the passion that drives our staff
and the dedication of every single person involved in TRCA's efforts
and programs.
As we look forward to 2015 we will build upon many of our innovative initiatives
in our community.
On behalf of everyone here at TRCA we thank you for a terrific 2014.
We're from Camp Bolton and we're on the best team we do not want to see we're seven feet tall.
Mosquitoes may eat us but they'll never beat us because we're from Camp Bolton.
Join in the song.
Sing along, sing along, wooo.
ungawa
ungawa.