(guitar music)
- TRCA's annual general meeting is a chance
to look back at the year that was.
The accomplishment's made, the lesson's learned,
the strengthened relationships,
and the positive impacts along the way.
In my first few months as CEO, and in my work with TRCA,
I've come to appreciate the great work of TRCA
over this past year.
It's clear to me, that it's a dedicated staff, volunteers,
and funding partners, who allow TRCA to fulfill our mission
and mandate to protect the natural world,
and face the challenges of our growing region.
I'm proud to lead this team.
2017 was another busy year for TRCA, with some firsts,
some surprises, some beginnings, and some endings.
There were so many examples of successful collaborations,
between TRCA and its' many partners.
Here are just a few.
Early last spring, TRCA worked along side
the city of Toronto to protect shoreline lands
from unprecedented lake levels.
Even Mayor Tory lent a hand, filling sand bags.
In York region, a three year project to protect
the Patterson Creek sewer lines from eroding
was successfully completed.
In Peel, our young tree monitoring program
continued to blossom, with budding arborist volunteers
helping trees and shrubs thrive.
And in Durham, the Deer Creek
Golf Stream Restoration Project allowed TRCA
to carry out work on behalf the province
to improve water quality and quantity, fish habitat,
including the endangered redside dace population,
and address issues of the erosion bank instability.
With support from our partners, TRCA is making
a huge positive impact in the communities we serve.
TRCA's making a real positive difference
for the health and prosperity of our region.
Here's a look at some of the
achievement's we've made together.
(upbeat music)
- TRCA crews planted a record breaking number of plants
and shrubs in 2017, four million to be exact.
A 43 percent increase from two years ago.
Innovative and sustainable community projects by SNAP
attracted national and international media attention
in articles by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities,
and Washington based citiscope.org.
Attendance doubled at the second annual
fat bike festival at Albion Hills.
350 visitors in total.
The living city report card, the five year update
on the city regions environmental health was released.
There's been progress made but still much work to be done.
Toronto Pearson's instillation of 32 electric vehicle
charging stations was completed.
Thanks to the team work of partners in Project Green.
TRCA hosted the annual Conservation Authority's
curling von spiel, with 20 teams taking part.
We brought home the honors of first and the worst,
but all in good fun.
Thanks to a celebrate Ontario grant
and mountain equipment co-op, two all-terrain wheelchairs
were purchased for use on core-try trails,
for those with mobility issues.
Three properties and palgrave were graciously donated
to TRCA by Douglas Reddington,
through the Ecological Gifts Program
run by Environment Canada.
Doug was a founding member of TRCA in 1957.
More than 100 people from 26 different organizations
attended TRCA's annual Floods Happen workshop.
TRCA partnered with Lake Simcoe Region
Conservation Authority to protect the region of York
sanitary sewer infrastructure in new market,
addressing erosion issues, stabilizing channel banks,
and allowing safe passage for fish in the waterway.
Over 90,000 dollars was raised for Bolton Camp
at the Caledon Council Community Golf Tournament
in September, towards the Hub,
a multipurpose community space,
at the re-imagined Bolton Camp.
TRCA sold this small arms building, that was originally
used to make ammunition during the wars,
to the city of Mississauga, allowing for its' restoration
for future use, as a community space.
SNAP's horticulture and fruit tree care skills
training programs yielded 26 residents
actively involved in caring for San Romanoway's fruit trees,
with some securing work in the horticulture field.
With the help of partners in Project Green,
a farmer, and the willingness of the Toronto Zoo,
120 tons of uneaten bamboo for China's visiting pandas,
were diverted from landfills and repurposed
as a wind break on a local co-op farm.
The fifth annual Ontario Climate Change Symposium
was held at York University, the largest
and most successful one to date.
The driving range at Bruce's Mill, in partnership
with Meadowbrooke Golf course, opened to rave reviews,
by eager golfers this past season.
Unprecedented high water levels, on lake Ontario,
galvanized TRCA and the city of Toronto,
to protect Toronto islands infrastructure all summer.
Media coverage was significant.
All levels of government announced 1.25 billion dollars
for the Don Mouth Flood Protection Project,
the largest project in TRCA's history.
Four significant provincial plans were released,
which incorporated many TRCA comments to address
storm water management, watershed planning,
and master environmental servicing planning.
Partnering with the Ministry of Natural Resources
and Forestry, TRCA launched a learn to fish program,
at Heartlake Conservation area.
A new bridge was installed at Boyd Conservation area,
making for safer passage over the Humber river.
TRCA hosted 3,200 day campers and 325 over-night campers
at our field centers.
TRCA partnered with Durham Mountain Biking Association
Green Durham, and the Oakridge's Trail association
to host a celebration of the great trail,
at the east duffins headwaters.
A record number of 45,000 visitors
took park in Canada 150 Canada Day celebrations,
at Albion Hills, and Boyd Conservation Areas,
and Black Creek Pioneer Village.
Generous donations of 155,000 dollars from Precise Parklink,
Castle Point Nooma, and Greenwin Inc,
benefited the village's fundraising campaign
and educational programs.
60 young girls took part in the Girls Can Too
equal learning program at Bolton Camp,
guided by female professionals,
they built benches and garden structures,
and planted hundreds of shrubs and plants.
TRCA's environmental monitoring team proudly commissioned
a brand new research vessel, the R.V. Ken Higgs.
Build by Cantor Marine in just five months,
the new vessel will carry out aquatic monitoring duties
for decades to come.
TRCA partnered with the city of Toronto
to present Canada 150 memento by canoe,
celebrating the Humbor and Rouge rivers.
The city of Toronto's executive committee approved
ravine strategy that TRCA contributed to.
Another busy summer for students
at the Boyd Archaeological Field School,
uncovering the past, and connecting to the present.
Black Creek Community Farm and TRCA hosted
a unique fundraising dinner, featuring local food,
and local chefs, raising 11,000 dollars
for the farms operation.
Scarborough Waterfront Project
Draft Environmental Assessment was completed
with no significant changes.
The city of Toronto is beginning to review.
Formal announcement was made in the fall,
for the transfer of provincial parkland to Parks Canada
for the creation of the Rouge National Urban Park.
Exciting discoveries at Tommy Thompson Park in 2017
included eastern screech owl, two least bitterns,
and a river otter.
Welcoming habitats at this bit, are attracting
a variety of species.
Valleywood phase two trail connections were completed,
including a new trail and a pedestrian bridge,
along the Etobicoke Creek trail system in Caledon.
TRCA paired with Evergreen Brickworks and Crazy Games
to present a curated art exhibit featuring
artists interpretations of the living city report card.
Heartlake's fitness trail opened,
to encourage physical activity in a natural setting.
After 44 years of protecting our natural world,
Brian Denney bids farewell to TRCA.
- Thanks for making 2017 the success it was.
As we look to the future, critical developments are ahead.
The update to the Conservation Authorities Act
upholds the Conservation Authority's mandate
and allows us to work more collaboratively
with our partners into the future.
I look forward to working with the team,
as we face these challenges.
TRCA will work hard to help ensure changes to regulations
continue to serve our communities
as effectively as possible.
We are also taking steps to ensure our organization is ready
to support the new CA act requirements.
We are also undertaking an update to our strategic plan,
to make sure we remain responsive in the face
of upcoming changes facing our region and beyond.
By working in partnership with government
and the communities we serve, I'm confident we'll achieve
many shared successes in the years ahead.
(upbeat music)