August 2023 NEWSLETTER
Hi Friend,
As the weather warms up people will start planning time away at their cottages, schools end their year and the long, lazy days of summer are there for us to embrace.
CNL has been super busy and we apologize deeply for not getting this newsletter out to our supporters as we normally do, monthly.
So there’s a lot to cover below.
But first, we want to invite anyone interested to join our Pilot Climate Concierge Project.
Neighbours Help Neighbours Reduce Dependence on Fossil Fuels
Do you want to learn more about what you can do in the fight against climate change? Chandler Swain writes about CNL’s Climate Concierge, a new program we’re offering to residents of Lanark County. Read the article here to learn about first-hand experiences and why this would be a great start in YOUR fight against climate change.
Climate Concierge
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You might be feeling inundated and very confused with advertising from various companies and the federal government about heat pumps and all the various programs to retrofit your house.
CNL has started its Climate Concierge Project to help you understand the new technologies (heat pumps, solar systems), to work your way through the programs and the funding, and to find the best solutions for you to cut your greenhouse gases and make your home more comfortable and cost-efficient.
We’re doing this by having people meet with neighbours who are on a similar path. We did a small test group of even homeowners last winter in Almonte. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed getting together regularly and sharing their progress, their frustrations, and their solutions. Importantly, they all ended up taking more steps than they initially planned to because learning and sharing with their neighbours gave them the confidence to go further.
We’re repeating this for this fall in the urban centres of Lanark County. We started the Perth cluster on Aug. 18 and the second Almonte cluster will start soon. We are also planning clusters for Smith Falls, Lanark Village, and Carleton Place, as well as a cluster for business owners.
One of the main objectives of the clusters is to share knowledge to make the process of retrofitting as comfortable and seamless as possible. This is, of course, a free program, and it will run from the summer until December 2023. If you are interested in joining, contact:
Sadie Brule at sadie@climatenetworklanark.ca
Why You Need To Join This Group
If you own a home or small business, one of the most important personal actions you can take is to do a retrofit. Join a Neighbourhood Cluster in Almonte, Lanark Village, Carleton Place, Perth, or Smith Falls. CNL’s Climate Concierge project will help you tap into grants and financing, get peer and expert help, connect with the right tradespeople and suppliers, and many more helpful resources. Feel free to share this with any friends, family or neighbours in Lanark- it’s a lot more fun to join with people you know!
LANARK COUNTY UPDATE
Respond to the Draft Climate Action Plan By August 30th!
Lanark County has issued its Draft Climate Action Plan and is seeking public comment by August 28th. CNL knows that more than 80% of people in Lanark County want serious action taken on the climate crisis. Now is the opportunity to make sure this Plan represents what you want, the substantial action that you want taken, and the opportunity for all of us to take action.
To comment, go to: Climate Change in Lanark County
There, you can read the full Plan, the Quick Guide, and access an online survey to tell the County what you think.
The full Plan is lengthy. To assist, Climate Network Lanark has identified 4 key revisions that we think are critical. Please use them if you feel they are necessary. Please also email CNL at hello@climatenetworklanark.ca with your response so we can understand what you feel we should be taking forward.
Our 4 Key Revisions
1. The County has set a target to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the community by 5-10% by 2030. This goes against ALL the global and national consensus that says we need to cut our GHGs by 45-50% by 2030 to avoid increasing calamities.
- Tell the County you want us to join the fight, to carry our share, and to set a Community reduction target of 45-50%.
2. A key guiding principle in the Plan is to Eliminate Fossil Fuels. CNL advocated for this basic principle. If we don’t stop emissions from fossil fuels, we will tip into unmanageable territory.
- Tell the County you want every action in the CAP to follow that principle and be acted on immediately. The extension of fossil/natural gas service in Balderson and Lanark Village is going in the wrong direction; every retrofit must not use fossil fuels.
3. Just as the economics of every decision at a municipality is considered, so must the climate impact of every decision be assessed.
- Tell the County that every decision that it, and its municipalities make, must be assessed through a Climate Lens starting immediately.
4. The single largest source of community emissions in Lanark County is transportation, at 64%. Many people and organizations recognize we need a public transit system for many reasons, including cutting GHGs.
- Tell the County to immediately restore its Rural Transportation Issues and Options for Lanark County Report, establish a Transportation Working Group and investigate public transit options in operation in other rural/small towns in Canada so a system can be adopted within 3 years.
COUNTY PREPARES TO OFFER A FINANCING PROGRAM FOR HOME ENERGY RETROFITS
At the Climate committee meeting on August 10th, staff presented an update on the development of the Better Homes Lanark program. If this program comes to pass, it will provide financing to homeowners to be able to take various steps to retrofit their homes for energy efficiency, solar power, heat pumps, and other measures that cut greenhouse gases.
Locally, the program was initiated by Tay Valley Township. The county has now taken the lead and is applying for federal funding support for the program. Should that come through, the program will likely be available in Fall 2024. It will provide loans to homeowners that they will repay through their taxes. This means a homeowner can sell their property and the loan will be repaid against the property, since it is the property that benefits. The important advantage of this program is that it makes financing available to homeowners before they have to incur the expenses, unlike other of the programs that only pay out once the homeowner has paid for the work.
Strategic Planning Day
On July 5th, Climate Network Lanark (CNL) board members, leadership team, and supportive community members met for a full day of strategizing and planning. The purpose of our meeting was to invite key stakeholders in our community to join us in for an open discussion around CNL’s direction and strategy. We received incredible feedback on what is needed in our community to advance projects and initiatives; evolve our communication strategy, funding priorities, and community engagement.
Some key takeaways:
The importance of engaging the public to make political change
Advancing partnerships around public transportation
Engaging the next generation in climate change
Finally, growing our reach through community engagement.
We look forward to continuing this conversation and sharing our strategic updates with the Lanark County community.
Staff Update
CNL has hired a new Sustainable Development Communications Intern, Sophie. With her 8 years of experience in the non-profit sector, she brings knowledge, enthusiasm, and fresh ideas to our team. Sophie completed two undergraduate degrees at Carleton University, a BA in Environmental Studies and a BSc in Environmental Science with a Minor in Biology and Earth Sciences. With a passion for advocacy, she completed a training course with the UN on Advocacy and Implementation of the SDGs. She currently volunteers with the Ottawa Riverkeepers, Greening Sacred Spaces Ottawa as Board Chair, and Sustainable Capacity Foundation as a Board member.
Save the Date
Friday, September 15th, 2023
Stewart Park Festival: A New Way to Green Events
The Stewart Park Festival celebrated another great year in Perth this past July, but this year for the first time ever, papers, aluminum, plastics, and compost were properly sorted, recycled and composted. Thanks to the help of over forty volunteers, this innovative proposal by Climate Network Lanark, was able to help collect waste that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill.
Jennifer Druker, Sue Brandum, Sue Green, Sue Brown, and Michelle Foxton at the CNL booth on Saturday, July 15th, 2023
While the exact amount of waste collected is unknown, it is clear from the positive feedback from attendees, and the number of soiled bins, that this was a roaring success. We’re hoping to not only be able to make this an annual tradition at the Stewart Park Festival but to also be able to extend this initiative to other festivals and events in Lanark County.
The Recycling Depot and CNL tent, centrally located in plain view of the main stage and next to one of the park entrances
Compost and recycle bins after being washed by volunteer, Tony Hendricks.
Scott Hortop and Corry McClure transferring some of the collected recyclables so they can be picked up by Town of Perth staff.
Tree Canada: A New App!
Tree Canada has launched an app to help you track and reduce your carbon footprint! Find out more here!
Just Good Compost
Good things continue to happen with Almonte’s new start up, JUST GOOD COMPOST. Rick Edwards shares his experience as a JGC customer, the importance of composting, and how this action contributes to making a difference locally for our climate. Read the article here!
Lake 88.1 - In Focus
The Town of Smith Falls Climate Protection Working Group was on Lake 88.1 - In Focus for a 20-minute interview discussing their agenda/initiatives. You can find a recording of the interview on their website!
Sadie Brule and Janet Duncan chatted with Lynda D'Aoust on Lake 88.1 on August 11th about CNL's Climate Concierge program and Janet's first hand experience! You can catch the rebroadcast on Lake 88's website.
Lake 88 also spoke about CNL's Waste Depot initiative at Stewart Park Festival and you can find that here!
Inside Scoop - Local Resident Speaks About Cavanagh Highland Line Project
CNL got the inside scoop on what it’s like to be living near the Cavanagh construction site, and how local residents are not happy about the noise, fumes, and decreasing property values. 5,000 people have signed a petition expressing their concerns, but is anyone listening? Read our full discussion here!
Organization Spotlight: Our Perth Trees
Our Perth Trees (OPT) is a volunteer organization working to protect the life and health of the tree and shrub population in Perth and the surrounding townships.
OPT evolved out of a concern for the destruction of trees and shrubs caused by the spongy moth (aka the gypsy moth) and the effects of climate change.
“The forecast is for extreme heat in the coming years. And we’re already experiencing frequent above normal temperatures,” says Kate Donnelly, OPT founder and volunteer. “The establishment of a green canopy in our communities is essential, to help mitigate the negative effects of climate change. That means trees need to stay healthy and thrive.”
OPT is making a call to action.
“We need volunteers,” says Donnelly. Volunteering with OPT is flexible. For starters, the work is weather dependent. Plus any time offered is appreciated, whether it’s a couple of hours, once a week or once a month, no matter what your age and motivation. Right now OPT needs volunteers to plant seedlings, including mulching and fencing, at the Perth Wildlife Reserve and in the parks; undertake weekly watering for two to three years after planting; and to cut and remove invasive vines from trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and on private property. As well, volunteers are needed to help plan next year’s Seedling Sale, to share ideas for fundraisers and to help educate residents about caring for their trees and shrubs. OPT is also looking for a landscaper or arbourist who can offer adhoc advice or expertise on the care and maintenance of trees and shrubs.
To get involved, email OPT at ourperthtrees@gmail.com. Or visit their Facebook page
We Need Your Feedback!
Our Co-founder, Sue, sat down with Kris from theHumm to have a chat while at Stewart Park Festival in July. They talked about the Lanark County Climate Action Plan, and how changes and revisions desperately need to be made so real change can happen in our County. They also discussed CNL’s new Climate Concierge program, which allows people who are interested in getting their homes off fossil fuels and onto a more sustainable option: heat pumps! They had a nice, long chat, so read the full article here!
Caivan Development
Caivan’s proposal to create a 2,500-person, 940-home subdivision has been met with intense pushback from the Perth community. Creating the development as it is proposed would mean a 30% increase in the town’s population in an area not well suited for such large growth. Among the serious concerns:
- Not enough access to public services
- The entrance to the subdivision is currently planned to be exclusively located in one area and over a bridge. This is projected to cause:
- A crisis of access or egress should the bridge be blocked for any reason.
- Severe traffic in the downtown core
- Poor living quality for people living at the access point
- Reduced traffic to the shops in a town where tourism is part of its main economy
- No plans for public transportation (which would greatly improve the quality of life of many residents and reduce greenhouse gases)
- No affordable housing suggested
- The proposal contravenes Perth’s Climate Action Plan as the development does not fully take advantage of street and house orientation for solar gain
- Setbacks are limited and the only place for trees is on Town land, putting the cost and onus on taxpayers to green the subdivision
- Fossil fuels will be used to heat the new development (as opposed to building net-zero homes using electricity) and no peer review of the energy proposal has been brought forward by the Town - despite the need to end the building of fossil fuel infrastructure by 2025 and Lanark County’s commitment to eliminate fossil fuels in its Climate Action Plan
- Wetlands are to be drained
CNL encourages our supporters not only to attend the next Special Committee of the Whole taking place in September but to write to the Director of Development Services, Joanna Bowes, with any of the concerns listed above (or others). She can be reached at jbowes@perth.ca
The minutes of the meeting can be found on the Town of Perth website, or by following this link. The Caivan proposal can be found at this link, under Current Applications. https://www.perth.ca/en/do-business/Planning-Services.aspx
Lanark County Council Meeting - June 7th
An update on the vegetation management plan activities by Climate Environmental Coordinator Elizabeth Gallant. Removal of wild parsnips has been decreasing since it’s start in 2016. Control of phragmites only needs to happen 2-4 times per year now. Passive and active restoration efforts in pollinator restoration have been taking place. Please read the full art here!
CNL wants to continue to grow our reach in the community. Do you know of someone who may be interested in signing up for our newsletter? Send them our way!
CNL relies on grants and donations in order to keep pushing for climate action in Lanark County. We would love for you to consider helping in any way you can. We offer charitable receipts through our partnership with the Salal Foundation.
Donate Today!
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