YORK REGION ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE

YREA continues to connect with many hundreds of people digitally via our quarterly newsletters which has nearly 800 subscribers. This platform enables us to provide subscribers with information on our advocacy work. We promote an understanding of sustainability issues through education to help us think of our choices in terms of their impact on human and environmental health our natural resources and our planet. Winter e-news discussed the down side of online shopping & Mexico’s defiance of Monsanto/US/Canada challenge to their ban on GMO corn. We applauded Richmond Hill’s promotion of winter pollinator habitat posted links to enjoyable winter outdoor activities as well as book recommendations for those long evenings. Spring e-news outlined the change in attitude towards wind power with data from bird conservation organizations who are now onside. We provided lots of suggestions on how we can all shrink our carbon footprint during Earth Month and beyond as well as tips on companion planting. A link to our annual report with info on the Georgina Centre for the Arts & Culture exhibit Letters to the Earth was included. Summer e-news featured pieces on diversifying our grains by trying locally grown organic millet the prevalence of harmful PFAS – Forever Chemicals and how to avoid them. Pesticide spraying GMO trees and pollution prevention with new Richmond Hill bylaws ensuring concrete and stone dust suppression were some of the bad and good news bits. A link to our organic food in schools presentation and nature guides for summer learning were highlighted. Autumn e-news advocated for habitat gardens and why we need to choose Canadian Organic. The pros and cons of plastic and wood cutting boards were compared. We published our letter to Premier Ford strongly opposing the return of paper bags to the LCBO as well as book recommendations outlining how drastic mistakes that impact our environment are so often made. It is overwhelming to see so many of us fighting to make a positive difference. Be it pesticides & pesticide industry influence poisoned drinking water toxic air pollution protecting nature & biodiversity climate change paving over farmland an unnecessary airport or highway. We are committed to making this world a better healthier place for us and future generations. YREA will continue to advocate and raise awareness of the many issues that need to be addressed. We will not be disheartened & will NEVER give up.

YREA participated in 3 community events. LETTERS TO THE EARTH: BETWEEN DESPAIR AND HOPE: Environmental art exhibit at the Georgina Centre for Arts & Culture. The artworks encouraged conversations about our present environmental crisis. YREA discussed the connection between climate change the importance of making sustainable lifestyle choices and the need to preserve the well-being of our environment. We asked visitors and participants to also take personal actions as individuals for the betterment of the planet. MARKHAM EARTH DAY YREA’s passport word was ‘shopping’ at this event. • For every garbage can of waste put out at the curb 70 garbage cans of waste were produced upstream to make the junk in that one garbage can. • Since 1980 we have consumed one-third of the planet’s natural resources. • If everybody consumed at the rate of Canadians we would need four planets to sustain us. Which is why we were happy to engage the public to SHOP LIKE THE PLANET’S WATCHING and provided our handout booklet. We also shared our table with Joyfully Organic Farm in Markham advocating for organic agriculture. RICHMOND HILL FAMILY ECOFEST YREA handed out info on why we need pollinator gardens along with a plant list as well as info on the toxicity of fabric softeners & dryer sheets what we can all do to keep our water clean our SHOP booklets and a check list on how we can MAKE EVERY MONTH EARTH MONTH. We also drew attention to the importance of organic food and looking for the Canadian milk logo on dairy products. YREA launched our WHY WE NEED ORGANIC FOOD IN SCHOOLS campaign and presentation and shared with the Coalition for Healthy School Food reaching as far afield as the Northwest Territories. Our written submissions included Richmond Hill Sustainable Development Goals NO REINTRODUCTION OF PAPER BAGS AT LCBO in Ontario. Joint submissions to Ontario included: ERO 019-8016 REGULATORY CHANGES TO ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT 2007; ERO 019-8320 NEW MINISTER’S PERMIT REVIEW POWERS UNDER THE CA ACT; ERO 019-8618 EXPANDING PROTECTED AREAS IN ONTARIO; RESTORING PROVINCIAL WETLAND PROTECTIONS IN ONTARIO; ERO #019-9265 BILL 212 REDUCING GRIDLOCK BUILDING HIGHWAYS FASTER; ERO #019-9213 HIGHWAY 413 ACT; TRANSITION TO FULL EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY (EPR). YREA commented on a study submitted to us by Western University Ivey Business School-ADVANCING REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE IN CANADA: Barriers Enablers & Suggestions.