1. Rapid transit and Hamilton
2. Greenbelt meeting
3. Environmental awards
Rapid transit and Hamilton
The opportunities and challenges for transit investment in Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area are the focus of a public meeting on Thursday, June 23 at 7 pm at 294 James Street North hosted by Environment Hamilton and Move the GTHA. It promises to evaluate the progress of Ontario’s “Big Move” plan to construct over 1300 km of rapid transit by 2033 including LRT lines in Hamilton.
The sponsoring organizations are “working to build support for a fully integrated local and regional transportation system that supports healthy communities” from Oshawa to Niagara Falls and north to Barrie. Speakers from Transport Action Ontario, the city, and the Social Planning and Research Council will make brief presentations and the meeting will also include a workshop with break-out tables for small group discussions.
Greenbelt meeting
The province is holding a public open house in Hamilton to receive input on its recently released recommendations on the Greenbelt and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It will run from 5-8 pm on Tuesday, June 21 at the Hamilton Convention Centre. The city’s requests for removals from the Greenbelt were largely rejected, although ending protection for some smaller fruitbelt properties is recommended. Several hundred acres of Hamilton’s rural area would also be added to the Greenbelt if the proposals are finalized.
Environment Hamilton is opposing the removals and urging the addition of local urban creek valleys such as Red Hill and Chedoke – something the provinces wants to do for 21 other Lake Ontario waterways. Others want the Greenbelt extended into Brant County to block leapfrog development. Written comments can be submitted until September 1.
Environmental awards
Two hundred people attended the 37th annual Environmentalists of the Year dinner last week that honoured nearly a dozen award recipients. Kate Andrus, the woman who led the successful campaign against the Port Fuels garbage incinerator was recognized post-humously with the prestigious Dr Victor Cecilioni Award. That honour was shared with Wayne Terryberry, a McMaster outdoor educator who founded the Hamilton-Halton Trails Council.
A lifetime achievement award was given to Chris Firth-Eagland, the current CAO and past chair of the Hamilton Conservation Authority, for his work in developing the waterfront and other trails. He was also instrumental in the landmark protocol negotiated with the Haudenosaunee to respect their traditional rights to harvest deer in the Dundas Valley. Both Terryberry and Firth-Eagland are also active in the Cootes to Escarpment project.
Environmental awards of merit were bestowed on St Marguerite d’Youville Elementary School, Cara Contardi, Greg Lenko, Robert Perkins, Peter Thoem and the originators of the Beautiful Alleys project. A conservation foundation bursary went to Angela Dittrich, and the Betty Blashill environmental prize was given to Dave Stephens. Their accomplishments were described in the dinner program.