January 2021
EARTHCARE THUNDER BAY NEWS
Promoting community events, information, and opportunities that improve or promote the sustainability and livability of Thunder Bay.
Top l-r: Jacob Porter, Lynn Duffield, Amy Coomes 
Botton l-r: Margaret Wanlin, Shannon Costigan (Vice-Chair), Councillor Andrew Foulds (Chair), Michelle Warywoda, Councillor Kristen Oliver, Lynae Grace; 
Missing: Linday Galway, Sandy Stiles, Jane Todd
EarthCare Advisory Committee of Council
The EarthCare Advisory Committee (EAC) of Council guides EarthCare and the implementation of the EarthCare Sustainability Plan 2014-2020. These champions are integral in maintaining the momentum of EarthCare. They meet monthly, and their minutes are reviewed by City Council on a regular basis. 

WORKING GROUPS
Get involved and join a working group! Working Groups are the horsepower that help to achieve the goals set out in the EarthCare Sustainability Plan. The following working groups are active: 
PROJECTS
Community Energy and Emissions Plan
EarthCare Thunder Bay is continuing the planning process for the creation of a Community Energy & Emissions Plan (CEEP). EarthCare Thunder Bay will conduct a community-wide energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) inventory and develop an action plan to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions, with the ultimate goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.
 
Visit the project’s Get Involved page to learn more about upcoming key dates and ask questions using the new Questions tool. An overview of the project can be found on the EarthCare Website!

A big thank you to everyone who has participated in the surveys to date!  

Project Updates:
Work continues on the development of the draft CEEP. The project has been extended to accommodate for delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More information will be available in February.
EVENTS
Wednesday, January 27, 12 PM
Sustainability across the Disciplines Series:
Indigenous Environmental Justice on The World Stage
The Lakehead University Office of Sustainability is continuing their online series of sustainability presentations!
Featuring local researchers, the presentations will explore sustainability across research disciplines at Lakehead University, with this month's presentation featuring Dr. Cheryl Lousley, Research Chair in Environmental Humanities.

This talk will discuss how sustainability emerged from a liberal-democratic approach to internationalism that aimed to engage a plurality of voices—and why it struggled to address calls for environmental justice by Indigenous people.

Dr. Lousley will shares her archival research on the public hearings and back-room meetings of the World Commission on Environment and Development, whose 1987 report Our Common Future launched sustainable development. Its recommendations were a precursor to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Find out more and sign up on their Facebook event page.
INFORMATION
Provincial Stay-at-home order and Municipal Services
The Province has issued a stay-at-home order, effective January 14. For details on how this has affected City Services, please visit www.thunderbay.ca/coronavirus
Give Feedback on the Thunder Bay 2021 Budget
City Council is reviewing the proposed 2021 City Budget. We want to hear from you. Get involved and give your feedback to City Council through an online survey, the community budget handbook, or make a deputation. Learn more, visit: www.thunderbay.ca/GetInvolved
Fare Free Survey
Poverty Free Thunder Bay is advocating for Fare-Free Transit for Thunder Bay, stating it would support community resilience and vulnerable populations.

Following the three month period of Fare-Free Transit implemented as part of the local COVID-19 response, the conducted a survey collecting experiences and opinions of the potential for on-going fare-free transit.

Find their survey results here.
CLIMATE CHANGE PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Looking Forward to the Future
"Standing on this local trail got me thinking of the future. Do we follow the existing path to a dark and uncertain future or do we carve out a new path to the more hopeful blue-skied future in the distance? The choice lies with each of us, but I know which route I’ll be taking."


Take two minutes to share your own photo message about climate change in the Thunder Bay region at: ClimateChangeTBay.com
ENVIRO TIP
Reduce your food waste
Food is great! Delicious and nutritious, it takes a significant amount of energy to produce, transport, and prepare. However, food not eaten means that energy (and that deliciousness) is wasted!

COVID-19 has driven people to making larger, less frequent trips to the grocery store, but this smart safety strategy has the side effect of more food going bad (or otherwise going to waste)!

Cut down on your food waste!
  • Try to prioritise eating the perishable items in your house first.
  • Use leftovers as meals or snacks for later.
  • Have a go-to list of flexible recipes that can use whatever happens to be in your fridge: Stews, curries, stir fries are all great ways to use veggies nearing the end of their fressness!

These simple steps are easy ways to minimise energy impacts, and maximise deliciousness!
GUIDING DOCUMENTS
We need a healthy environment to have a healthy economy and society.

EarthCare Thunder Bay is a partnership between the City of Thunder Bay and the Community to work together on issues of community sustainability.
EarthCare Thunder Bay
111 Syndicate Ave S,
VictoriaVille Civic Center, 2nd Floor
807.625.2411
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