Newsletter: August 2023
AUGUST 29, 2023 –
A Message From Our President
These are perilous times in Canada. In Ontario, the Greenbelt land grab has been called a corrupt giveaway to developers. In Saskatchewan, the government is penalizing electric vehicle owners with an unfair tax on their cars. In Alberta, the government paused renewable energy projects.
It’s hard to comprehend these actions when we live in a climate crisis. It’s frustrating and infuriating when the evidence is so strong and 68% of Canadians want to see action on climate change. Yet, at a time when we need to move forward with urgency, some political leaders go backward.
The wildfires out west and the flooding in Nova Scotia are overwhelming for those living in these regions. Their personal stories are heartbreaking and their future is filled with uncertainty. We at Small Change Fund will stand with them and do everything in our power to get leadership that will embrace the quintessential crisis of our lifetime.
Burkhard
A Letter: 2022/2023
We are proud to present our 2022 – 2023 Impact Report. Like much of what we do, this report is a little different. It’s written as a letter to You: our donors, partners, allies and fellow changemakers.
The report showcases a handful of the significant impacts we have collectively generated, as well as the incredible growth Small Change Fund experienced in this time period. From all of our team, thank you, and we hope you enjoy the read.
Welcome, Robert!
We are excited to welcome Robert Lombardi as Chief Financial Officer for Small Change Fund. Robert graduated from the Ivey Business School and received his Chartered Accountant designation. He spent more than 25 years working with a selection of media and technology companies and most recently worked on scaling start-ups.
“I’m so happy to be joining such a talented and motivated team,” says Robert. “And I’m looking forward to facilitating positive change across Canada.”
Robert lives in downtown Toronto with his wife and daughter. He enjoys walking in the city’s ravines and urban forests.
Gather with Small Change Fund’s Greenbelt Promise campaign and the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition for an evening with celebrated author, Margaret Atwood, and special guest, singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer. Join us on October 28th in Barrie, Ontario to celebrate the Greenbelt while enjoying food and drink, live music, art and inspiring conversation.
Good News From Muskoka!
Alongside our partners at the South Bracebridge Environmental Protection Group, we are fighting to protect 442 acres of wetlands and other environmentally sensitive lands from development. While we are still waiting on a decision from the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing, we are celebrating some excellent news this summer. In June, the at-risk wetlands were designated as “provincially significant” and will therefore receive special protections – emphasizing the need to preserve this fragile ecosystem.
New Projects
Follow the links below to learn more about our new projects.
- Protecting Naturalized Gardens – to support a precedent setting legal challenge in Burlington, Ontario to allow environmentally-minded Canadians the right to help nature in their own yards.
- Reducing Vehicle Noise in Toronto – to raise awareness about the environmental and health impacts from noise pollution in Toronto and encourage people to get involved before the review of the Noise Bylaw later this year.
Upcoming Events
Summer may be winding down but that doesn’t mean our campaigns are! Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
- The DAMN campaign’s Rock Tour continues on September 16th with a day of paddling, a parade and musical performances to save Barbers Lake from a gravel mining pit. The day will begin with a water ceremony by the Shabot Obaadjiwan and Snimikobi Algonquin First Nations.
- Join our partners at the Escarpment Corridor Alliance September 22-23rd as they host celebrated photographer and documentary filmmaker, Edward Burtynsky, to showcase the beauty of the Escarpment, as well as highlight its vulnerabilities.
- On September 24th, take a walk to Duncan Crevice Caves with “Rock Star” Nick Eyles in support of the Georgian Bay Geopark Initiative.
Thank you as always for supporting Small Change Fund and our projects. We hope everyone has a great rest of the summer!
Sincerely,
The Small Change Fund Team
P.S. Want to give to the project that helps all the projects? You can donate directly to Small Change Fund to keep us going and growing for the benefit of grassroots projects nation-wide. Thank you for your generosity!