Newsletter: January 2023

FEBRUARY 02, 2023

A Message from our President 

This month marks 40 years since I immigrated to Canada. I grew up in a small town in what was then West-Germany. Like all of us, my life is deeply affected by where I’m from. 

We had this creek near our house and I loved to play there. However, the creek was really polluted, slow-moving, with a foot of black, smelly mud on the bottom. No fish or plant life. Every time I would come home after playing there, my mom had to wash my clothing, and after a while she wouldn’t allow me to play there anymore because it ruined my clothes. 

Around the same time, the German Green party became popular and started getting elected at all levels of government. They started talking about solutions to environmental problems and for the first time I realized that the creek didn’t need to be polluted.  

Those two events shaped my career and its 34 years. “It doesn’t have to be that way” became my mantra. Becoming involved does make a difference. I see it all the time: people take a stand, work in their community, demand action from their politicians, and things change. 

That’s what we do at Small Change Fund: we get involved and make a difference. And that creek? It has been healthy for over two decades. 

Burkhard   

 

We’re Not Giving Up on the Greenbelt 

The fight to #SaveOurGreenbelt is not over! Small Change Fund is supporting grassroots efforts through Keep the Greenbelt Promise, facilitating community engagement in the Grand River Watershed and running a crowdfunding campaign to support the next phase of our Greenbelt protection initiative. We encourage residents across Ontario to continue to attend rallies, call and write their MPPs and Premier Ford and share their love for the Greenbelt on social media. 

Photo Credit: Stop Sprawl Durham 

Together, we can Save Our Greenbelt! 

Calling All Climate Focused Youth!

Applications are now open for the Canadian Youth Climate Action Award. We are partnering with Pivot Green to recognize youth-led (ages 15 – 24), community-based initiatives that demonstrate positive environmental or social impacts and lead to concrete, climate-friendly changes. Ideally, the ideas behind winning entries will be replicable in communities across Canada. 

Applications will be accepted until March 25th. The prize for first place is $1,500 and a plaque; two runner up prizes of $500 will also be awarded. 

A Different Way to Donate 

A word from Mark de Pencier, Wealth Advisor & Portfolio Manager at National Bank Financial, about donating gifts of securities: 

“It has been my pleasure partnering with Small Change over the past few years. All charitable donations result in a tax benefit to you, and of course assist the charitable organization. The benefits can be even greater if you have stocks or mutual funds with capital gains that you want to contribute, as you are able to reduce your own tax obligation and more of your dollars go directly toward making a difference to the charity. The process is quite simple and myself and the Small Change team would be happy to answer any of your questions.” 

Your direct donation of appreciated securities means more of your money goes directly towards making a difference to important causes, plus you get a larger tax credit. It’s a win – win!\

If you are interested in learning more about donating securities, please reach out to kim@smallchangefund.ca.  

Looking for a tasty way to support a great cause? 

We are working with Citizens for Safe Ground Water Inc. to Stop the Hallman Pit, an open pit mine threatening the farmland and ground water of Waterloo Region (ON) communities. Supporting this cause has never been tastier – get your tickets here for an afternoon of cheese and wine samples at Puddicombe House in New Hamburg, ON on February 26th. 

New Year, New Projects! 

Learn more about our newest initiatives by clicking the links below: 

• Amplifying Climate Education for Lifelong Learners 
• Keep the Greenbelt Promise 
• Protecting Northumberland County’s Environment and Farmland

We thank everyone who responded to end-of-year appeals for projects big and small. Your generosity is making a difference and creating change across the country! 

Stay warm! 

Sincerely, 

The Small Change Fund Team