A Message From Our President
Dear Friends,
We lost a giant of Ontario politics last month. Jim Bradley was a 41-year veteran of Queen’s Park and a determined advocate for his riding of St. Catharines. Many have called him Ontario’s best environment minister ever, and his accomplishments are legendary (bye-bye acid rain).
I was fortunate to have enjoyed many interactions with Jim (he wasn’t one for formalities). I still remember my first one at a conference in 1989: I gave him a t-shirt that I had made about reducing pollution to the Great Lakes.
One main thing stood out about Jim for me: his extreme decency. He wasn’t just “super nice,” as TVO’s Steve Paikin called him. Jim was modest, polite, gentle, almost noble. Indeed, if you looked up ‘decency’ in the dictionary there would be a picture of Jim. ‘Decency’* is connected to the Latin word for ‘honour’ – how appropriate.
Jim’s decency is perhaps best illustrated by his love of sports – hockey, football or baseball – he was a fan of it all. And in the 1980s and 1990s he would go see games with members of Provincial Parliament from the other parties. There, Liberal, Tory and NDP sat together, chatted and enjoyed the game. No politics needed.
It’s sad that today’s ultra-partisanship doesn’t much allow for this anymore.
Rest in peace, Jim. And I hope you get to watch the Blue Jays wherever you are.
– Burkhard
*The root, decere, is connected to words like decus (“honour”).
Special Halloween-Inspired Edition!
“This film makes ‘Saw’ look like a cartoon.”
Award-winning documentary Fairy Creek is currently touring in Nova Scotia. The film chronicles grassroots efforts to stop old-growth logging in the Fairy Creek valley on Vancouver Island, Canada – unceded Pacheedaht territory.
Communications and Project Manager Abbie Branchflower attended the Wolfville screening last night. “The film is incredibly powerful,” she said. “It touches on so many critical issues beyond the need to protect old-growth – Indigenous rights, grassroots action, what it means to physically stand for something you believe in.” Click here to support the impact campaign for the film.
Dis-Member of the Board!
We are pleased to welcome David Oved to the Small Change Fund Board. David is a former Queen’s Park reporter and worked as a political aide to Ontario Minister Jim Bradley and as an environmental communications consultant for non profits.
“I have followed Small Change Fund’s work for many years and am glad to join the team,” says David. “The Fund’s work aligns directly with the causes I have worked on over the years and I am excited to approach these issues from a different angle.”
Pioneering Spirits
At its 20th anniversary, the Greenbelt Foundation asked our President Burkhard Mausberg to present an award to an early Greenbelt leader: Sandy Houston. Sandy was the first Board Chair of the Greenbelt Foundation and led the organization to tremendous success. Congratulations, Sandy!
Village of the AmsterDamned!
(Look, these puns hurt us as much as they hurt you. Let’s just try to get through them, okay?)
This autumn, I visited Amsterdam – the chocolate, cheese and windmills were as wonderful as I had imagined. But what stuck with me most was the city’s commitment to active transportation and a clean energy revolution. Given the rush away from climate-friendly policies by so many of the world’s leaders, it was cheering.
Amsterdam’s bike culture is legendary. Everyone is on bikes, from parents and tots to business leaders to delivery people (including movers). Safe and dedicated bike lanes make all the difference. The city’s tram system is electric and reliable, and while the Dutch federal government has ended EV incentives, Amsterdam provides EV drivers with free parking and charging at city facilities when they first purchase their vehicles. As of 2025, even canal boats need to be running emission-free in the nearly 100 km of canals. Go clean and the future will thank you!
– Kim Bilous, VP Fundraising
Let The Right Ones Win
Climate change is a plague. But we have a(n eco-friendly) plaque. Let the battle begin…
Small Change Fund is proud to co-host the annual Canadian Youth Climate Action Awards with Pivot Green. Last month, the runner up prize was presented to Human Nature Projects Canada for their work engaging over 10,000 youth in environmental education, conservation, restoration and protection. At Small Change Fund we are thrilled to recognize these incredible youth who are tackling the climate crisis head-on. Click here to read about all of the 2025 prize winners.
A Sweet of New Projects
If you haven’t had enough treats yet (well no wonder your stomach hurts, I said you could have ONE candy every night after dinner, not eleven), then check out our “sweet” of new projects:
Moving Forward Together: Healing Forest
The Niigaan maamwiying Healing Forest in Burlington, ON is a place of healing, reflection and acknowledgement of our shared treaty relationships. It also represents an ongoing commitment to Reconciliation. We have partnered to maintain this special space, as well as provide educational opportunities both onsite and remotely.
We have partnered with the STORM Coalition to protect the future of the Oak Ridges Moraine by exposing threats to this critical ecosystem and empowering citizens to act to save it.
Revive the Yorklands: A Community Vision for Nature and Belonging
Yorklands Green Hub have long reimagined the former Ontario Reformatory lands in Guelph as a living classroom and urban green space. We have joined them to make this vision a reality.
Stop Illegal Mining And Quarries In Prince Edward County
We have partnered with Picton Environmental Co-op to fight against illegal mining in Prince Edward County and hold Picton Terminals accountable for over a decade of environmental and community harm.
Scarborough Repair and Renew Program
Our partners from the Scarborough Environmental Association are supporting community and climate action by offering free repair cafes, sewing classes and popup bike repair events to residents.
Small News Bites
- Grave News: We are pleased to report that an eco-friendly burial ground is in the works for the Oro Medonte area. Susan Greer, partner on our long running project to promote natural burial grounds in Ontario, provides information about natural burial grounds and what locals can expect in this interview with CBC Listen.
- Night of the Living Roof: Our partners from Green Infrastructure Network BC presented preliminary results from our green roof mapping project at the BC Society of Landscape Architects conference. Check out the analysis here.
- Who you gonna call? Getonthebusters! Our recent Get on the Bus webinar was a hit with communities and advocates alike. Missed it? Watch the recording and check out our newly released youth transit training “Ride Guide“!
We hope everyone enjoys some tasty Halloween treats!
Stay spooky,
The Small Change Fund team
P.S. Your donation directly to Small Change Fund allows us to keep improving services and supports to help more grassroots projects succeed nationwide. Thank you for helping make change!
