Our Fragile Planet: Environmental Programs for Fall 2017
This fall, authors, researchers, storm chasers and various environmental organizations will present at branches across the city as part of Our Fragile Planet, a program series dedicated to raising awareness about the state of our planet and how we can protect and green our communities.
Supported by the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation since 2014, Our Fragile Planet has programs for all ages, free of charge.
Here's a highlight of the programs:
The 3Rs Lifestyle: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Every Day – Various dates and locations
Environmental sustainability starts with the basics – reduce, reuse and recycle! A member of the City of Toronto's Solid Waste Management Services' 3Rs Ambassador Volunteer Program will talk about why the 3Rs are important, how they impact the environment and what the community at large is doing to help increase their usage.
- Perth/Dupont Branch – Wednesday, October 11, 4-5 p.m.
- Bloor Gladstone Branch – Thursday, October 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
- Humber Bay Branch – Thursday, November 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
- S. Walter Stewart Branch – Monday, November 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Identify Trees In Your Neighbourhood – Friday, October 13, 4-5:30 pm
Have you ever wondered what kind of trees grow in your neighbourhood? A member of Forests Ontario will show you how to identify trees using the Tree Bee app, and help you learn more about forests and the trees you walk by every day on your way into the library.
Grow Milkweeds for Monarch Butterflies – Various dates and locations
Help save the endangered monarch butterflies by growing milkweed plants in hands-on workshops led by Toronto Master Gardeners.
- Fort York - Saturday, October 14, 10:30 a.m.-12 noon
- Oakwood Village – Tuesday, October 17, 4-5:30 p.m.
- Woodside Square – Saturday, November 4, 2-3:30 p.m.
- Leaside – Saturday, November 11, 2-3:30 p.m.
…find more locations and dates.
Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights: A Toolkit for Change – Monday, October 16, 6 p.m.
The Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), gives you the right to be involved whenever Ontario’s environmental laws and policies are changed. Ellen Schwartzel, Deputy Commissioner from the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, will talk about how you can add your ideas to Ontario’s environmental discussions.
Out of the Depths: Blue Whales Research at the ROM – Various dates and locations
Did you miss the Blue Whales exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum? Here's another chance to learn about the whales and the research undertaken at the ROM – Oliver Haddrath, a research technician at the ROM, will talk about the whales, their biology and population dynamics with the goal of saving this endangered species.
- Main Street - Wednesday, October 18, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
- Northern District - Tuesday, November 7, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
- Lillian H. Smith – Saturday, November 11, 2-3:15 p.m.
Food Waste in Toronto – Monday, October 23, 6 p.m.
Did you know that Toronto would only have three days worth of fresh food if our nation was unable to acquire food from abroad? Tammara Soma, project manager of Food Systems Lab and co-founder of the International Food Loss and Food Waste Studies group, will talk about different initiatives she's working on to make our city and the world more sustainable and how we can all reduce food waste and improve food security and resiliency.
The Great Lakes and Blue Flag Beaches – Tuesday, November 7, 7 p.m.
When we talk about "greening" our planet, our beautifully blue Great Lakes are not overlooked, especially when they hold 20 percent of the world's available surface freshwater and provide drinking water to 45 million Canadians and Americans. Environmental Defence will talk about the threats our lakes face, from over-development to pollution from agricultural and urban areas.
Earth’s Extremes and a Changing Planet – Thursday, November 9, at 1 p.m.
From chasing hurricanes and tornadoes, to descending down volcanoes and exploring some of the most remote and ecologically-sensitive places on Earth, meet George Kourounis, global adventurer, explorer and television presenter best known for the TV series Angry Planet. He will talk about his first-hand experience documenting natural disasters, climate change and other extreme forces of nature.
An Enduring Wilderness: Toronto's Natural Parkland – Wednesday, November 15, at 7 p.m.
If you're not already familiar with Toronto's extensive network of sunken rivers, ravines and expansive shoreline, let renowned photographer Robert Burley bring our city's parklands to life through a discussion of his latest book, An Enduring Wilderness: Toronto's Natural Parklands. Robert will talk about how these green spaces are integral parts of urban life.
And in case you missed these programs, you can still read the books:
- Britt Wray's Rise of the Necrofauna: The Science, Ethics, and Risks of De-Extinction
- Chris Turner's The Patch: The People, Pipelines, and Politics of the Oil Sands
Check out more recommended environmental-related reading.
Our Fragile Planet programs for this fall are also bullfrogpowered with 100 percent green electricity. This means that Bullfrog Power's generators put 100 percent green power onto the grid to match the amount of conventional electricity the event uses, displacing energy from polluting sources.
Across Canada, Bullfrog's green electricity comes from a blend of wind and low-impact hydro power sourced from new Canadian renewable energy facilities.
Comments