Amanda Jones used to visit “secret beach” when she was in high school. It was a secluded sandy place near the water where she could take time to relax. Today, Jones still likes to visit the beach except now she takes multiple trash bags with her to clean up before she can enjoy it. This […]
Tag: Environment
It’s easy to be green in East Toronto
This article marks my debut as the environmental columnist for this paper and I am excited for the opportunity. In these columns I will explore environmental issues with an emphasis on local relevance. To me, it is important to build awareness and interest in our local green projects as well as tell the stories of […]
Moving on to greener – and quieter – pastures
If it were April, you may have thought this were a joke: This is my farewell column. I have moved. Flown the nest, moved to new pastures. While modern technology would, of course, allow me to continue writing and submitting this green column from a distance, Beaches–East York readers will do better with a writer […]
Environment Views: When it rains, it pours
As yet another June rainfall pelts against my windows, I am thinking about the still flooded Woodbine Beach, and photos and film footage I have seen of the Toronto Islands underwater. I know I am not the only one worrying about this year’s disturbing spring weather and how it affects homeowners, nature lovers, motorists, wildlife […]
Environment Views: 5 things I discovered at Toronto’s 2017 Green Living Show
From April 7-9, the Green Living Show made its annual appearance at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Once I had fought my way through that Friday’s stormy headwind, I spent a good four hours exploring the almost 260 vendor booths and live presentations. I had been tasked to find and report on my Top Five […]
Turn old clothes into new treasures
I felt great satisfaction and relief when I recently placed another two large bags of my used and still wearable clothes on my front porch for pickup. As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. This time, my “castoffs” went to the Ontario Foundation for Cerebral Palsy. Their free pick-ups service the […]
Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree!
Every December, seasonal holidays and festivities like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and others bring together families, friends, and community. Although it can be a tough time for some families and individuals, the days are marked by celebratory foods and drink, festive decorations, music, presents, happy cheer, and, at times, some reflection. And every year, the preparations, […]
6 tips to reduce your environmental footprint
At the September 14 Town Hall hosted by Beaches-East York MP, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, yours truly attended as one of the panel members. There, I spoke about the top six ways in which each individual or household can do their share to reduce their environmental ‘footprint’ and impact on climate change. I could only say so […]
A bee or not a bee – that is the question
Every year when the warm season arrives and flowers, shrubs, and fruit trees bloom and provide nectar and pollen for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other insects, often-feared and misunderstood little yellow and black ‘buzzers’ start arriving too. The differences between “the birds, the bees, and the butterflies” are surely obvious, but do you know who’s who […]
Earth Hour and Earth Day — do they really matter?
I am in an eco-funk. After many years of environmental volunteering and efforts to engage my fellow citizens, this year’s disappointing winter – I like my winters cold and with lots of snow – and our current confused spring have made me a little cynical about un-met expectations. Last month my expectations of the annual […]
