eco-newseco-newseco-newseco-newseco-newseco-newseco … · according to dr. sherri mason, a full...

Plastic was created at the turn of the centuryto replace wood, silk, metal and other naturalmaterials that humans were using in excess.Used in all sorts of consumer goods, plastic isstrong and durable, but it also has a downsideaccording to Dr. Sherri Mason, a Full Professorin the Department of Chemistry andBiochemistry at the State University of NewYork at Fredonia. Dr. Mason was in ThunderBay last month to present the latest findings ofher leading edge research on microplastics atpublic events sponsored by EcoSuperior.

Dr. Mason was the Principal Investigator inthe first-ever survey of plastic within the surfacewater of the Great Lakes in 2012 and 2013. Theresults of her work were astounding. Herresearch group found pieces of plastic, most

smaller than the end of your pencil, in astonish-ing amounts in all of the Great Lakes. LakeOntario had levels exceeding 1.3 million piecesper square km. “Why should we care?,” Dr.Mason asked. She then proceeded to explainwhy plastic pollution in the Great Lakes is a bigproblem. Plastic bits concentrate chemical pol-lutant – like DDT – from water. The prelimi-nary results of a food web study show that fishare eating these contaminated plastic bits, thenpassing them on to animals higher up the foodchain. Dr. Mason’s conclusion? “We are 70%water. If it’s in the water, it’s in us.”

Dr. Mason was joined by Dr. Paul Helm, aSenior Research Scientist with the Great LakesUnit of the Ontario Ministry of the Environmentand Climate Change, at a presentation to over

150 high school and Confederation College stu-dents organized by EcoSuperior in partnershipwith EarthCare Thunder Bay. Dr. Mason andDr. Helm were also featured scientists at aScience Café organized by Science North andEcoSuperior. When asked by participants whatwe could do about microplastic pollution in theGreat Lakes, both scientists agreed that the onlysolution is to keep plastic out of the water in thefirst place.

We can all reduce our use of plastic products,especially single-use disposable items such asshopping bags, takeout containers, bottled waterand plastic packaging. In addition, we can avoidpersonal care products that contain plasticmicrobeads because the tiny pieces of plastic gostraight down the drain and are not all captured

at the wastewater treatment plant. Some end upin Lake Superior. We can also choose naturaltextiles over synthetic textiles such as nylon,fleece or polyesters. When synthetic clothes arewashed, the plastic fibres are released and alsoend up at the wastewater treatment plant, andsome make their way into Lake Superior. Wecan all help to reduce plastic pollution!

Contact EcoSuperior at [email protected] book a presentation about microplastics foryour community group or workplace.

October 2015

Eco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-News

Q&A: Mitigating for high radon levels

• Urban Chickens• Rain Garden Gallery

• Composting in Winter• Great Lakes Student Conference

• Farmer Training Program• Radon Awareness EventsInside

Leading Plastics ResearchPresented in Thunder Bay

Radon is a radioactive, naturally occurring soil gas, and it isthe highest cause of lung cancer in Canadian non-smokers.Fortunately, testing homes for radon is easy – DIY test kits areavailable at EcoSuperior’s office for just $35. But what do youdo if your test result shows a high level of radon? Last fall,Serge and Nicole Tittley tested their home and received a highresult. Our Radon Awareness project coordinator Caroline Coxspoke to Serge about the steps he and Nicole have taken tominimize their radon exposure.

EcoSuperior: Why did you decide to test for radon?

Serge Tittley: I think it’s important that people take the issue seri-ously. Just because it’s an invisible gas, doesn’t mean it’s harm-less. In fact, the opposite.

ES: What were the results of your initial radon test?

ST: Our first testing period ran from Oct. ‘14 to Jan. ‘15 and the

level was 434. We were told that was pretty high.

ES: What was your reaction when you saw your radon level?

ST: We were surprised to say the least, even shocked that the lev-els were so high. We had read up on radon and were taking it seri-ously. Given the clay soil, we didn’t expect radon to be an issue.

ES: What was the advice of the Canadian National RadonProficiently Program certified professional that you contacted,and what steps have you taken to reduce your exposure levels?

ST: The contractor spoke to us in a personal visit. He repeated the[radon] test. He conducted an air flow test and he also gave us tipson how to seal drains and other possible venting types. We did sealthe sump pump, which is quite active in the spring, we sealeddrains, and the attic access with silicon. We also kept our basementwindows open and we kept the air exchanger in frequent use.

ES: Approximately how much did these steps cost?

ST: All the mitigation factors were easy to do so far. It’s just amatter of increasing the ventilation. I’d say there’s been a mini-mal financial investment so far.

ES: Now that you’ve taken measures to lower your levels, are youre-testing?

ST: Yes, we are. Our test period runs from June this year toJanuary 2016. We hope and expect our levels will have beenreduced substantially by then.

ES: How do you feel about radon levels in your home now?

ST: We’re still concerned. We plan to evaluate the results in thenew year and if they’re still high, we’ll investigate other mitiga-tion strategies. That could include consulting a contractor toinstall a ground mitigation system. That could be expensive, butworth it given our desire to have a radon-free home.

More about Radon on page 4.

Dr. SherriMason

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 2

First edible bus stoplaunched in the city

The many community programs and projects that you will read about in this newsletter would not be possible without the efforts of those who finance andcontribute to EcoSuperior’s activities. Through contributions of ideas, connections, expertise and financial support, the following organizations have playeda major role in our success. We extend our sincere gratitude to the individuals within these organizations who have helped us along the way.

• Acadia Broadcasting• CBC Radio• The Chronicle-Journal• City of Thunder Bay• Confederation College• DST Consulting Engineers• Dougall Media• EarthCare Thunder Bay

• Environment Canada• Evergreen• Form Architecture Engineering• Green Communities Canada• Habitat for Humanity• Health Canada• Landale Gardens

• TbayTel• T.B. District Health Unit• Tim Hortons• Township of Terrace Bay• Township of Marathon• Township of Nipigon• Union Gas

• MNP• Ontario Ministry of the Environment &

Climate Change• Ontario Power Generation• Ontario Trillium Foundation• ReCool Canada• Resolute Forest Products

In addition to the list above, we must thank the many local businesses who make it possible for people to make the right choices; the local media that helpus spread the word, and many volunteer and committee members who provide invaluable assistance.

Community Partners

Boardof Directors

We know by your phone calls and huge response to EcoNews that you might like to see it more often. However, we only have the budget to publish twice a year. Ifyou’d like more news from us, please sign up for our new E-News, sent out monthly to subscribers only. Visit our website and look for the sign-up box – enter youre-mail address and click on Submit. We’ll send you a quick and lively e-newsletter at the beginning of every month. You’ll be the first to know about new programsand offers coming up. Subscribe now – it’s free and we promise not to send you anything but our monthly newsletter!

Want MoreEcoNews??

A big thank you to the individualswho generously provide time andexpertise to guide the operation ofEcoSuperior:

Executive:President: Colin KellyConfederation College

Vice-President: Jane ToddRetiredTreasurer: Tim MatthewsStam LawSecretary: Ken AllanThunder Bay District Health Unit

Directors:Dr. Anthony GilliesLakehead University

Bryan HepplerRetired

Pat JohansenRetired

Deneen BrighamOntario First NationsTechnical Services

Chris WaltonArbora Consulting

James HeighMHPM

Our StaffExecutive Director:Ellen Mortfield

Operations Supervisor:Jay Eingold

Staff:Julia PrinselaarLucie LavoieAshley PriemErin MoirJamie SaundersAynsley KlassenShannon CostiganKendal DonahueCaroline CoxChris Servais

Bookkeeper:Kathy Deley

About Eco-NewsEcoNews is produced by EcoSuperior Environmental Programs. Look for our regular editions in your Chronicle Journal every April and October. All the articlesare written by EcoSuperior staff unless otherwise credited. We are a non-profit organization, providing public education programs and encouraging environmen-tal stewardship in the Lake Superior basin and beyond. If you would like to comment on our programs, please contact us: 562 Red River Road, Thunder Bay,Ontario P7B 1H3 • Telephone 807-624-2140 • Fax 807-622-0005 • www.ecosuperior.org • [email protected]

In June of this year, EcoSuperior installed Thunder Bay’s first-ever edible bus stop in front of its office near the corner of RedRiver Rd and Hill St.

The wooden container garden next to the bus shelter providestransit riders with seasonal healthy snacks that are free to beenjoyed as they ripen. The veggies are aptly coined with nameslike “commuter cukes,” “transit tomatoes,” “pedestrian peas,” and“bike rack berries.”

A project supported by the Thunder Bay and Area FoodStrategy, the objective of the edible bus stop is to demonstrate cre-ative and functional ways of implementing urban agriculture whilepromoting sustainable and active transportation.

Food Strategy coordinator Kendal Donahue says it’s an ideawith a lot of community benefits.

“It’s a creative way to help promote transit as well as locallygrown food and healthier snacks. Food gardens in unexpectedplaces show people how easy it is to grow vegetables, and caringfor the gardens helps build a sense of community,” she adds.

Thunder Bay Transit provided the signage and hopes to see theconcept take root at other bus stops around the city.

Edible bus stops are a concept that emerged in a high-riskneighbourhood in London, England in 2012 when a group ofurban interventionists created garden beds along one bus route.Pop-up urban agriculture projects have since spread to other citiesin the United Kingdom and North America.

Transit riders canhelp themselves to seasonalsnacks at the transit shelter

in front of our office.


People who suffer from Multiple ChemicalSensitivity (MCS) can have serious reactions toproducts such as perfume, deodorant, even sham-poos and soaps. Most often, fragrance in theseproducts is the harmful culprit. The fact is that mostfragrance ingredients are toxic to everyone, butsome people can tolerate higher concentrationsthan others.

If you’d like to learn more about the problemswith fragrance, check EcoSuperior’s website underPublications/Fact Sheets, where you’ll find a help-ful resource. You may also be interested in joiningFragrance Free Friends, a local group that is work-ing to bring more awareness to this issue. DiannePotts is a founding member of the group, whichmeets monthly, and offers more resources on theirwebsite and Facebook page. Dianne, a local musicteacher, recounted a recent experience that high-lights the difficulties that people with MCS face ona regular basis:

I always get a little nervous when I start backpiano teaching every September and find myself sit-ting close to someone wearing problematic laundrydetergent, hair products, etc. Being self-employed,I lose a day’s pay every day I'm ill. I don't have todeal with a boss who doesn’t understand, however,I personally have to express my difficulties directlywith my clients in a kind and sensitive way.

That’s where the little business card size infocards from Fragrance Free Friends are invaluable tostaple into their assignment book if I'm having areaction to anything they have brought into myworkspace. Beside it, I write a little note somethinglike... “I was hoping you might be able to assist me.When your daughter came to piano today, I noticedthat I found it difficult to concentrate and see themusic. Are you using a new laundry detergent orhair product, perhaps? Your assistance to help mefigure out what might be affecting me will help meto be at my best while I am working. Thank you!”The responses back are always caring and sincere.People don't want me to be underperforming and noone wants me ill. I asked a 10 year old girl if therewas something new today that might have fragranceon it. She looked so afraid – like a deer in theheadlights. I heard myself saying, “You didn’t doanything wrong. It's not your fault and it's not myfault that my body reacts to things that have fra-grance. Thanks for helping me figure this out soI don't have to be ill at your lessons.” She imme-diately relaxed, smiled and felt HELPFUL. It endedup being her book bag that had hung in a closet withsachets in it all summer long! I'm pleased we won'thave that recurring problem.

WhenFragrance

Hurts

The paper you are reading is manufacturedby your friends and neighbours who workat Resolute Forest Products – Thunder Bay Operations

ReStore-ItAuction Entry

Lunch ‘n’ LearnsEver wonder what’s in your personal care products or household

cleaning products? Well wonder no more, EcoSuperior has youcovered!

We are offering free lunch and learn sessions for workplaces of 10or more employees. Our current feature, Keep It Simple, highlightsthe environmental and human health concerns hidden in everydaypersonal care products and household cleaning products. This halfhour program is great for a workplace break; or gather a group dur-ing lunch to learn about this growing concern and simple ways youcan live a healthier, greener life.

In addition to demonstrating the environmental and human healthconcerns of these products, EcoSuperior shares some hands-on tools,tips and tricks to help you make informed decisions. The presentationalso promotes a trade-in event; bring in any one cleaning product witha hazardous symbol on the label, and we’ll trade you for a GreenCleaning Kit. Groups may also choose the DIY option and learn tomake a Lemon Sugar Body Scrub out of simple household ingredients.

Check out our website at www.ecosuperior.org under Services –Speakers & Presentations or contact [email protected] to book afree presentation today!

Hi everyone – Bernie the Burn Barrelhere! I’ve had the most wonderful summerand I want to tell you all about it.

If anyone understands the challenge ofdealing with trash, it’s me. Everyone elseleaves theirs with me to hang on to! Andeven though it might seem like an easy solu-tion for campers or hikers to just burn it outin the wilderness, I’m here to say “Pleasedon’t!” Setting garbage on fire releases allkinds of nasty pollutants into the air webreathe, and those pollutants eventually set-tle into our water and soil.

That’s why I’m proud to make the roundseach summer season, with the help ofEcoSuperior and the support of the Ontario

government. Once my power cord is pluggedin, I have colourful, moving flames and abutton that helps me spreadmy message to all kinds ofinteresting people. This sum-mer I went to Dog Lake overthe long weekend, and also gotto hang out for a week at theLoon Lake Rec. Centre where Ihad a great time with all of thekids! I was also busy in August,joining in the Long Lake 58 FirstNation Environmental Festivaland the Ginoogaming FirstNation Cultural Week . There’s somuch going on in the Thunder Bay

region; incredible outdoor adventures sur-round us at every turn.

Well, thanks for taking amoment to let me say mypiece. I know sometimes it’snot as convenient to disposeof litter safely when you’recamping or in the middle of aroad trip. But it’s the rightthing to do, and it will ensurethat our lovely natural worldis preserved for the nextcampers, and the next genera-tion of campers, to see andenjoy as well.

See you around!

EcoSuperior staff Jamie,Kendal and Julia created aunique entry in support ofthe Habitat for Humanityfundraiser auction. Our “Up-Cycling Upstarts” team tookan outdated bedroom night-stand and turned it into acontemporary bathroom van-ity with vessel sink andceramic tile top, all fromitems found at the Restore! Before

After

Bernie the Burn Barrel –What I Did This Summer


Installing a sealed sump pit cover is one of the stepsSerge and Nicole Tittley have taken to reduce radon

levels in their home. This and other mitigationmeasures are on display in the Radon

Demonstration Room at EcoSuperior’s office at562 Red River Rd.

Radon gas exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, and many homes in the ThunderBay area have high radon levels.

That’s the message behind two public workshops that will be delivered by EcoSuperior this fall. The work-shops aim to provide community members with information about testing their homes for radon. The firstworkshop will be held at Mary J.L. Black Library Auditorium on November 26 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, with thesecond at Waverley Library Auditorium on November 30 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. Participants can register atEcosuperior.eventbrite.org.

Radon is a radioactive gas that is created when uranium decomposes in soil. All homes have some level ofradon. The question is: how much?

Fortunately, testing your home’s radon level is easy and inexpensive. A long-term radon test kit that lasts 3months to 1 year returns accurate results. The kit can be deployed by the resident or by a testing professionalwho is certified by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program.

Health Canada guidelines recommend that homes with levels above 200 Bq/m3 should be mitigated to lowerresidents’ exposure levels. While 6.9% of homes nationally have high radon, approximately 13 per cent ofhomes in Thunder Bay are testing high. Although it’s hard to identify the reason that radon levels are higherhere, soil type, soil permeability, home construction type, and home ventilation rate are some factors that deter-mine radon levels.

EcoSuperior hopes that the workshop will demonstrate the importance of testing homes for radon. A shortpresentation will be followed by a Q&A session with C-NRPP certified testing professional Don Rutledge andEcoSuperior program coordinator Caroline Cox.

Radon kits will be for sale during the workshops for $35. Kits are also available at EcoSuperior’s office at562 Red River Rd and at ecosuperior.org.

It happens every spring – at least one sheepish homeowner comes tothe office to purchase a new rain barrel, saying “I forgot to put it away forthe winter – it cracked wide open!” Any water left in your rain barrel overthe winter will freeze andexpand, usually splittingthe plastic barrel dur-ing that process.

To guarantee manyyears of service fromyour rain barrel, remove itfrom under your downspoutand turn it upside down in asheltered place. Don’t leaveyour downspout hanging –put an extension on it tomake sure run-off is directedat least 2 to 3 meters awayfrom the house.

If you have one of thefamous painted rain barrelsfrom our annual spring auctionevent, it should be stored indoorsfor the winter, in a basement orheated garage. Before you put itback outdoors in the spring, spray witha fresh coat of clear acrylic outdoor varnish.

Radon Awareness Workshopsshow homeowners how to test, mitigate

Don’tCrack Up! For the third summer in a row EcoSuperior hosted a

Summer Day Camp at the Central Natural EnvironmentGardens. Four uniquely themed weeks were planned for twoweeks in July and two weeks in August. Children wereencouraged to explore, experience, imagine and create theirown connection to all that surrounds us through guided envi-ronmentally themed activities and investigations.

Throughout the summer, campers enjoyed hands-on expe-riences of all kinds! From netting crayfish in the McIntyreRiver to learning to geocache, building bat houses and solarovens, making paper and birch bark canoes – our summer wasbusy!

In addition to all the activities planned by EcoSuperior, wehad many special guests from throughout the community thatenhanced the campers’ experience. Our guests includedinstructors from Safe Cycling Thunder Bay, Lakehead Searchand Rescue’s Hug-a-Tree Program, Confederation College’sLet’s Talk Science Program, officers from the HMCS GRIF-FON, Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry and theOntario Provincial Police, and summer students with theMetis Nation of Ontario Youth Cultural Program. Each ofthese organizations deserves a huge thank you for volunteer-ing their time and resources to add to our summer schedule.Not only did our guest speakers share new experiences withour campers, they also introduced new programs and activitiesto help connect the youth to many opportunities throughoutthe City.

During the winter season, staff will be busy planning anoth-er fun-filled summer schedule. This year’s great response tothe Summer Day Camp program leads us to believe that fam-

ilies are eager for nature-based and ecologically-friendlyoptions for their children. Follow us on Facebook for a firstlook at 2016 registration details next spring, and watch for ouradvertisement in the City’s Summer Key.

Summer Fun

Geocaching alongthe McIntyre River.


Congratula ons to EcoSuperior on 20 years of Educa on &

Advocacy! 179 S. Algoma St., Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 3C1T: (807) 345-3467 | 1-888-516-5555michaelgravelle.onmpp.ca

Michael Gravelle, MPPThunder Bay-Superior North

There is a new kind of garden cropping up in people’s yards. Rain gardens are landscapeddepressions that soak up rainwater, instead of letting the run-off rush into storm drains thatempty directly into our local streams. Many residents took advantage of the Rain GardenRebate Program funded by the City of Thunder Bay to install a rain garden in their yardthis summer. Consider beautifying your property while helping to manage stormwaterby creating a rain garden in your own yard!

The wildflowers and native shrubs planted by Nancy Serediak in her garden absorb lots ofrainwater while providing habitat for birds, butterflies and other insects. The rainwater

enters this garden through an underground weeping tile that is connected to her downspout.

Kathy Pattyson has used lots of gravel and river stones to channel and filter water in her rain garden. Thisbeautiful addition to her yard is helping to recharge our groundwater, and helps to protect neighbourhoodsfrom flooding and drainage problems.

Nadine Hedican and John Hodson’s garden is ready for planting. They have dug a shallow basinlocated downhill from their downspout. The shallow berm around the edge of the garden willhold the rainwater in the basin for several hours, until it is absorbed.

The rainwater from Mark and Nancy Serediak’s roof is channeled from the downspout through riverstones to their rain garden, where it will be absorbed. Gardens like this keep our streams clean byreducing the amount of polluted runoff that goes into street drains.

Rainwater: Suck it Up!


Behind the Scenes Public ToursEver wonder where your bags of garbage and recycling goonce they leave the curb? Don’t miss the opportunity to witnessthe behind-the-scenes operations of the ReCool MaterialsRecovery Facility and the City of Thunder Bay Solid Waste &Recycling Facility.

Tuesday, October 20 • 1:30pm - 3:30pm Tour the ReCool Recycling Plant and find out how our recycledcans, boxes, bottles and paper are processed.

Thursday, October 22 • 9:30am - 11:30amTour the Solid Waste & Recycling Facility and learn about howdifferent types of wastes are managed.

Both tours are free and transportation is provided. Call 624-2141to reserve a seat now! Space is limited.

Waste Reduction andRecycling Information FairSaturday, October 24 • 9:30am - 6:00pmIntercity MallThe City of Thunder Bay, EcoSuperior, and ConfederationCollege will be at Intercity with giveaways and information onways you can reduce waste. Learn to how to recycle, compost andreuse household items and lessen your environmental footprint.Find us in the promo court and enter the draw for great prizes.

Composter andRain Barrel Delivery ServiceTake advantage of our complimentary delivery service offeredexclusively during Waste Reduction Week. Call EcoSuperior at624-2141 to reserve a composter or rain barrel and enjoy free, to-your-doorstep delivery. Composters ($25) and rain barrels($65) – payable by credit card over the phone or by cheque orexact change on delivery.

School ProgramsOctober 19 - 23EcoSuperior staff will be visiting dozens of classrooms duringWaste Reduction Week. These fun and interactive presentationswill help students learn the importance of re-using, reducing andrecycling. Call Erin @ 624-2147 to book presentations.

Check EcoSuperior's website for details on how you can wingreat prizes in our Waste Reduction Week Contests:

Waste Reduction WeekContests and Giveaways!• Poster Contest for Kids• Get Caught Recycling

• Waste Reduction Week Trivia

Waste Reduction Week takes place right across Canada each year in October. ThunderBay will once again be a part of this nationwide celebration to raise awareness ofwaste reduction. There are lots of great ways to get involved. Here’s the scoop on allof the activities offered during the week by the City of Thunder Bay Infrastructure andOperations Department, EcoSuperior and our community partners:

Waste Reduction WeekOctober 19 to 25, 2015

For more information visit www.ecosuperior.org/wrwMany thanks to our Waste Reduction Week Sponsors: City of Thunder Bay Infrastructure and Operations Department, Recool Canada Inc. and Ungalli Clothing Co.Waste Reduction Week is funded by the City of Thunder Bay and delivered by EcoSuperior Environmental Programs.

Recyclable materials being sorted at Recool Canada.

Thunder Bay has a Halloweentradition that you won’t find inevery city – it’s the annual GreatPumpkin Compost Collection!Instead of sending all thosejack-o-lanterns out to the curb ina trash bag to be landfilled, helpturn them back into valuablecompost by placing them in oneof three collection bins aroundtown. Other compostable deco-rations such as cornstalks andstraw can also be placed in the bin. Just remember to removeall candles and other non-compostable items.

Since its inception in 1995, the project has seen over 370tonnes of pumpkins diverted from landfill to the municipalcomposting site.

Collection bins will in place from November 1 to 13, 2015at the following locations:

• County Fair Plaza on Dawson Road• Lakehead Labour Centre on Fort William Road• Westfort Playfield off Neebing Avenue

Many thanks to our sponsors: City of Thunder Bay Infrastructure andOperations Department and Recool Canada Inc. This waste reductionprogram is funded by the City of Thunder Bay and delivered byEcoSuperior Environmental Programs.

Reducing your waste-line doesn’t have to be difficult.Actions as simple as using reusable mugs, water bottles, andcontainers for lunches, printing double sided or committingto recycling or composting can all make a difference. Do youknow someone who is making an effort to reduce their wasteat work, school or in the community? EcoSuperior and theCity of Thunder Bay want to hear from you! Let us knowwho should be recognized as community waste reductionchampions. Their actions could be profiled during specialWaste Reduction Week features. For more information or tosubmit a nomination visit www.ecosuperior.org/wrw.

Nominate a CommunityWaste Reduction Champion!

Great Pumpkin

Compost

Collection!


Craft Beer Festival Goes GreenWhat could be better than lounging in Marina

Park with samples from local breweries? The sunis shining, live, local music wafts through the air,and food vendors are only steps away. This wasthe scene at Brew Ha Craft Beer Festival onAugust 14 and 15. But what made this event trulyextraordinary was the organizers’ efforts to pro-tect the planet, which won Brew Ha a Litter FreeGreen Event certification from EcoSuperiorEnvironmental Programs.

“Kerry Berlinquette and I have been involved ina few beer related events and couldn’t stand throw-ing so many cups away at the end of the night,”said co-organizer Jon Hendel. “We sat down andlooked at all aspects of the footprint of the eventand researched ways we could reduce it.”

Each attendee received a sample glass to useduring the event and take home, and rinse stationswere provided. Other environmental effortsincluded electronic tickets, cigarette butt recy-cling outside the festival area, and an event pro-gram printed in The Walleye. Perhaps Brew Ha’sgreatest achievement was minimal waste fromdisposable dishes – vendors who wanted to pro-vide additional sample cups weren’t allowed tobring styrofoam or non-recyclable plastics.

“Building the strict responsibilities of the ven-dors into our vendor contracts took some time,”Hendel said. “We really wanted to get it right andnot have too much of an impact on our vendors.We researched best practices, but really developedsomething that worked well for our community.”

To encourage participants to use green trans-portation options – as well as to address parkingconcerns and drinking and driving – Brew Hatook advantage of a program called Ticket 2Ride. They partnered with Thunder Bay Transitto provide attendees with free transit to and fromthe event, with tickets serving as a bus pass. Theyalso booked EcoSuperior’s Bike Valet so thatparticipants would have safe and secure bikeparking.

Their efforts won Brew Ha Litter Free GreenEvent status, an award given to events that inte-grate at least 14 simple environmental steps intothe planning process.

Hendel’s advice for other event planners?“Talk to EcoSuperior. Their green event guide isa huge help for ideas and who to talk to. Also, ifyou’re ordering products, look for the eco-options. It’s usually not that much more andyou’ll be doing the planet a favour.”

Champion

Green Party Thunder Bay Campaign Office: 947-A Memorial Avenue,Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 4A1

Phone (807) 344-3222 • www.votehyer.caEmail Bruce directly at: [email protected]

BRUCE HYER

Authorized by the Official Agent for Bruce Hyer

RE-ELECT

An Environmental

There are over 1,300candidates in the federal election.

Only 18 were selected by www.GreenPAC.cabased on their lifetime of achievementsas Environmental Champions.

7 NDP • 6 Liberals • 2 Conservatives • 3 Greens

There is an Environmental Champion runningin Thunder Bay-Superior North!

By Julia PrinselaarComposters are one of our

top-selling retail items, andwe are commonly askedwhether food waste can beadded to the compost year-round. The answer is yes!Organic matter breaks downat a slower rate in the coldermonths, but even through thedead of winter you can add tothe compost pile—eventuallythose kitchen scraps willtransform into nutrient-richtop-dressing for garden beds,house plants and landscaping.

A working compost pilehas four basic needs: air,water, carbon and nitrogen.Bacteria that decomposeorganic matter use water andair to survive, as well as car-bon for energy and nitrogenfor protein. The decomposi-tion of materials generatesheat as a by-product of thechemical process.

Warm weather helps speedup decomposition, and coldtemperatures can slow oreven stop the process. Hereare some helpful ways tomaintain some heat in yourcompost that will help keep itrunning during the winter:• Build your pile in a loca-

tion that will receive a lotof year-round sunshine.

• Volume helps to generateheat. Building a pile that isat least one cubic meter involume is recommended; asmall pile will not retainenough heat to do the job.

• Chopping or shreddingorganic waste helps tospeed decomposition bygiving bacteria, fungi, andother microorganisms moresurface area to work with.

• Adding nitrogen-rich itemslike blood meal or freshmanure will also help tospeed decomposition.

• Save those fall leaves!Adding a layer of carbon-rich leaves will help toinsulate the pile.

• Avoid turning your pile inthe winter – this will cool iteven further. Wait untilspring to aerate.

• The pile can be insulated bysurrounding it with bales ofhay or bags of leaves. If your compost pile drops

to lower-than-ideal tempera-tures over the winter, you canstill continue to add kitchenscraps to the top of the pile –they will freeze and thenthaw on warmer, sunny after-noons. And come spring,microbes will return in fullforce to feast on your com-post pile.

Composters are availableat EcoSuperior to City ofThunder Bay residents for thesubsidized price of $25.

Helpful tips for coldweather composting

Brew-Ha Festival organizers Jon Hendel and Kerri Berlinquette accept a Green Event Certification awardfrom EcoSuperior's Shannon Costigan.

ecosuperior.org | 807 624 2140 562 Red River Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 1H3


Fall weather often brings heavy rainstorms that can put your home at risk. The City of Thunder Bay offers financial assistance for sump pumps, sewer backflow valves and weeping tile disconnections. Call EcoSuperior for details or visit the Drainage Rebate section on our website. Ask for a copy of the booklet “Understanding & Improving Your Residential Drainage”—it’s free!

ne s

ons..ilsateeeee

klet tving

Is your home prepared for the next big rain?

In May of this year, EcoSuperior, in part-nership with the Ministry of Environment andClimate Change hosted a Great Lakes StudentConference in Terrace Bay, along the northshore of Lake Superior. The event was one ofseveral Great Lakes Student Conferences thattook place at each of the Great Lakes.Although each Conference dealt with specificchallenges and unique situations regardingeach lake, they all shared the goal of increas-ing student engagement in lake issues andopportunities.

The idea was to help secondary schoolteachers and students to identify opportunitiesto infuse the Great Lakes themes into theclassroom and Great Lakes awareness intotheir lives. The Conference also set out to helpform the next generation of Great Lakes pro-fessionals and citizens and foster their skills toaddress the complex challenges to protect andrestore the Great Lakes.

In Terrace Bay, a career panel was assem-bled to highlight a variety of opportunities thatare available in the Lake Superior Basin.Local professionals from the Ontario CleanWater Agency, Lakehead University andParks Canada spoke to the students about theireducation and career path choices. They also

spoke of the opportunities available to youthin the Lake Superior Basin, such as summerpositions and internships. Students had anopportunity to ask questions and interact withthe career panelist throughout the day.

Hands-on workshops hosted by local pro-fessionals were also part of the event, givingstudents the chance to go birding with anexpert, try aquatic dip-netting, hike to find edi-ble forest foods or make their own lip balmand learn to navigate with GPS.

A big THANK YOU to those who helpedlead workshops, including; the Ministry ofNatural Resources & Forestry, The ValeLiving with Lakes Centre, The Ontario CleanWater Agency, Parks Canada, and OntarioNature. Without your enthusiasm and supportthe day would not have been a success.

As this article goes to press, another LakeSuperior version of the My Great Lake, MyFuture Conference will be happening in SaultSte. Marie, Ontario for students in the AlgomaDistrict. EcoSuperior is excited to again bepart of this learning, engaging and leadingopportunity for senior high school students.

We could all learn from this opportunity bysimply remembering the name of theConference – it’s My Great Lake, My Future.

Once again this school year, EcoSuperior will be offering environmental education pro-grams to schools in the Thunder Bay area – most free of charge thanks to funding from theOntario Ministry of Environment & Climate Change , and the City of Thunder Bay.

During the 2014/2015 school year EcoSuperior visited 50 schools and helped instill envi-ronmental stewardship to 4417 students! Already we are busy visiting schools throughoutThunder Bay – helping teachers to add a little extra to their curriculum needs. Short descrip-tions of in-class presentations can be viewed on our website.

In addition to all our current programs, EcoSuperior has been working hard to develop newprograms to diversify our offerings and reach even more students. For example, ‘SuperiorSoup’ is well suited for grade 5 and 6 students, using a large floor map to highlight the LakeSuperior Watershed and the effects of microplastics on our aquatic ecosystems. ‘Preventingthe Invasion’ is a grade 6 program to help students learn to identify and prevent invasivespecies in the Lake Superior basin. Finally, ‘Facing Change’ is a climate change program forgrade 9 students, which takes a close look at the effects of climate change and mitigation mea-sures for the Lake Superior region.

Interested in booking a program? Contact our Youth and Community Outreach Coordinator,Erin Moir, at 624-2147 or [email protected].

...And Around the Lake Superior Basin!During a special week in October, EcoSuperior’s Youth & Community Outreach

Coordinator will be traveling the north shore to share programming with communities to theeast. This is a great opportunity for EcoSuperior to reach more students around the LakeSuperior Basin. Our goal is to connect with as many students as possible to help foster envi-ronmental change.

My Great Lake,My Future

At the high school conferencein Terrace Bay, students wereintroduced to dip netting by theVale Living with Lakes Centre.

School’s In...


Have you everthought of

starting a farm?Have you ever thought of starting a farm? If you’re from a non-farm-

ing background, the thought of relocating from a residential area to arural community with acreage, where you have to become acquaintedwith production techniques, farming equipment – and let’s not forget:weather – is a significant hurdle.

Fortunately for the potential farmer entrepreneurs in the area,Confederation College announced that it will be bringing a new programto northwestern Ontario starting in January. With support from theThunder Bay and Area Food Strategy and local farmers, Thunder Bay’sfirst ever farmer training program will soon be launched.

The Farming for Food program is meant to help students take the nextstep in developing their skills and understanding of what is needed tosuccessfully grow food and start their own business. This program willhelp prospective farmers get started by teaching the fundamentals ofplant biology, soil science, pest management, and business planning.Students will have the option of attending courses in person or online ifthey live elsewhere in the north. The optional field placement portion ofthe program will further help cultivate skills by giving students firsthandexperience of working on a farm.

This is a good time to be interested in agriculture. The local foodmovement has been growing in recent years. The Country Market is lit-erally bursting at the seams with over 5,000 visitors to the market on anaverage Saturday. Local vegetables, meats, harvested foods, flour, anddairy products are popping up on restaurant menus. Retail outlets – suchas George’s Market and Maltese – are beginning to stock their shelveswith food from nearby farms as people become more interested in know-ing where their food comes from and in choosing food with the freshestflavor. Public sector institutions such as the City of Thunder Bay’s Long-Term Care facilities have also been developing new policies and proce-dures to accommodate local food. Recently, Tourism Northern Ontariohas started to get on board with the local food movement as it recognizesthe potential to support growth in the region’s culinary tourism scene.More and more tourists traveling to the area are looking for a rich foodexperience and to immerse themselves in the culture and flavours of theregion.

Another encouraging sign is that the funding landscape is starting tochange. Funding bodies like the Northern Ontario Heritage FundCorporation, FedNor, and Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture, andRural Affairs have been making a more concerted effort to support farmstart-ups and expansions. Plus land values in our region are considerablymore affordable than elsewhere, and there is a lot of arable land available.If you’ve always wanted to be a farmer, the time is ripe to get started onthat path.

For more information, please contact: Bill Gregorash, Program Manager,Training & Development, (807) 475-6536, [email protected]

On September 27, Court Streetbetween John and Camelot becamea paved park, and hundreds of citi-zens came out to play!

“It was Thunder Bay’s third OpenStreets event, and we hope there willeventually be enough communitysupport to make it happen on a regu-lar basis,” says organizer AshleyPriem.

Open Streets events are becomingpopular in cities around the world asa means of encouraging physicalactivity for citizens, reducing trafficpollution and addressing communi-ty health issues. The events are rela-tively low-cost because they utilizeexisting infrastructure, and are freeof charge to citizens, making it bar-rier-free and accessible to all.

“Due to funding constraints, thisyear’s route was much shorter—ide-ally an Open Streets event should be5 km or more,” adds Ashley. “Butthe important thing is that we keptthe momentum going, introducedeven more people to the concept,and helped everyone enjoy a reallywonderful active afternoon!”

This year’s event was made possi-ble by an Evergreen We Are CitiesCommunity Innovation grant, a con-tribution from the Thunder BayDistrict Health Unit, and sponsor-ships from Cole Engineering, MNP,Thunder Bay Ventures, Perfect FitLingerie, Dougall Media andAcadia Broadcasting.

“We are tremendously grateful toall our sponsors as well as thedozens of volunteers who staffed

barricades and provided all kinds offun activities on the route,” saysAshley. “This is such a wonderful,community-building event.”

Love Open Streets? Make it hap-pen again next year! EcoSuperiorhas entered Open Streets as a poten-tial funded initiative in Tbaytel forGood’s Health & Wellness cam-paign. Vote for Open Streets nowand every day until November 30 attbaytelforgood.net/ideas/124

Under certain conditions, there areareas within the City of Thunder Baywhere a “personal farm” is permitted. Ifyour property falls within the RuralZones 1 and 2, you may be allowed tokeep up to 20 chickens. Rural zones aregenerally west and north of the ThunderBay expressway, with the exception ofthe County Park, Woodcrest and ArthurStreet areas, but you should confirm yourzoning by checking your property tax billor by contacting the Planning Division at625-2216. Your lot must be at least 2 hectareswith at least 60 metres road frontage. The by-lawrequires at least 85 metres of separation between adwelling on another lot and the structure used tokeep fowl. Note also that the definition of “personalfarm” means that the animals and any animal productsmust be for the owner/occupant’s use only, and not sold tothe public.

Chickens are not currently permitted in anyother property zones, so if you live in any

Urban property zone, you cannot legallykeep chickens in the City of Thunder Bay.

See City Zoning by-law 100-2010Other cities have adopted by-laws to

allow urban chickens. Will this happen inThunder Bay?

City Council has endorsed the Thunder Bayand Area Food Strategy. The Strategy includes

the following goal: “Conduct research and develop policy that is

supportive of urban agricultural practices such asbackyard chickens, urban beekeeping, and land use

arrangements that would facilitate more land beingused to grow food.”

Visit the website at tbfoodstrategy.ca for up-to-date informa-tion on bylaw changes currently under discussion. Let yourcity councillor know that you support an urban chicken bylaw.

Can I keep chickens inthe City of Thunder Bay?

Third Open Streetsfor Thunder Bay


McIntyre River ProjectsThe McIntyre River continued to be a busy place this year with ongoing collaborative efforts

taking place to assess and restore the health of the waterway.EcoSuperior and Confederation College are collaborating so that students are involved in the

collection of baseline data, assessment of potential impacts identified in the baseline assessmentand work to develop low impact solutions for identified areas of concern. All summer, a studenthas been on the river weekly collecting water quality samples and analyzing them for potentialrisks to the aquatic infrastructure.

This fall, EcoSuperior staff will work with students from the Confederation CollegeEnvironmental Technology program to plant a number of native tree species on the shoreline inareas at risk identified by last years’ study. Funding is provided by the MOECC and Great LakesSustainability Fund.

The North Shore Steelhead Association recently completed a two part habitat restorationproject on the McIntyre. LHnorth Contracting, following the design provided by True GritConsulting, completed the re-construction work on August 27th. The first part saw 60 meters ofslumping river bank located on the Thunder Bay Country Club property reshaped, stabilized withrock, and replanted to prevent continued erosion.

The second part involved the re-vegetation of a former parking area adjacent to the Central Aveculvert. Vehicular access was restricted by the addition of jersey barriers, while numerous nativetrees, shrubs and grasses were planted to restore the riparian zone in this area. The planting wascompleted thanks to volunteers from the North Shore Steelhead Association, the Thunder BayDistrict Stewardship Council and the general public.

Local funding for this project was provided by the North Shore Steelhead Association, theThunder Bay District Stewardship Council, and Lakehead University’s Remedial Action Planoffice, with in-kind support from the City of Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay Country Club.Government funding was arranged for from the Recreational Fisheries Community PartnershipProgram of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Canada-Ontario Agreement on GreatLakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund and theLand Stewardship & Habitat Restoration Program.

Look for EcoSuperior’s new Keep itSuperior posters inside and outside city busesthis fall to learn more about the impacts ofpollution entering urban storm drains. The adshelp to remind people of the importance ofmaking sure stormwater run-off includesnothing but rain!

Did you know that most Thunder Bay stormdrains flow directly to our streams and riversand eventually end up in Lake Superior? Anyoil, pet waste, or dirty water from washingyour car or fertilizing your lawn, enters a stormdrain and gets into our lake without beingtreated. Please never dump motor oil, chemi-

cals, pet waste, dirty or soapy water or any-thing else down the storm drain as all of theseitems can pollute our rivers and lake!

Local groups and organizations can help outby volunteering in the KEEP IT SUPERIORStorm Drain Marking Program. Storm drainmarking involves stencilling around neigh-

bourhood storm drain and distributing flyerswith messages warning residents not to dumppollutants into the drain. Call EcoSuperior formore information on our storm drain sten-cilling program.

And remember, KEEP IT SUPERIOR – Ifit’s on the ground, it’s in our lake!

Confederation Collegestudent Geordi Komarenjoys a quiet momentcollecting data on the

McIntyre River.

WHAT GOES IN HERE

ENDS UP HERE

IF IT’S ON THE GROUND, IT’S IN OUR LAKE

Keep It Superiorwww.ecosuperior.org

Maintain your vehicles and fix leaks promptly

Use only organic fertilizers on your lawn & gardens

Store fuels & hazardous chemicals with care and take them to the hazardous waste depot for safe disposal

Dispose of your cigarette butts responsibly

Prevent polluting our lake by making sure run-offincludes nothing but rain

Keep it Superior Storm Drain Education coming to a bus near you!


2015 proved to be a spectacular summer season at Central Natural Environment Gardens!Along with regular weekly maintenance, dedicated volunteers worked to accomplish a series oflarger projects. Central Gardens became a certified monarch waystation and a healthy populationof monarch caterpillars feasted on the newly planted milkweed. Three overgrown garden bedswere reclaimed through a process known as solarisation, whereby UV-resistant black plastic isused to cover an area and “cook” the vegetation, resulting in a weed-free bed ready to be plant-ed the following season. The installation of a cedar post retaining wall completed the edible shrubbed that was planted last year as a part of the Pollinator Project. In addition to a composting work-

shop and two pet waste digester workshops, Central Gardens was the host location for‘Biodiversity Day’, a family-friendly event that attracted over 100 participants of all ages whoenjoyed a unique “pollinator picnic.” We also started working on a new feature to be releasednext summer: a self-guided interpretive tour of the garden, to be created in both print and mobile-friendly formats!

We are very grateful for all the volunteers who put their energy and enthusiasm into the gardenthis summer, and for the funding partners who make it possible: City of Thunder Bay, OntarioMinistry of Environment & Climate Change, and Walmart-Evergreen Green Grants.

By Julia PrinselaarChristmas: it’s the year’s most anticipated holiday, but shopping for

friends and loved ones can be a different story. Luckily, our Eat Localholiday gift baskets are a convenient way to support local producerswith a single purchase of practical gourmet items. And who doesn’tenjoy a gift of good food!

EcoSuperior works with Thunder Bay and area-based farmers tocombine a selection of handcrafted treats into a gift basket, wrappedand ready for pick-up in a handmade reusable fabric bag. Over theyears, our baskets have contained an assortment of chocolate, cheeses,cured meats and granola as well as jams, jellies and fine preserves.

Many participating vendors can be found at the Thunder BayCountry Market, and others work throughout the community in thenon-profit sector.

Roots to Harvest is one such example. Run by a small team of inno-vative educators, the organization mentors high school students byequipping them with the skills to grow, harvest and process organic

food. Students are routinely found at the Roots to Harvestgarden on the corner of Cornwall and Algoma streets,planting and harvesting vegetables to be sold at marketstands or processed into value-added products for seasonalfundraisers. In 2015, Roots to Harvest prepared 150 bags ofgranola for EcoSuperior’s vegetarian Eat Local gift basket.

Purchasing a gift basket not only supports the partners wework with, but benefits our organization as a whole.Proceeds from this yearly fundraiser go toward educationand outreach to promote environmental stewardship inThunder Bay and communities in the Lake Superior Basin.Orders can be made online or by calling our office begin-ning in November. Stay tuned to our website and Facebookpage for updates.

Note: if you are handy with a sewing machine, we are inneed of volunteers to sew the gift basket bags. If you’d liketo help, contact the office. Thank you for your support!

Highlights from CentralNatural Environment Gardens

Gift Baskets: Supporting Local in Good TasteOur 2014 Eat Localholiday gift baskets

included a variety ofgourmet items

including cheese,baking mix,

chocolate andpreserves.

Meeting Uncertain ChallengesCity of Thunder Bay Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

Are you interested in getting involved with hands-on localenvironmental projects?

The Thunder Bay District Stewardship Council (TBDSC) islooking for volunteers interested in committing one to twoevenings/month to support local environmental projects.

The TBDSC is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserv-ing and protecting both plant and wildlife populations within thedistrict.

We are open to any and all project ideas. Past successesinclude supporting the installation of wetland habitat at Pool 6and working with the North Shore Steelhead Association andother organizations to stabilize the McIntyre River at CentralAvenue.

Please contact Jamie Saunders ([email protected]) formore information.

Did you know that the City of Thunder Bay has recentlydeveloped a climate change adaptation strategy? The result ofa 2012 recommendation to council by EarthCare ThunderBay, the adaptation strategy works towards increasing ourcity’s resiliency to challenges posed by climate change.

Curniss McGoldrick, Climate Change AdaptationCoordinator for the city, describes a number of milestoneswhich the city has met thus far: “Milestone one was aboutbrainstorming what sort of climate change impacts couldaffect the city. The second milestone involved a bit moreresearch – we looked at scientific publications from this area,and held a number of different workshops and consultations,to determine which particular climate change impacts wouldmost affect the city services and their ability to function.Based on that, we identified nine higher-priority impacts thathad the potential to pose a greater risk. For milestone three,we looked at those nine impacts and used them to developgoals, objectives, and actions to proceed.”

McGoldrick also notes the important distinction betweenmitigation and adaptation. The City of Thunder Bay has a

sustainability plan which deals more with the mitigation sideof climate change – things like reducing greenhouse gasemissions. What the adaptation strategy does though, is rec-ognize that climate change can no longer simply be prevent-ed; it is already underway and we need to be ready for itseffects. What can the city do to its infrastructure and policies,to ensure that our community continues to prosper despitemore extreme weather and temperature events?

“In Northern Ontario,” says McGoldrick, “there is a pro-jection that says we’ve already increased our average tem-perature by 1.4 degrees Celsius from 1948 to 2008. The esti-mate rises to 2.8 degrees average change in temperature by2050, and 4.6 by 2080. So we’re past the tipping point whereclimate change is having tangible effects on our lives rightnow.”

It is important that the city and its residents recognize thatclimate change adaptation is a priority, even though there arefewer concrete economic markers of its success. “This isn’tlike a road that needs to be repaved,” McGoldrick says. “It’san investment in the future of our community.”

StewardshipCouncil SeeksNew Members

As temperatures drop, Safe Cycling Thunder Bay is windingdown its season of courses with record participant numbers andpreparing for its last workshop of 2015 – Winter Riding.

In June, we organized Thunder Bay’s first Bike Week forkids. 14 certified Safe Cycling instructors mobilized to offernine courses in schools, educating 167 grade 4 children aboutcycling safety in one week! Many thanks to the City of ThunderBay, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Lakehead PublicSchools, Thunder Bay Catholic District Schools, and ThunderBay Police Services – as well as our Safe Cycling instructors –for making it possible for us to reach so many students.

Our 55+ women’s cycling workshop was a popular option,and seven ladies came out to learn about navigating traffic inThunder Bay and improving their cycling skills. We alsooffered a public commuter course and workshops for theThunder Bay District Health Unit, Thunder Bay ExecutivesClub, and Tbaytel.

Discovery rides were revitalized this year with the additionof new themes. We organized a Food Tour, Big BorealAdventure Nature and History Tour, Notable Trees Tour, CoffeeTour, Heritage Tour, and Lake Superior Day Tour. For each ride,we partnered with a local organization that provided a tourguide who was a field expert.

Safe Cycling’s last workshop will take place on Saturday,October 24 from 12-4 pm at Lakehead University. Safe Cyclinginstructors will teach winter riding techniques, and CommunitySpokes Coordinator Ian Cameron will help participants outfittheir bikes for winter riding! Registration is $20 at ecosuperi-or.eventbrite.ca

Safe Cycling is a program funded by the City of Thunder Bayand delivered by EcoSuperior.

Winter Riding course concludesSafe Cycling’s season

eco-newseco-newseco-newseco-newseco-newseco-newseco … · according to dr. sherri mason, a full...

Documents