[GREN-Exec] GREN Membership Update

[Susan Koswan]

Looks great Kevin,

I think we need to include Nith Valley Ecoboosters to the list along 
with Hold the Line etc.

Also, all local governments have committed/signed on to the 
ClimateAction WR plan. If we're going to talk to Regional government 
about the ROPP, the greenbelt expansion needs to be framed around the 
goals and actions in that plan - basically where the 3 join and 
strengthen each other. Not sure if that's something that should go in 
this update though.

Thanks for doing this Kevin,

Susan K


On 10/25/2021 11:59 PM, Kevin Thomason wrote:
> Hi GREN Executive,
>
> Attached below is the draft of the update to the GREN membership that 
> we had discussed me drafting.  Please let me know any feedback or 
> ideas and hopefully we can circulate it as soon as possible.
>
> Cheers,
> Kevin.
>
> --------------------------
>
> Good Day GREN Members,
>
> Hopefully you have been making it through the pandemic okay.  While we 
> haven’t been able to meet in person for well over a year and there 
> hasn’t been as much activity on our mailing list as in the past, the 
> GREN Executive has continued to work on a number of key issues.
>
> As you may recall, just before the pandemic John Jackson announced 
> that he was going to step down as GREN Chair after many years though 
> still stay involved in a Past President role on the Executive.  I have 
> been continuing in my role as Vice-Chair, Greg Michalenko continues as 
> Treasurer, and the two Susan’s - Susan Bryant and Susan Koswan have 
> announced that they will share the roles of GREN Chair and Secretary 
> in rotating positions.
>
> The need for GREN is greater than ever as Premier Doug Ford continues 
> his ongoing attacks on the environment, the climate crisis continues, 
> and many important decisions will be made by local, regional, and 
> provincial governments in the months ahead - in particular a new 
> Regional Official Plan for growth until 2051 and provincial Greenbelt 
> expansion to the Paris-Galt Moraine.  Both of these are immediate 
> land-use planning decisions that will set a course and have impacts 
> for decades to come.
>
> GREN had an opportunity to join with other Ontario Greenbelt Alliance 
> member groups to apply for funding from the Greenbelt Foundation to 
> help ensure that our community had the resources to tackle these 
> important land-use decisions.  We were successful in obtaining some 
> funding that will work in-conjunction with larger provincial groups 
> providing materials and resources to regional groups such as GREN, 
> that can then help other local groups within our area with educational 
> materials, online media, host community events, etc.
>
> While this sort of funding is new to GREN, hopefully in the months 
> ahead GREN will be able to work with groups such as Hold The Line 
> Waterloo Region, the Guelph Greenbelt West Coalition, Sustainable 
> Brant and other community groups on these important land-use decisions 
> to ensure they have the required resources for the best possible outcomes.
>
> Some funding will be used to update the GREN website and transition it 
> to a more modern design and internet server architecture.  Website 
> developer Scott Wicken hopes to have a new draft of the website 
> available in the next few weeks.
>
> There is a chance that the provincial Greenbelt announcement could 
> happen in the next few weeks - we will have to see just what is 
> announced, how it fits with our existing local protections, and 
> respond accordingly.
>
> There is also key aspects of the Regional Official Plan that could be 
> going to Regional Council for final decision in early November.  We 
> will share anything that we are able to learn and hopefully Regional 
> Staff will recommend a bold, visionary plan that will continue our 
> environmental leadership and help ensure we meet our climate change 
> goals for the years ahead.  Unfortunately, recent meetings with 
> Regional Staff have not been encouraging and there could be 
> considerable work to be done in very short timeframes to convince 
> staff, elected officials, and the public of the need for more 
> ambitious goals/planning.
>
> Please share any questions or ideas and we’ll be in-touch more soon as 
> we learn more about these issues.
>
> Cheers,
> Kevin Thomason
> Vice-Chair on behalf of the GREN Executive
>
> -------------------------------------
>
> Kevin Thomason
>
> 1115 Cedar Grove Road
> Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4
>
> Phone: (519) 888-0519
> Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
> Twitter: @kthomason
> E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com <mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>
>
> -----------------------------------------
>
>
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