[GREN-Exec] GREN Greenbelt Foundation Interim Report

[Kevin Thomason]

Hi GREN Executive.

As you have seen firsthand it has been a crazy couple of months on both the Regional Official Plan issues and the Greenbelt expansion front with the ROP/MZO issues exploding locally and the Greenbelt Vision Map being unveiled just before Christmas in-conjunction with the Guelph Greenbelt West Alliance.

Thankfully, we had the foresight to apply for Greenbelt Foundation funding back last June to help to provide some financial resources to allow us to adequately tackle these issues.  So far, this has consisted primarily of helping to cover my time and expenses along with Dr. Franz Hartman who has been integral to helping to engage citizens and groups across our region.  We have also been able to provide some small cash grants to area organizations such as the Nith Valley Ecoboosters and 50x30WR for their assistance with webinars, etc.  Additionally, there is funding to help pay for our website update and other operating expenses we may have.

You may remember that another significant component of GREN participating in this regional funding for our part of Ontario is that this is part of a larger umbrella funding package to provincial groups - providing much needed funding and resources to Environmental Defence, EcoSpark, Ontario Nature, and others to keep providing the essential materials, expertise, and leadership on so many environmental issues across the province that we all depend on.

Since we are half-way through our grant period, it’s time for an interim report to the Greenbelt Foundation which I am attaching a copy of below.

Greg - Since Franz and I have yet to submit any invoices for November or December and the time spent on both the ROP, MZO and Greenbelt launch has been significant you’ll see the budget update simply has estimates.  I will work on getting you invoices soon.

You’ll see that we are in good financial shape, our spending is below the anticipated levels of the grant and hopefully not too far below budget to cause any issues with the Greenbelt Foundation as they want to ensure money is being spent as expected.  I think that while we are behind in some project aspects like getting our new GREN website running, other things like the broad level of community engagement on the Regional Official Plan and the tremendous media coverage of the Greenbelt vision map launch far exceed expectations.

The time that I have had to put into things has also far exceeded expectations and I have greatly underreported and discounted my time to stay within our very modest budget ranges.  

Please let me know any questions or ideas and hopefully we will see great results for the ROP, Greenbelt, and overall environment over the year ahead.

Thanks,
Kevin.

-------------------------------------

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

-----------------------------------------

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at me.com>
> Subject: GREN Interim Report
> Date: January 10, 2022 at 3:40:45 PM EST
> To: "Ms. Shelley Petrie" <spetrie at greenbelt.ca>, Bizhan Roshan <broshan at greenbelt.ca>
> Cc: Franz Hartmann <franzgreenbeltalliance at gmail.com>
> 
> Hi Bizhan and Shelley,
> 
> I have uploaded our interim report to the Fluxx website.  Hopefully everything has come through okay.  
> 
> Just in case please find attached the GREN Interim Report for “Building Support for Greenbelt Friendly Local Planning and Greenbelt Expansion in the Grand River Watershed" three separate PDF files:
> 
> 	1) GREN Interim Report Document PDF
> 	2) Schedule A - GREN Interim Work Plan Update PDF
> 	3) GREN Interim Budget Update PDF
> 
> Hopefully these will meet our interim reporting requirements.  
> 
> We have been extremely pleased with the success to date and tremendous community engagement on both the MCR/Official Plans as well as the potential Greenbelt expansion to SouthWestern Ontario.  While overwhelming at times it has been fantastic to see so many groups and citizens across our region become increasingly involved in these issues and the directions that things seem to be heading.
> 
> Please let us know any questions or suggestions.
> 
> Cheers,
> Kevin.
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> 1) GREN Interim Report Document PDF
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 2) Schedule A - GREN Interim Work Plan Update PDF
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 3) GREN Interim Budget Update PDF
> 
> 
> 
> -------------------------------------
> 
> Kevin Thomason
> Vice-Chair, Grand River Environmental Network
> 
> c/o 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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