From the time the York Simcoe Naturalists were founded in 1999, we have been a member of Ontario Nature’s Nature Network of approximately 144 organizations. This immediately put us in contact with quite a diverse group of people, and has primed us to be open to sharing and partnerships.

In this part of Ontario, it is difficult not to become involved in many environmental issues due to the fact that we are targeted by the provincial government as a growth area. This in turn led to the waste water management project known as the “big pipe” and the incinerator proposal. Projected growth has also led to the expansion of freeways such as the 404 and the possibility of the Bradford bypass project. A predicted increased need for electricity has led to the transformer station and the peaker plant projects. Both of these projects are of great concern to our group because we are stewards of a lovely place that sits between them, and Ontario Nature’s Cawthra Mulock Nature reserve.

Working on efforts to fight these projects has led us to become great friends with organizations such as Smart Growth Ontario, The Concerned Citizens of King Township, megawhat?, STORM, Windfall Ecology Centre, and the farmers of the Holland Marsh.

The work on the Lake Simcoe Act and the initiatives that have come from it have led us to work with groups such as Ontario Nature, our sister organization The South Lake Simcoe Naturalists, Environmental Defense, Ladies of the Lake, Save the Maskinonge and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA). The great thing about working on the Maskinonge Recovery project is that it is positive rather than negative. Although we do participate in other positive initiatives, it is nice to be a part of some concrete projects that will make a difference to the health of the watershed.

Most issues have resulted in very informal partnerships that involved meetings on an irregular basis over a period of several months. This was the case with the peaker plant project. The Maskinonge Watershed project has been a more formal partnership involving regular monthly meetings to work on goals and brainstorm project ideas.

All of these activities of the YSN over the past few years have led to an ever widening group of contacts that can only be helpful in efforts to act as watchdogs of the activities generated by the growth in our area. Many of the Groups in York Region are small and have limited resources and so it only makes sense to work together more closely when important issues arise. The work that the York Region Environmental Alliance (YREA) is doing to try and bring more groups together for coordinated action is to be applauded.

Most of us have become aware that we can destroy our environment and ourselves by our actions.  Conversely, we also know that by working to raise collective awareness we have the ability to affect change for the better. One of the most effective ways of achieving success is by forming partnerships. There really IS strength in numbers.

From my own experience over the last decade, I recall working with the amazing number of groups and individuals who came together to fight for the preservation of the Oak Ridges Moraine, to form a Land Trust and to advocate for a ban on pesticides. Continuing into the present are all the groups and individuals who make up the DDO defenders, Lake Simcoe protectors and anti-incineration and anti-peaker plant advocates, to name just a few.

Not only does working collaboratively on issues of mutual concern contribute momentum and power to a cause, but there is the added benefit of expanded creative problem solving and fundraising capabilities.

Not only does YREA want to build our own effectiveness and relevance, we also want to empower other groups to seek like-minded partners to further their objectives. To this end, we are in the midst of compiling an e-library as a resource for individuals and organizations working in all aspects of environmental protection in York Region and beyond. The e-library will identify areas of focus of each association listed. A group or individual will be able to access the e-library for environmental information, find a match with others working on the same issue and perhaps collaborate, lending support or pooling resources for more effective action.

Our next Planning for Action meeting set for October ?? at 6:30pm at York Region in Newmarket will feature Sylvia Bowman, Conservation Director  of the York Simcoe Naturalists. She will speak to us about the groups that have partnered to preserve the Maskinonge River watershed and how each contributes in their areas of interest. Breakout group discussions will follow.

If your organization would like to be added to our e-library, please contact Anita, our Webmaster  at anita@yrea.org for information. To attend our Planning for Action meeting, contact Fiona, our Communications Coordinator  at fiona@yrea.org.

Working together,