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Laneway houses and other repurposing ideas coming to your city soon - The Laneway Project

With over 250 miles of laneways criss-crossing the city of Toronto, the repurposing and regeneration of these spaces is seen by many as an important step to creating a greener and more connected city. One of the individuals helping to make this happen is Michelle Senayah, Co-Founder and Director of The Laneway Project. As part of a team of passionate city builders with expertise in planning, urban design, communications and research, alongside community engagement and public policy, Michelle is working towards fundamentally changing Toronto’s relationship with its laneways. Their goal is to change the way that Toronto designs, uses and regulates its laneways so that they become a fully utilised part of the urban landscape.

Pollinators provide essential ecosystem services for our planet, but they are not immune to the effects of climate change. In fact, pollinator numbers have been dropping in recent years, directly reflecting major habitat alterations as a result of our changing climate.
More than three-quarters of Earth’s flora, including the majority of our food crops, rely on birds, insects, bats and other animals for reproduction to successfully occur. Studies have found that 87% of fruit, vegetable and seed production (35% of global food) depend on animal pollination.

This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lhazin Nedup, Project Manager at Evergreen Cityworks, Toronto. Focusing on how we plan and design our cities to transform the way we live,
and reducing the environmental impact of urban areas on a large scale, Evergreen CityWorks influences decision makers towards effective policy change in key city building areas like housing and transportation. It also engages citizens to take action.Amongst Evergreen’s many projects, Lhazin is currently heading up the 100In1Day initiative for Toronto, as part of an international festival of mass urban intervention set for June 4th in partnership with United Way Toronto York Region in Toronto. .
First things first, what is the 100In1Day festival?

Earth Day has become a prevalent global movement towards a sustainable environment by addressing key issues such as climate change. It is more than just a day where we appreciate our earth; it’s a drive towards protecting our planet for future generations.

If we stop to think, we all know that environmentalism is not inherently feminine. So why are so many eco-heroes actually heroines? Where did all the men go? Beyond a few larger than life figures, such as Al Gore or Jeff Bridges, most of the hard-core, hands in the dirt, changing entrenched systems, environmentalists are women. Some men have even been quoted saying that the simple sustainable act of carrying a reusable bag is embarrassing because it’s “mostly women who do it” (The New York Times). Why, in the name of all that is good and green, is sustainability taboo for men?

Every March, we’re asked to power down our lights for an hour in support of climate change awareness, and every year, millions of people worldwide turn their lights off (or don’t), but often fail to truly understand the significance of this global statement.
I’m an Environment student at the University of Waterloo, so you could say that the fundamental issue behind Earth Hour resonates with me on a different level, than say, with your average non eco-enthusiast. But I’d like to make my best attempt at highlighting just a few of the important reasons why we should stop for a second and think about why we’re turning off our lights this year.

If you’re anything like the rest of us New-Year Resolutioners, you’re likely (hopefully) well on your way to ditching your old 2015 habits, and working towards a healthier, wealthier, happier, you! With the holidays behind us, most of us are trying to lose those extra pounds or finding ways to spend less money; but have you considered really turning a new leaf, and going green in 2016?

For the next two weeks, Canada and over 190 countries will take part in the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Despite security concerns amidst events in France, the conference will be held in Paris and will aim to fight climate change through international action and a united framework from all actors involved. Since 1992, there has been an effort by the UN to act on global climate change. The global consensus on whether these meetings are efficient varies, and on the heels of COP 21, there is mixed feelings on tackling one of the most important issues of our time.

In approximately two weeks, voters will head to the polls for Canada’s 42nd federal election. Six weeks after, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) will be held in Paris.