Environmental agencies pushing to make London greener
Two environmental agencies have released a policy framework aimed at helping Canadian cities, including London, ON, better integrate green infrastructure.
The project is spearheaded by Living Cities Canada, and supported locally by the London Environmental Network.
"We need the community to be on board," says Christine Mettler, Living Cities Canada's program manager.
In the last year, the agencies have initiated demonstration projects to get the ball rolling. They include de-paving concrete and asphalt areas, tearing them up and replacing them with water absorbing green spaces.
They also offer subsidies for people who want to add a rain garden to their yard, which reduces flood risks.
Rain garden in a London resident's yard (Courtesy: London Environmental Network)
"Green infrastructure essentially is a strategy to get cities to be more like naturalised areas," says Mettler.
"We kind of see ourselves as the middle man between the community and the city's work," says Marianne Griffith, the London Environmental Network's executive director. "(We're) helping people get actually involved, picking up resources, and implementing the projects."
With a policy framework now in place, both agencies will use it to develop community-specific plans to better integrate green infrastructure. London is one of five Canadian cities included in this stage. The others are Hamilton, Ont. Lethbridge, Alta., plus Dieppe and St. John, N.B.
The five communities were chosen to cover a wide range of population sizes, demographics, and geography, according to Living Cities Canada.
Rain garden in a London resident's yard (Courtesy: London Environmental Network)
The effects of climate change are seen more often in lower income and racialized communities, says Mettler. So bringing these project forward in an equitable way is important.
"There's higher risk of flooding, there's more exposure to urban heat island effects," Mettler says. "So a big part of this project is trying to address that gap."
The policy framework, as well as demonstration projects implemented in the last year, are made possible through funding from multiple private foundations, most significantly from the Definity Insurance Foundation.
The London Environmental Network wants to see more rain gardens built in the next year.
"We can amp up that work," says Griffith. "Work with the city, and folks like Green Communities Canada, to make that more mainstream."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.