Kenora's Commitment to Sustainability, Advancing the Action Plan

This summer, the City of Kenora's Sustainability Advisory Committee continued to meet and ensured the work laid out in the Sustainability Action Plan was being put into action.

The vision of the Plan is for the Committee to work together to deliver local projects that will contribute to a better quality of life for the community while also building pathways that respects reconciliation, are climate-positive actions, and protect the land and water that sustain our beautiful community.

The Sustainability Action Plan is community-based and action oriented. It outlines 14 sustainability projects that are to be completed between 2022 and 2031. The intent of the Plan is to provide guidance for local projects that aim to reduce damage, risks and vulnerability due to climate change and grow green initiatives within Kenora.

These sustainability projects fall into four categories. These are examples or some initiatives within the Plan’s categories:

• Energy conservation: building on the Community Energy Plan, retrofitting buildings to reduce energy use

• Green infrastructure and sustainable transit: affordable, energy efficient public transportation that meets the needs of the community

• Local food production and waste reduction: supporting annual freecycle and hazardous material days, expanding micro farming and community gardening, promoting local household composting

• Water stewardship: providing bottle filling stations. supporting healthy shorelines

The Committee is made up of members that represent various sectors and City staff. Current members are Ashley Nordlund, Craig Debbo, Rory McMillan, Ethan Amyotte, Lisa Devlin, Peter Kirby, Stephanie Charles, Kim Mowrey, Brie McCardle, and Councillor Lisa Moncrief.

We are looking for members to join the Committee to ensure we have a broad range of perspectives and lived experiences contributing to this important work. We are encouraging members of local Indigenous communities, local youth, those with educational backgrounds, and local business owners to apply be representatives on the Committee. Committee applications are available on our Committee and Boards page at Kenora.ca, in person at City Hall, or email Kelly Galbraith, Deputy Clerk, kgalbraith@kenora.ca if you have questions. 

This article was first published in October 2024, in the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association’s member publication, Lake of the Woods Area News Magazine.