Wednesday January 12 Severn Sound Sustainability Plan

Letter from Cindy Hilliard Transition Town Orillia January 6 2010
What sustainability Plan? You mean we have one? That would mean there are possibilities for all of us to contribute. It is possible….  In the words of the famous musician Dave Matthews, “To change the world, start with one step, however small, first step is hardest of all, once you get your gait, you’ll be walking tall”.
Did you know that municipalities in the Severn Sound region (this includes the towns of Midland and Penetanguishene, townships of Tiny, Tay, Springwater, Oro-Medonte, Georgian Bay, and Severn, and the City of Orillia) have a responsibility to implement the Severn Sound Sustainability Plan. This document lists concrete steps (implimented to protect the Severn Sound Watershed) that each municipality can take to move local communities closer to a sustainable lifestyle; a lifestyle, which holds the best interest of future generations of all species at its core.
The Vision of this plan is, “By 2050, the Severn Sound Watershed will contain a network of communities that have achieved a sustainable quality of life for all citizens by developing a common culture of environmental, economic and social balance.”
Their goals “have been developed under 3 ‘Pillars’ – Environmental Sustainability, Economic Prosperity and Community Well-Being.”
In this regard, the City of Orillia has contacted Transition Town Orillia (TTO) in an effort to connect with community members who are already implementing many of the Sustainability Plan’s objectives. For example, The Orillia Community Gardens (OCG, a subgroup of TTO), is currently creating and enjoying an ever expanding community of gardens in the Orillia area, set up to help local people learn about growing their own food, thereby making fresh produce affordable and accessible to everyone. The founder of this group, Jacob Kearey-Moreland, recently presented the Orillia Community Gardens mission statement to the Orillia Parks and Rec Committee in an effort to find possible new locations for garden sites in Orillia’s downtown core.
In an exciting chain of events, Transition Town Orillia is now ready to receive a presentation from the City of Orillia explaining the Severn Sound Sustainability Plan. Transition Town Orillia is hosting this event on Wednesday January 12th, 2011 at 7:30pm. at St. Paul’s United Church (at the corner of Peter St. and Coldwater Rd. in Orillia).  All are welcome to attend.
Upon reviewing the plan (available on the website: www.sustainablesevernsound.ca) it is very exciting to see the collaborative effort between non-government and government organizations and individuals, to promote a sustainable future for all.This plan is to be integrated into existing policy documents and new initiatives. Every year the signatories have agreed to report progress on their longterm sustainability journey. I leave you with this quote from the plan itself:
“A sustainable watershed would mean more than environmental protection, it extends to economic vitality and community wellbeing, such that watershed inhabitants do not live above their means and the watershed’s valuable assets are protected, renewed and enhanced in perpetuity.”