Public Meeting - March 7th

Interested in how Bancroft can be one of the most sustainable communities in Ontario? On March 7th Sustainable Bancroft will be released and we want your comments. Come try the new sustainability checklist for businesses, organizations and residents and you will be recognized for your contributions to our community.

Monday, March 7 – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
North Hastings High School Cafeteria

Welcome Julie Walsh

Julie Walsh has joined the team as the new Sustainability bookkeeper. Julie will be working for Grant Consulting using the funding provided by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to complete the inventory of actions for Sustainable Bancroft and to help wrap up the project. Welcome aboard Julie! To reach Julie you can email her at sjuliew@gmail.com.

Bidders Meeting - Annual Conference

The bidders' meeting for the Annual Community Conference will be on Monday, December 13 at 2:00 at the Town offices. This is not a mandatory meeting but it is an opportunity to ask questions about the statement of work and the requirements.

If you do decide to come please ask for Janet Jones when you come to the Town offices which are at 24 Flint Avenue, Bancroft, Ontario.

If you are applying for the position as sustainability bookkeeper you DO NOT need to attend. This is only for the conference.

Two Great Opportunities

We are looking for a group or organization to organize a community conference on Sustainable Bancroft in April 2011. A full description of the opportunity is posted on the website below.

We are hiring a part-time sustainability bookkeeper for a term of five months from January 4 to May 31, 2011. The job description is posted on the website below.

Applications must be received by Dec. 22, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST.

Detailed information can be found under pages to the left.

Sustainability Checklist

The Community Sustainable Planning Committee is reviewing a draft version of a Sustainability Checklist that can be used to look at any new or existing initiative, program or project. It uses strategic objectives from the Sustainable Bancroft plan to create a way to align what we do in Bancroft with our overall vision for Sustainability. It will be reviewed in November and then posted to the blog for anyone to review. Over the next few months we will figure out how to use it on a regular basis. To view it Click here and go to the bottom of the page.

Great Advice from Markham's Greenprint

The point that the authors of Markham's sustainability plan make here is absolutely crucial.

Using the Framework

The framework is a tool to be used when decisions are being made about projects. Every project should be assessed to determine whether it moves the community closer to its sustainability vision. Community builders can assess the merits of the project by comparing it against the sustainability priorities and strategies during project definition and development. The framework must be used as a guide when considering initiatives to ensure they provide maximum sustainability benefits.

Bancroft Part of Record Breaking 10/10/10 Party

The folks at 350.org know how to run a party and last year had 5248 projects going in 181 countries. Well now Bancroft has joined the 10/10/10 – Global Work Party and we are part of shattering last year’s record. With six days to go there are 6,077 projects in 184 countries.

At ReUse-GreenTEC, Velma Waters and her team have included seven initiatives as part of Sustainable Bancroft’s drive to include 100 projects. They include solar seminars, e-bike promotions and the most impressive of all – a diversion of over 26,000 kg of waste from landfill in six months.

Local builders Don Koppin and Pat Marcotte are implementing climate solutions in buildings and Pat has included his net-zero house in the Bancroft 100. “We have just installed a 10KW MicroFIT solar system. This, coupled with a geothermal heat system, and straw bale walls will make our home a Net Zero energy home,” says Marcotte.

Koppin is insulating the exterior wall of his office to reduce the amount of energy used for heating cooling. “We are also promoting energy efficient upgrades and sustainable building to all of our clients” adds Koppin. Bill O’Borne was also focused on energy and insulated his home and added new windows.

Burke Chamberlain of Whitfield Plumbing and Heating is also on the same wavelength and they have just finished work at Our Lady of Mercy School (see photo). “We have installed a state of the art biomass boiler which will deliver energy savings for years to come.”

For many the theme of 10/10/10 is local. Kimberly McMunn, Kim Sutherland, Chris Drost and Janice Whitehead are all focusing on daily activities like using locally grown food and going for a walk in nature. Whitehead notes that “our large vegetable garden provides us with a majority of our vegetables throughout the year.”

If you haven’t decided what to do you can join Dave Naulls and friends for a Bicycle Trail Ride for 350.org awareness. It starts at 10 AM on 10/10/10 at the Coe Hill Community Centre (Public School) – mountain bike, hybrids and cruisers are all welcome.

If you want to register your own activity with Sustainable Bancroft for 10/10/10 go to Facebook and find Sustainable Bancroft.