What do teens and plants have in common? They both need diversity in order to grow and be part of a thriving community. In Canada, one of our core values is respect for cultural and religious differences. With plants, it is biodiversity that creates a healthy ecosystem.

The wide spreading flooding across the country these past weeks is a reminder of our increasing vulnerability to climate impacts. Faith & the Common Good is continuing to work to encourage faith communities to 1) examine their own preparedness for climate-induced extreme weather events, and 2) reflect on how to best support climate vulnerable neighbours in their social and ecological justice work.

The Halton-Peel chapter of Greening Sacred Spaces (GSS) celebrated its achievements at the annual GSS Awards Night and Networking Event on Thursday, May 4, 2017 in Oakville. Two organizations received awards for their greening initiatives in 2016. The venue was the Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre — a scenic location with tranquil flower gardens, and a special outdoor labyrinth.

In recognition of 2017 as Ontario’s 150th anniversary, the Ontario150 Partnership Program is providing youth with opportunities to participate in their communities in ways that reflect their creativity, cultural expression, diversity, inclusion, environmental stewardship, entrepreneurship, healthy living and civic engagement.

Interfaith ‘get to worship without your car’

Did you know that transportation comprises 40% of an average faith community’s carbon footprint?¹ Transportation is the second largest source of Canada’s GHG emissions.² That’s why traveling green is one of the most important ways we can be stewards of our planet.

So you want to regenerate your place of worship? Begin the journey with a hard look at your own mission. That’s the message participants heard at two separate workshops hosted by Faith & the Common Good (FCG) and partners, in Peterborough (February 25, 2017)  and Toronto (March 11, 2017).

Resilient Hamilton Workshop, Art Gallery of Hamilton. Feb 8th, 2017

“Recovery from natural and other disasters does not depend on the overall amount of aid received nor on the amount of damage done by the disaster; instead, social capital — the bonds which tie citizens together — functions as the main engine of long term recovery.” — Daniel P. Aldrich, assistant professor of public policy at Purdue University

You don’t have to be big to do big things. Take Palgrave United Church in Caledon, Ontario. It’s a small, rural church of only seventy-two members (forty-five families). But together, they have built a community kitchen that is committed to the creation of a healthy, sustainable local food system. They are also generating clean energy and steady funds with the solar panels they have put on the roof of the church.

How did they do it?

It all began with a vision. In 2007, the environment committee at the church decided they wanted to not only reduce the ecological footprint of the church, but also to serve as a model for this rural community. Coming together around food was a natural fit. That year, the annual turkey dinner served only food grown within ten miles of the church.