HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnv - 2012-02-16 - Presentation - Region of Waterloo Shade Policy Initiative.pdCity of Kitchener Environmental Committee
Historical Background of Shade Initiative in Waterloo Region
Prepared By: The Shade Working Group
The Shade Working Group consisting of the Region of Waterloo Public Health, Region
of Waterloo Planning, Housing and Community Services, and Evergreen (a non-profit
funder and facilitator of local greening projects), have been working together to promote
increased shade coverage in the Waterloo Region. With the aim of improving health,
environmental quality, and social outcomes, effective strategies includes working with
partners (e.g. Area Municipalities and the school boards) on shade provision.
In the recently approved 2011-2014 Region of Waterloo Strategic Plan, shade was
incorporated as action item 1.5.4: “work in partnership with various stakeholders to
develop policies, and programs to provide shade (e.g. tree canopy) in our communities”.
Following up on this commitment, Regional staff will continue to encourage and support
school boards and municipalities, to adapt and implement shade policies to maintain
and increase shade coverage.
Summary of Shade Forums
In November 2010, the shade working group hosted a forum comprised of 24 Area
Municipal and school board elected officials and staff representing eleven different
community agencies and municipalities such as Waterloo Region District School Board,
City of Waterloo, Wilmot Township, University of Waterloo, and Kitchener and Waterloo
Community Foundation to raise awareness of the importance of developing shade
policies based on the evidence/best practices. The meeting included an overview of
why shade and shade policy are important and was followed by round table discussions
on the opportunities and barriers to developing shade policies.
A follow-up forum was held in June 2011 to continue to discuss how to increase shade
in Waterloo Region. Twenty-eight community partners representing fourteen different
community agencies and municipalities such as Waterloo Region District School Board,
Waterloo Catholic District School Board, City of Waterloo, City of Kitchener, and
Township of Wellesley were in attendance.At this forum, speakers from the City of
Toronto who implemented a successful shade policy and programme provided detailed
and practical information about developing their own policies. Participants at the forum
discussed possible next steps.
Those in attendance at the second forum indicated that they wanted a balanced
approach to be used to develop local shade policies: individual organizations such as
the school boards and municipalities to keep moving forward on their own to develop a
policy and to also form an umbrella committee to work on projects and common goals.
There were a number of projects identified that the committee could undertake.
î ó ï
Shade Working Group’s Next Steps
After the June forum, the shade working group determined that a four-pronged
approach would be the most effective way to proceed:
1. Work with Area Municipal Planning staff to include shade-related policies in the
drafts of their new Official Plans now in preparation;
2. Continue to provide support to external organizations to develop a policy;
3. Initiate the Urban Greenland Strategy identified in the Regional Official Plan, in
collaboration with the Area Municipalities, to promote greening our urban areas;
and,
4. Help facilitate shade audits at targeted sites to familiarize Regional, Area
Municipal and school board staff with practical aspects of implementing shade on
their properties.
Collaboration
At the outset of the shade policy initiative in Waterloo Region, it was recognised that an
ongoing collaboration between Public Health and Planning, Housing and Community
Services staff and Evergreen is necessary to support community partners in shade
policy development. This is because shade policy is a convergence between several
areas of public policy: cancer prevention, urban air quality, and the design of streets and
public places. Area Municipalities and school boards have an equal if not even greater
stake in implementing shade policies. As we move forward, it is crucial that Area
Municipalities and community organizations are willing to come to the table and work
towards a common goal.
î ó î