What Is Sustainability
The definition most commonly used when defining sustainability is: "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." as stated by the Brundtland Commission in 1987. The Town of Halton Hills supports this definition of sustainability and views sustainability through four pillars: cultural vibrancy, economic prosperity, environmental health, and social well-being.
Similar to legs on a chair each pillar is important yet they are inter-connected. The pillars and their focuses are:
- Cultural vibrancy including sports, recreation, arts, culture and heritage.
- Environmental health including protecting and supporting healthy natural systems, water and energy efficiency and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
- Economic prosperity including a community that is based on a green, diversified and resilient economy, and the strengthening of the existing industrial base.
- Social well-being including a healthy and safe community based on an ethic of caring and social equity.
Incorporating the four pillars of sustainability into corporate and community initiatives will advance our sustainability journey.
Follow the Town's journey below on the Town's long-standing commitment to sustainability making this community and even greater place to live, work, play, and retire. In just a short time, the Town has made significant progress towards sustainability. Much more work is still to be done.
Corporate Sustainability Audit and Action Plan
The Corporate Sustainability Audit and Action Plan is a five year vision, running from 2016-2021.The Plan focuses on practical actions that will enhance Town functions and service delivery. The Plan’s outcomes will enable the Town to continue to lead the way in creating a sustainable community.
Mayor’s Community Energy Plan
The Mayor’s Community Energy Plan is the result of engagement with key community stakeholders as well as the project’s Steering and Technical Committees, and Town Council and staff. The Plan’s implementation will enhance quality of life in Halton Hills through improved energy efficiency, cost savings, greenhouse gas reductions, renewable energy generation and raise community awareness for climate change and the important of energy efficiency.
Community Sustainability Strategy
The Community Sustainability Strategy was implemented to fulfil our community vision a future where we are economically prosperous, environmentally healthy, socially equal, and culturally vibrant. Our Strategy establishes a long-term vision and acts as a blueprint until the year 2060.
Green Plan
The Town’s Green Plan was implemented in 2007, providing a basis to guide the Town and the community on developing and implementing "green" strategies and actions for the future.
Climate Change Adaptation Plan
Built with ICELI Canada’s BARC framework in mind, the Town’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan focuses on identifying our community’s risks to climate change and developing actions to take to manage, minimize, or eliminate those risks.
Green Development Standards
Building on its award-winning Green Development Evaluation Checklist, in April 2014, Town Council approved a new set of Green Development Standards. The Standards will help advance many key Town objectives, including those of its Strategic Plan and Community Sustainability Strategy – contributing to economic prosperity, environmental health, cultural vibrancy and social well-being.
Office of Sustainability
The Office of Sustainability was established and the Town’s pursuit for a more sustainable community finally had a home.
Strategic Action Plan
The Town’s Strategic Plan is a Town vision for 2007 until 2013. The Plan contains a Community Vision, Corporate Mission and a set of Strategic Directions and Goals, accompanied by Strategic Objectives and Actions. These guides that have served to direct the Town’s many initiatives.
With its deep commitment to sustainability, Halton Hills has been recognized with many awards and taken leadership action for its practical and innovative initiatives that aim to create a future characterized by cultural vibrancy, economic prosperity, environmental health and social well-being. Examples of these awards and leadership actions are listed below.
- Community Conservation Award
- Low Impact Development
- Community Sustainability Strategy
- CAMA National Municipal Environment Award
- Smart Commute Workplace
- Certificate of Merit
- Smart Commute Halton Employer of the Year
- Stewardship Award
- Conservation Award
- Award of Distinction
- Friends of the Credit Award
- Battery Collection Program
- Member of the Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Council
- WWF-Canada Recognition Plaque
Plans & Strategies include:
- Climate Change Adaptation Plan
- Community Sustainability Strategy
- Green Development Standards
- Green Plan
- Mayor’s Community Energy Plan
- Smart City Proposal
In Our Community includes:
- Battery Collection Program
- Rain Barrel Truckload Sales
- Smart Commute
- Feed-in-Tariff/Green Energy Requests
- Earth Week Celebrations
Click Here to visit the In Our Community Page
Green Meeting & Event Policy (PDF)
Relevant Reports:
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2015
- MEM-PI-2015-0013: FIT Energy Projects
- PI-2015-0031: Green Development Leadership Awards
- MEM-2013-0014: FIT Ground-Mounted Solar
- PI-2015-0035: Sustainability Investment Fund
- PI-2015-0032: Community Partnerships
- PI-2015-0014: State of Sustainability Profile
- MEM-PI-2015-0005: Clean Air Council Declaration
- PI-2015-0022: FIT Energy Projects
- PDS-2015-0047: Sustainability Investment Fund
- PDS-2015-0031: Green Energy Act Submission (2013)
- PDS-2015-0037: Final Mayor’s Community Energy Plan
- PDS-2015-0008: Draft Local Action Plan
- PDS-2015-0019: Ontario’s Climate Change Discussion Paper
- PDS-2015-0007: Staff Sustainability Team Workplan
- PDS-2015-0006: Green Meeting & Event Policy
- PDS-2014-0065: Corporate Sustainability Audit & Action Plan
- PDS-2014-0059: Town Sustainability Implementation Committee
- PDS-2014-0041: Mayor’s Community Energy Plan
- PDS-2014-0050: Recommended OPA No. 19
- PDS-2014-0051: Community Sustainability Investment Fund
- PDS-2014-0038: Statutory Public Meeting OPA No. 19
- PDS-2014-0037: Final Corporate Energy Plan
- PDS-2014-0023: Corporate Sustainability Audit & Action Plan
- PDS-2014-0021: Corporate Energy Plan
- PDS-2014-0011: Sustainability Implications Worksheet
- PDS-2014-0022: Final Green Development Standards
- PDS-2014-0005: Mayor’s Community Energy Plan
- PDS-2014-0007: Sustainability Implementation Committee
2014
