Community Groups

City-based Initiatives

Advisory Panels

Other

Community Committee for Health and the Environment

Type of Group: Community Group

Website: http://www.web.ca/~nwatch/SudburySoils/sudburysoils.html

Contact info: Mercedes Steedman ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

Type of organization: Grassroots, volunteer, independent. No staff, office space, or regular funding.

Main focus: Impact of mining and smelting processes on human health and the environment

Purpose:

1. To ensure that the Sudbury public provides their informed consent for the risks to the environment and human health from historic and current mining and smelter activities, and determines effective response to those risks.

2. To move the Ontario Government and its agencies to respond effectively to the Sudbury Soils Study findings. This response must ensure that contamination from mines and smelters in the Sudbury region is properly identified, remediated and (where it cannot be remediated) contained, and that those whose health might be affected (or may be affected) by contamination are provided with diagnosis, treatment and (where this is not possible) with compensation.

Volunteer opportunities: Like minded members welcome.

Service area: City of Greater Sudbury, especially those areas most impacted

Friends of the Roxborough Greenbelt

Type of Group: Community Group

Website: http://www.friendsofthegreenbelt.net/

Contact info: Naomi Grant – Phone: (705) 673-1874; E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Type of organization: Volunteer, independent, grassroots

Main focus: Urban greenspace

Purpose: Stewardship of the Roxborough Greenbelt

Work in the community:

The group was formed in 2006 to protect the Roxborough Greenbelt, 3 hectares of urban forest, adjoining Junction Creek near downtown Sudbury, from imminent development. This goal was realized in 2009, when it became a public natural park.

Friends of the Roxborough Greenbelt now focuses on stewardship of the greenbelt.

They also circulate a neighbourhood newsletter, and host some neighbourhood events, such as an annual neighbourhood Easter Egg hunt.

Volunteer opportunities: If you would be interested in helping out, whether on a regular basis, or for a particular event, contact us!

Service area: The Roxborough Greenbelt is 3 hectares of greenspace bordered by Kingsmount Blvd. and Riverside Dr., and running from Winchester Dr. to Junction Creek.

Junction Creek Stewardship Committee Inc.

Type of Group: Community Group

Website: http://www.junctioncreek.com/

Contact info: Phone: 705-525-8736; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Address: Junction Creek Stewardship Committee 30 Ste. Anne Road, #219 Sudbury, ON P3C 5E1

Type of organization: not-for-profit, volunteer, grassroots

Main focus: Preservation of Junction Creek

Purpose: To restore all life to the Junction Creek ecosystem: native wildlife, insect and plant life, and to improve the quality of life for humans as well.

The committee meets monthly (usually the first Wednesday of the month) to co-ordinate citizen participation in environmental restoration and awareness activities in an effort to:

* Re-green lands adjacent to the creek;
* Reduce soil erosion;
* Promote awareness of the creek, its wildlife, and its threats
* Improve water quality.

Work in the community: Brook Trout Reintroduction, Frog Search, Shoreline Restoration,tree planting, Creek Clean-ups, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Campaign (Creek -Friendly Carwash Program, Creek-Friendly Homes Program). They participate in ongoing research including monthly water sampling.

Programs or services offered: Trout Watch, Bug Search, Frog Watch, Adopt-a-Creek, Junction Creek Adventures, tree planting, creek-friendly car wash

Volunteer opportunities: Creek clean-ups, 'adopt-a-creek' program, tree planting and environmental remediation

Service area: The upper reach of Junction Creek, which is approximately 23 kilometres in length starting at the Garson Mine and flowing into Kelly Lake. The lower reach continues through Walden to the mouth of the Spanish River into the North Channel. There is a total vertical drop of 105 metres from beginning to end.

Connections with other groups, organizations, initiatives: Rainbow Routes Association, Friends of the Roxborough Greenbelt, the Nickel District Conservation Authority, VETAC, Sudbury Naturalists Club.

Northern Plant Savers

Type of Group: Community Group

Website: None

Contact info: Becky Thomas - 522-4003

Type of organization: volunteer, grassroots, independent

Main focus: native plants

Purpose: Protection of native plants, especially those with ecological and/or medicinal value.

Work in the community: Saving and resettling plants from areas to be developed. Education.

Sudbury Naturalists Club

Type of Group: Community Group

Website: http://www.greatersudbury.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=div_earthcare&lang=en&currID=7080

Contact info: Dr. Peter Beckett – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Type of organization: volunteer, grassroots, independent

Main focus: knowledge of local water resources and wildlife, landscaping, revitalization of natural environment

Purpose: The Sudbury Naturalists are a community group that has been learning about, enjoying, and working to protect nature for more than twenty-five years. Members of the Sudbury Naturalists help the environment through hands-on involvement in numerous protection activities and community initiatives to enhance the well-being of Greater Sudbury’s environment.

Work in the community: Canadian Lakes Loon Survey; peregrine falcon release (early 1990’s) with continued monitoring of falcon populations; Marsh Monitoring Program to help track marsh-dwelling frog and bird populations; annual Christmas Bird Counts; planting of approximately 10,000 trees around Sudbury’s southeast bypass and the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area in support of VETAC.

Programs or services offered: Lectures and nature walks

Service area: City of Greater Sudbury

Connections with other groups, organizations, initiatives: EarthCare Sudbury, VETAC, Friends of the McFarlane Lake Committee, Junction Creek Stewardship Committee.

Sudbury Ornithological Society

Type of Group: Community Group

Website: None

Contact info: Chris Blomme This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Type of organization: non-profit, volunteer, grassroots, independent

Main focus: Wildlife (birds)

Purpose: To enhance and encourage the pursuit of bird observation and study.

Work in the community: Nesting box projects. Observational records of annual migrations and monitoring of local species of interest.

Programs or services offered: Membership $15/year, meetings are open to everyone, first visit is free.

Wild at Heart Wildlife Refuge Centre

Type of Group: Community Group

Website: www.wahrefugecentre.org

Contact info: Dr. Rod Jouppi - Phone: 705-692-4478; E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Address: Wild at Heart Refuge Centre, 95 White Road, Lively, Ontario, P3Y 1M4

Type of organization: volunteer, independent, charitable organization

Main focus: wildlife rescue and rehabilitation

Purpose: to help injured or orphaned animals and return them to their natural habitat; education and awareness of wildlife and related environmental issues

Work in the community: wildlife animal rescue and rehabilitation and education

Programs or services offered: school educational program; facility tours to the public

Volunteer opportunities: Our volunteers are the lifeblood of Wild at Heart. We are a non-profit charitable organization and nearly 100% of our activities are volunteer-run. We are always seeking new volunteers who are passionate about the environment, wildlife, fundraising, and construction to help us continue to build our organization so we can continue to grow.

Volunteer application: http://www.wahrefugecentre.org/?q=node/29

Service area: Greater Sudbury

Greater Sudbury Biodiversity Partnership

Type of Group: City Group

Website: http://www.greatersudbury.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=biodiversity

Contact info: Stephen Monet - Phone: (705) 674-4455, Ext. 4297; E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Type of organization: City led network

Main focus: Biodiversity

Purpose: Numerous agencies and groups with a focus on one or more aspects of biodiversity (e.g., wildlife habitat) currently exist in Greater Sudbury. To allow information sharing, wider participation on group activities, and heightened public awareness and education on biodiversity issues, a Greater Sudbury Biodiversity Partnership has been formed.

Service area: City of Greater Sudbury

Connections with other groups, organizations, initiatives: A network of local agencies and groups with a focus on one or more aspects of biodiversity

The Green Space Advisory Panel

Type of Group: Advisory Panel

Website: http://www.city.greatersudbury.on.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=div_planning&lang=en&currID=9771

Contact info: Naomi Grant This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Paul Baskcomb 674-4455 x4306

Main focus: Preservation of green space

Purpose: The Green Space Advisory Panel was appointed in October of 2007 to assist Council and staff in the implementation of the Parks and Open Space Master Plan and the Official Plan.

The Green Space Advisory Panel provides recommendations to Council related to:

* the establishment of a Parks and Open Space Classification System for the City
* natural assets which should be considered for inclusion in the City's Parks and Open Space inventory
* a rating or evaluation system for establishing Parks and Open Space acquisition priorities, and
* existing City-owned properties which could be included in the Parks and Open Space inventory

Service area: City of Greater Sudbury

Connections with other groups, organizations, initiatives: Citizen representation from all wards. Expert representatives from the Nickel District Conservation Authority, VETAC, Rainbow Routes Association, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and others.

VETAC – Regreening Advisory Panel

Type of Group: Advisory Panel

Website: http://www.city.greatersudbury.on.ca/cms/index.cfm?app=div_landreclamation&lang=en& currID=4040

Contact info: Dr. Peter Beckett (chair) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Main focus: Natural environment (air, land and water)

Purpose: VETAC is committed to enhancing and sustaining a healthy environment for residents of the City of Greater Sudbury through the restoration and protection of our air, land and water. Recently, a Communications sub-committee of VETAC was formed and has been actively working to broaden awareness about healthy, natural environments through the development of promotional, marketing and educational tools and activities.

Work in the community: Greening of Sudbury – Between 1978 and 2008, 3400 hectares were limed and seeded and 8.9 million trees were planted.

Programs or services offered: Ugliest Schoolyard Contest

Service area: City of Greater Sudbury

The Nickel District Conservation Authority

Type of Group: Conservation Authorities are autonomous corporate bodies established under the Conservation Authorities Act of Ontario

Website: http://www.nickeldistrict.ca/ndca/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=73

Contact info: Paul Sajatovic (General Manager/Secretary-Treasurer) - (705) 674-5249 x 203; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Purpose: The N.D.C.A.'s Mission is to provide, based on 50 years of experience, leadership through co-ordination of watershed planning; implementation of resource management programs; and promotion of conservation awareness, in co-operation with many watershed partners.

Work in the community: Ensuring that homes and people are protected from the threats of flooding and erosion is the most important activity undertaken by the N.D.C.A. and all Conservation Authorities. Plans for new homes and developments are carefully reviewed and criteria set to ensure people, property, and natural features, are properly protected from the potentially life-threatening impacts of these natural hazards.

Programs or services offered: The N.D.C.A provides land use and resource management planning input and review; monitoring development associated with related legislation. The NDCA is a Level One referral agency based on an agreement with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Applications to do work in water which could impact fish habitat within the NDCA watershed, are to be submitted to the NDCA who will then deal with DFO and MNR.

Manages conservation areas, including trails and educational programming.

Service area: It has jurisdiction over an area of 7,576 square kilometers. The watershed area is rectangular in shape. The north-south axis averages 124 kilometers and the east-west width is 61 kilometers.

The watershed area includes:

1. the Vermilion River and all its tributaries,
2. the part of the Wanapitei River lying upstream of its confluence with Elbow Creek to the most northerly portion, and
3. a portion of the watershed of the Whitefish River upstream of the outlet of Round Lake.

Connections with other groups, organizations, initiatives: The Conservation Authority works in partnership with the Province of Ontario, through the Ministry of Natural Resources; and its member municipality, namely the City of Greater Sudbury.