Canada's Environmental Voice
Originally published at House of Friendship. MY FAMILY MOVED onto a small-ish farm in Southern Ontario the year I entered kindergarten. We are now certified Organic, and mainly produce spelt and grass-fed beef. At different points we’ve had pigs, chickens, sheep, and a small army of barn cats.
For most people, a camping weekend involves loading up the car with gear and making a grueling trek on the 400-series highways. But the cumulative impact of all those vehicles actually degrades the wild lands in our conservation areas, provincial and national parks that we’re trying to protect. Air pollution […]
There’s no doubt that our economy has been built upon acquisitiveness. Since the Second World War, incessant growth has been based on mass production; mass production has been based on creating and channeling demand; and demand has been based on the desire to have or own. We are trained from […]
Toronto has a seemingly neverending cycle of film festivals, but only Planet in Focus trains its crosshairs exclusively on environmental concerns. The 14th annual version (from November 21 to 24) featured a slate of strong, complex and curious documentaries, and another handful of very well deserved PiF award winners.
Travel has the power to open our minds and deepen our appreciation of the world we live in. As we explore, it’s up to us to travel responsibly and tread lightly on the earth. You can make greener choices on your travels, and even have a positive impact that will […]
The lights change but nothing moves. The truck blocking the intersection is also blocking the crosswalk, so I thread my way around bumpers and continue up Yonge. It’s the afternoon rush in Toronto. At this time of day, the sound of the city isn’t the rush of air from passing […]
Anyone reading the news recently has likely heard of the ongoing battle for long-term funding solutions for public transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and beyond. While the relatively unknown provincial transit agency Metrolinx has drawn up plenty of lines on maps, there is currently no money […]
Of the over 400 exhibitors and attractions at this month’s Green Living Show, we’ve picked out a few you won’t want to miss. The Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance will host a tasting pavilion, Junk Raiders star Gordie Wornoff will be teaching how to build a solar heater from recycled […]
Alternatives got interested in ecotourism because it raises questions about greenwashing, the parameters of sustainable development and comparisons to other forms of travel. Joe Pavelka profiles a pair of Peruvian families who demonstrate ecotourism’s most holistic qualities. Rachel DeMotts and Larry Swatuk look at the complexities of promoting tourism through conservation […]
I HAVE NEVER gone south in the winter. The closest I came was a three-day, mid-February family getaway in Niagara Falls at a hotel with an indoor waterslide park. The chlorine infusion did wonders for my skin! I actually prefer going to Ottawa to skate on the canal or ski […]
