Inspired by the reflective nature of the holiday season, the folks from EarthCare at the City of Greater Sudbury are taking a look back at the past year and ahead to 2025. A number of important climate actions were undertaken in 2024 that are worth revisiting and celebrating.
The City and many community organizations achieved impressive results, with projects ranging from planting native pollinator plants to improving lake health and increasing biodiversity. Thanks to the collective efforts of many, 2024 boasts numerous success stories.
Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury
The Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury is a grassroots volunteer group working towards a green, healthy and engaged community where everyone can thrive. In 2024, they wrapped up their Pollinate Sudbury project.
In just two growing seasons, 275 native pollinator plants were planted at five community gardens across Greater Sudbury and along Junction Creek. 148 community members and 15 community organizations participated in the project.
“In the spring of 2024, with the support of the community, we funded 19 community projects throughout Greater Sudbury with Project Impact. A connected community that works together for positive change is a more climate-resilient community. Many of the projects contributed directly to food security and a healthy natural environment,” says Naomi Grant, Chair.
Seasons Pharmacy and Culinaria
At Seasons Pharmacy and Culinaria, almost everything they sell is purchased from local farmers from the Greater Sudbury region or Manitoulin Island, including meat, lake fish and produce.
“We are very serious about this, eating locally in season,” says Pharmacist Owner Rachelle Rocha. “We believe the world should trade on spices and ideas, not food. Imagine the carbon footprint when most food drives less than 100 km to get from the producer to the consumer?”
Conservation Sudbury
Conservation Sudbury is a community-based watershed stewardship agency, one of 36 in the province. Their main goal is to ensure healthy interaction between the watersheds, the natural environment and the local economy.
In 2024, they issued 90 permits for development in hazard lands including floodplains, wetlands and unstable slopes.
The group monitors weather information, river flows, snowpack and ice conditions in order to predict changes in water levels and when floods will occur. This year, they issued five flood messages from February to April to municipal emergency management officials and the media.
“In 2024, we had one of our smallest snow accumulations on record, with our last sample taking place on March 1, 2024. This year, we completed a total of six sampling events, from January until May 1, and from December 1 until the end of the year,” says Jaimee Bergeron, Water Resources and Stewardship Specialist.
This year, Conservation Sudbury worked with Forest Canada’s 50 Million Tree Program to plant 36,000 trees with 11 landowners. The program is made possible through funding from Natural Resources Canada’s 2 Billion Tree Program and a variety of corporate partners and donors. The mission of the 50MT program is to minimize the effects of climate change, enhance wildlife habitat and encourage biodiversity while supporting green job creation.
“In 2025, Conservation Sudbury will continue to conduct environmental monitoring for flood forecasting, issue development permits in hazard lands, and continue to build on the tree planting program,” says Keegans.
Nepahwin Lake Watershed Stewardship Group
This group of dedicated volunteers spent 2024 taking action to improve the state of Nepahwin Lake.
One of their focal points this year was the production and delivery of a rack card. With the help of 10 volunteers, 925 rack cards were delivered to households within the Nepahwin Lake Watershed. “This educational tool helps people to be aware of what they can do to improve the state of Nepahwin Lake,” says volunteer Bruce Holson.
The group’s volunteers also performed spring sampling for phosphorus and chloride, Secchi temperature readings, and a survey of Eurasian Water Milfoil beds.
The year also saw great cooperation with neighbouring Idylwylde Golf and Country Club (IG&CC) in the matter of shoreline restoration.
The Nepahwin Lake Watershed Stewardship Group (NLWSG) partnered with the IG&CC to identify segments of the golf course’s shoreline that would benefit from enhanced restoration. The NLWSG was the recipient of a Love Your Lakes $500 microgrant, a collaboration between the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Watersheds Canada, which was used to purchase native shrubs to amplify the ongoing restoration efforts. These were planted by IG&CC staff.
For 2025, the Ministry of Natural Resources has confirmed that a lake trout release of 1,000 yearlings will occur in the spring. “This is great news!” says Holson, who reports that students from two schools will be attending.
Through the Lake Quality Program, the City provided $5,000 worth of grants in 2024 to local Lake Stewardship groups like NLWSG.
Junction Creek Stewardship Committee
The Junction Creek Stewardship Committee (JCSC) is committed to restoring life and health to the Junction Creek ecosystem.
In 2024, the group’s climate action success was their Riparian Restoration for Resilience project. This initiative, located along the Maley tributary of Junction Creek, combined bioengineering techniques to combat shoreline erosion, improve water quality, enhance carbon sequestration and support climate adaptation. It involved installing coir (coconut fiber) logs and mats along the streambank, reinforced with the planting of 28 native shrubs and live stakes.
“These biodegradable coir materials stabilize the shoreline as native plants establish deep root systems, creating a resilient natural infrastructure,” says Miranda Virtanen, Executive Director.
“This milestone was made possible through the collaborative efforts of community partners, funders, and volunteers, demonstrating the power of collective action in addressing climate challenges. JCSC is proud to celebrate this achievement as we continue our mission to create a sustainable, climate-resilient future for Greater Sudbury and beyond,” shared Virtanen.
In the new year, they aim to restore 500 m of riparian zones along Junction Creek and its tributaries.
Vegan Ready
On October 1, 2024, Vegan Ready restaurant hosted the Seniors for Climate Action event, attended by about 25 people.
“We had five presentations from various groups about things we can all do to limit our burden on the planet,” says Jennifer Jusic, Manager. “Dr. Robinson from the Green Party discussed the importance of moving away from a fossil fuel economy. The Junction Creek Stewardship Committee discussed preservation and management of local water systems and environmental cleanup. Vegan Ready also gave a presentation and we discussed the deforestation caused by animal food production.”
“Luckily, the answer to resolve the rapidly depleting forests, jungles, and freshwater systems is also the same answer to improving human health: Eat more plants. Our climate action goal for 2025 is to get the message out that eating plants will benefit your body, the planet, and animal well-being at large,” Jusic explained.
City of Greater Sudbury
Municipal successes in 2024 include:
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Public transit ridership reaching over 6 million for the first time.
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Installing 9.5k lane km of cycling infrastructure and 0.90 km of sidewalk.
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The City’s Transportation Demand Management Community Grant Program funding $10,000 worth of community-driven initiatives promoting sustainable transportation. Funded projects included efforts to encourage transit use, install bike racks, provide bike locks, and promote active transportation through events and educational campaigns.
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Opening the new Nelson Street active transportation bridge, an important route connecting Bell Park and downtown, and the 92 km of Trans-Canada trail that runs through Sudbury.
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The adoption of the Sustainable Waste Strategy for 2025-2035. Seventeen out of 18 recommendations for reducing and diverting waste have currently been adopted, with a decision on one recommendation, clear garbage bags, being deferred. Implementation will start in the new year following budget approval.
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Purchasing an electric Zamboni
This is the first of the City’s 17 ice resurfacers to go electric; the others will follow suit when they reach end of life, according to Assets and Fleet Services.
Looking ahead to 2025, the City’s plans include:
Become a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community.
Present Complete Streets Design Guidelines in early 2025 to guide the City’s approach to infrastructure that “considers the needs of all users—pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers, regardless of age or ability.” (2024 Active Transportation Annual Report)
The Urban Forest Management Plan, which aims to increase and diversify tree coverage, is up for Council approval in early 2025. Urban forests can improve air quality, provide shade, sequester carbon, supports stormwater infrastructure, and enhance overall wellbeing.
Another electric Zamboni will head to Countryside Arena.
City staff will bring reports to Council regarding energy use in municipal facilities, low-emission vehicles in City fleet, renewable energy projects, increasing the number of EV chargers, and a home and resiliency retrofit guidance program, as per a motion that was passed by Council on December 10.
Everyone, including individual citizens, is encouraged to consider which habits they might want to adopt or projects they might want to support in the new year. To learn more about community groups making a difference, visit www.liveablesudbury.org/groups
Learn more about the City of Greater Sudbury and its commitment to reducing greenhouse gases and helping the community achieve its net-zero goal by 2050.
If you have a project you’d like the City to highlight, contact Jennifer Babin-Fenske at [email protected].