Nith Valley EcoBoosters
Please note: For all of the YouTube videos listed on this page, you can adjust the video quality by left-clicking on the “Settings” gear icon in the lower right section of the YouTube screen. You can then click on “Quality” and make sure it is set to 1080p HD which is the best quality. If the 1080p HD setting is not available or does not work for your device, then try 720p.
- Provincial Election - Candidate Interviews on Environmental Issues: Do you want to live in a community that balances the needs of humans and the natural world now and into the future? We need to elect MPPs who not only understand these issues, but have plans to take action. For the June 2nd, 2022 Ontario election, several organizations and groups in Waterloo Region invited all the candidates for individual 15 minute interviews. The candidates were asked about issues that affect everyone in our community on a daily basis - climate change, land protection, transportation, housing, aggregate extraction and environmental justice.
Note: The group that created these videos includes the Grand River Environmental Network, Nith Valley EcoBoosters, rare Charitable Research Reserve, Reep Green Solutions, ClimateActionWR, and Sustainable Waterloo Region.
Here are two links you can use to access the interviews for those candidates who agreed to participate:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdvAQG3TOH9RFuilabn3mig
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5212539235474139
- All Candidates Forum for the Waterloo Region on Senior Care and Long Term Care:
On May 10, 2022, the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW K-W), the Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTOERO), the Waterloo Region Health Coalition (WRHC), the Kitchener-Waterloo Chapter of the Council of Canadians (COC), and the National Association of Federal Retirees (NAFR) hosted an All Candidates Forum for the Waterloo Region on Senior Care and Long Term Care. The Forum had Regional candidates from the Green Party of Ontario (David Weber), the Ontario Liberal Party (Melanie Van Alphen), and the Ontario New Democratic Party (Catherine Fife). Mike Harris, Jr., of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario had agreed to attend, but then cancelled just hours prior to the event, which was insufficient time for the organizers to find an alternative representative of that party. The event was moderated by Dr. Catherine Tong of the Geriatric Health Systems Research Group at the University of Waterloo. This event was a chance for the major Parties to present their election platform positions on a variety of aspects of Senior Care. You can access the recording of the Forum using the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XnAgKj0_tY&t=55s
- Let's Talk - Your Home's Energy Use: The Nith Valley EcoBoosters partnered with Climate Action Waterloo Region to present this webinar. Here is the link to a recording of the webinar which took place on April 28th, 2022.
- Someone Should Do Something - A Run For Office: Here is the link to a recording of this webinar which took place on April 21st, 2022: https://youtu.be/ZAHSh3Bby5A
The webinar was hosted by Woolwich Healthy Communities with assistance from the Nith Valley EcoBoosters. Its purpose was to encourage new candidates to run for office AND to satisfy people curious about what it’s like to be a local politician.
- Let's Talk - Plastics Unwrapped! (The real story, and hope for the future!): Here is the link to a recording of this webinar which took place on February 3rd, 2022: https://youtu.be/37qy2uoZHYY
- Community Webinar on Growth Plan for Waterloo Region: Here is the link to a recording of this webinar which took place on November 15th, 202: https://youtu.be/LKxJocH29Js. Our Regional Official Plan is the long-term planning document that sets the foundation for our Region. It decides where and how we will grow, what we will protect, what will be destroyed, and what our community will look like in 2051. It reflects our priorities and will shape our urban cores, neighbourhoods, and countryside. Recently, Waterloo Regional Staff released their Recommended Growth Scenario for the Regional Official Plan Update. We expected Waterloo Region to take a leadership role and to align their actions with what our climate scientists say we must do. Unfortunately, their recommendation will require more than 1,000 hectares of local farmland and greenspace to be destroyed and paved over for unsustainable urban sprawl over the next 30 years. We need more homes where our communities already exist,we need to densify our neighbourhoods and create 15-minute communities, we can not continue to pave over our farmland. With a July 1, 2022 deadline mandated by the provincial government, we only have a short time to speak up to develop an ambitious plan that will address our climate crisis and ensure Waterloo Region remains a Smart Growth leader with thriving farmland for local food and groundwater recharge, balanced by vibrant, sustainable urban areas. It is urgent for people from all walks of life throughout Waterloo Region to let elected officials know the future you would like to see. It is time for us to mobilize our collective voices and ensure the Region of Waterloo Council knows that we expect greater ambition and action. This webinar provides details about the Regional Official Plan, next steps, and how residents of Waterloo Region can ensure that their voice is heard, helping to define the future that they want to see. This is an edited version of the webinar. It includes the full presentations of our speakers, Kevin Thomason and Stephanie Goertz, but only some of the answers to questions asked by participants.
100 Debates on the Environment Kitchener-Conestoga Debate: Here is the link to a recording of this webinar which took place on September 8th, 2021: https://youtu.be/Yk-FHBvDoa0.
Let's Talk Plastics - A Family Event: Here is the link to a recording of this webinar which took place on April 22nd, 2021:https://youtu.be/RvqXo13vMlM. This is an edited version of the webinar. It includes the full presentations of our speakers and the complete Q&A period.
Let's Talk EVs - Are You Ready For An Electric Vehicle Webinar: Here is the link to a recording of this webinar which took place on February 18th, 2021: https://youtu.be/w-xXFQ6sslI. This is an edited version of the webinar. It includes the complete presentation made by our speaker, Andy Wilson, and the Question & Answer period. Please note that this webinar does not recommend specific manufacturers or models of electric vehicles.
Let's Talk Nifty Native Plants Webinar: Here is the link to a recording of this webinar which took place on January 11th, 2021: https://youtu.be/jUAJaOb4nYA. This recording is an edited version of the webinar. It includes the complete presentation made by our speaker, Sean James, and the Question & Answer period.
- Droughts & Downpours Webinar: Here is the link to a recording of this webinar which took place on October 14th, 2020: https://youtu.be/XXIMr7MNBpE. This recording is an edited version of the webinar. It includes the complete presentations made by the speakers and the Question & Answer period. Note: Here are the bios for each of our speakers:
Becca Robinson: http://nvecoboosters.com/BeccaRobinson.pdf
Nicola Thomas: http://nvecoboosters.com/NicolaThomas.pdf