Welcome to Sustainable Orillia
‘Sustainable Orillia’ is a network of citizens committed to improving the quality of life, the health and wellness, and the environment in our community. Mandated and supported by the Mayor and Council, the Sustainable Orillia task force provides an overarching framework for programs and partnerships that target more sustainable practices across nine critical sectors.
Check out our Sustainable 2020 Resolutions on our what’s new page!
What We Do
There is a sense of urgency in our work—a shared passion to make positive, measurable differences… starting now! Sustainable Orillia develops and coordinates local initiatives that support a more sustainable way of life for today and the future. Sustainable Orillia is anchored in community engagement: we need ideas, people, and passion to help implement the behavioural changes required to stop the erosion of our environment.
Sustainable Orillia is focused on enabling those changes that we can all make for the better—big and small. Whether it’s buying local or cycling to work; whether its reducing our reliance on plastics or planting more trees; whether it’s local businesses reducing waste or using more local products; or whether it’s reading, learning and sharing more about how each of us can help foster greater sustainability—it all matters. Small, individual changes add up and create momentum towards a better, healthier future for ourselves, our children, and the generations to come.
Sustainable Orillia is your local hub for ideas, learning, tips, and participation in making our lives here in Orillia more sustainable.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead (Anthropologist)
Why Sustainable Orillia
Because the world’s national and state level sustainability plans are currently insufficient and inconsistent and this is a collective problem that demands collective solutions, local initiatives are necessary. With the Mayor’s encouragement, many concerned individuals and groups within our community have consolidated their efforts, working to develop the concepts, strategies and plans for a “made in Orillia” grass roots movement under the banner of Sustainable Orillia. Sustainable Orillia is our local response to mitigating adverse changes to our community.
Our Sustainability Sectors
1. Agriculture/Food
2. Land/Water/Habitat
3. Goods and Services
4. Housing
5. Transportation, Renewable Energy and Conservation
6. Private Sector Capital and Operations
7. Arts and Culture
8. Education
9. Health and Wellness
How You Can Help
Ask yourself: Is what you are doing moving us towards sustainability, or away from it?
Weekly Tip 23 - Find Useful Sustainability Apps
When food ends up in a landfill, it releases greenhouse gases as it decays. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that from 2010 to 2016, global food loss and waste contributed 8-10% of human-caused green-house gas emissions. According to the food rescue organization, Second Harvest, 58% of food produced in Canada is lost or wasted, amounting to 35.5 million tonnes a year. Much of that could actually be rescued and eaten. But how? Well, now there’s an app for that. Flashfood is a startup that partnered with grocery giant Loblaw earlier this year to sell surplus food at a discount — typically 50 per cent or more — at hundreds of Loblaws locations across the country (including Zehrs in Orillia). Through the Flashfood app, each store posts daily offerings, including meat, dairy, bread or packaged foods that are approaching their best-before dates. App users shop and pay on the app, then pick up their order from a designated fridge at the store any time during the day. This and many other apps provide a great service to the public and the environement.