Markham's First Sustainability Fair

The following is a summary of ideas we heard from residents at the Sustainability Fair on October 24, 2009.

Topic:

Education & Skills	Economic Vibrancy
Food Security	Individual Health
Shelter	Identity and Culture
Water Efficiency	Ecosystem Integrity
Materials Management	Access and Mobility
Social Equity	Energy and Climate

Learn more about our 12 Sustainability Goals and give us your feedback.

Education & Skills

• Equal opportunities for students to participate (i.e. no cost for school trips)
• Tools and support for parents (i.e. food choices, activities)
• Respect diversity of community members
• Accessible and well advertise social services
• ESL services and multi-lingual services to overcome barriers
• International credentials and experience recognized
• Communities developed to support neighbours knowing each other
• Public realm for social interaction and community groups
• Libraries as centres for learning and resources

Food Security

• Community gardens and backyard gardens part of community design
• Agricultural lands protected and farmers supported
• Culturally and ethnically appropriate foods grown locally
• Grocery stores, local cafés, and restaurants within walking distance
• Schools serve local food and have school gardens
• Farmers markets in every community
• No need for food banks
• Agri-tourism developed including festivals and local food maps

Shelter

• Everyone has the opportunity to have a permanent home
• Housing is built close to transit and within walking distance of services
• Opportunity to age in place
• Affordable housing required of all developers
• Affordable housing integrated within communities seamlessly
• Services for homelessness expanded
• Second-suites (apartments in family housing) legalized
• Overcome “Not In My Backyard” attitude toward shelters, half-way houses and affordable housing

Water Efficiency

• Tap water remains healthy and is the preference over bottled water
• Wells remain a safe source of water outside of the urban boundary
• Water use is limited in the summer (i.e. lawn watering)
• Year round water conservation practices in households (i.e. shower, appliances, duel flush toilets)
• Approach water in a systems approach, including rain barrels, grey water and storm water
• Household hazardous waste does not enter our water system
• Native plants used to treat storm water

Materials Management

• Zero waste a reality
• Lifecycle assessment a part of the procurement policy
• Re-use and re-store rather than throwing away
• Pay for service to use of product rather than the product itself
• Manufacturers reduce the range of materials to increase ‘recycleability’
• Developer responsibility for integrated and efficient communities 
• Reduction in use of disposable plastic (i.e. plastic bags, plastic bottles)
• Reduced amount of packaging and retailers required to take it back

Social Equity

• Inclusive community, including people with disabilities (i.e. wheelchair friendly curbs)
• Enough affordable housing
• Everyone feels like a stakeholder in their own community
• Senior centre/groups in neighbourhoods and multilingual
• No more gender bias in the workforce
• Parks designed for all ages (i.e. basketball for youth, benches for elderly)
• Bring discussion groups and engagement opportunities to the people (i.e. for youth issues go to high schools, for seniors go to their centre)
• Facilities spread evenly throughout the town and close to residences

Economic Vibrancy

• Integration of all sectors in the economy to compliment each other
• A balance of both local and foreign businesses operating within Markham
• Reduce need to commute with local jobs and a range of commuting options
• Diversified the zoning policies to encourage complete communities
• Affordable housing in Markham so workers can live close to their jobs
• A vibrant green business and technology sector
• A local network where businesses can learn from each other
• Retrofitting buildings to make industries more efficient

Individual Health

• Increased exercise opportunities and healthy menus for children in schools
• Support for low income people to have healthy options and make healthy options
• Nutritional education is made a priority in schools
• Healthy environment to encourage activity and reduce environmental illness
• Programs that support healthy lifestyles
• Health services provided at the community level (i.e. school nurses)
• A network of pathways to encourage physical activity

Identity and Culture

• Elimination of a sense of segregation in the community among the many ethnicities
• Maintain the sense of safety felt by Markham residents
• A slower pace of life (small town, safe, sense of pride in work)
• People are considerate and respectful of each individual regardless of economic status, race, gender, age, education, etc.
• Cross-cultural experience and ability to be exposed to our different cultures

Ecosystem Integrity

• No development past the current urban boundary
• Development that is based on intensification and integrating ecosystems within communities
• Sustainable funding for urban plantings, trees and parks
• An animal shelter in Markham and programs to learn to live with wildlife
• Connections between natural heritage features and connecting pathway system
• Clean and healthy rivers and streams (i.e. can swim in the Rouge, improved water management)
• School involvement in local ecosystem restorations

Access and Mobility

• Transit that has easy to understand and direct routes
• Pedestrian routes are maintained (i.e. garbage picked up, surfaces maintained)
• Safe and connected cycling network (i.e. paths separated from traffic)
• Trail system a connected network that links places within the community
• Transit oriented development (i.e. can live close to work, increased density)
• Balance of commuting options (i.e. HOV lanes, transit ways, roads)
• Children can walk safely to school (i.e. walking school bus)
• Investment in transit for improvements and affordability

Energy and Climate

• Renewable energy generation (i.e. solar panels)
• Homes and communities are designed to be energy efficient and carbon neutral
• Better transportation options (i.e. non-stop GO Train service)
• Markham’s carbon footprint has been calculated and strategies developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Energy consumption reduced throughout the community
• Waste used to generate energy
• Regular monitoring and reporting on energy efficiency
• Energy audits and retrofits on existing buildings