WHEREAS, Earth Day is celebrated globally with the goal of inspiring environmental awareness and promoting the conservation and restoration of our planet’s shared natural resources and ecosystems, on which we depend; and
WHEREAS, the World Meteorological Organization has determined that 2024 was the warmest year on record: 1.55 °C above preindustrial levels, with extreme weather events responsible for wide ranging socioeconomic impacts affecting food security, population displacement and health; and
WHEREAS, the global biodiversity crisis is recognized as an all-encompassing environmental issue with serious consequences for humanity with the Government of Canada committing to halting and reversing biodiversity loss; and,
WHEREAS, a stable climate along with biodiverse ecosystems and the services they provide: clean air, water, fertile soil, carbon sequestration and flood and drought mitigation, are foundational for building a healthy community; and
WHEREAS, Collingwood officially declared a Climate Crisis in October 2019 to name and deepen our commitment to protecting our economy, our community and our eco systems and enacted the Greener Collingwood Corporate Climate Change Action Plan in 2023 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and integrate a climate lens and sustainability into the Town’s culture; and,
WHEREAS, the Town of Collingwood has partnered with local environmental organizations to educate and promote positive environmental actions, including growing our tree canopy, enhancing our urban streams and water quality in Georgian Bay, adopting the Collingwood Pollinator Protection Plan in 2024, and most recently working to create a Community Climate Action Plan.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Yvonne Hamlin, Mayor of the Town of Collingwood,
DO HEREBY PROCLAIM April 22nd, 2025, as “Earth Day” in the Town of Collingwood.
Dated this 22nd day of April 2025.