Live Green, Love Green & Shop Green
April is Earth Month – an important global reminder about living sustainably and taking part in preserving our planet.
In Bronte, where connection to water and nature are rooted in its origin story and evolution, this time of year is an opportunity to practice an attitude of gratitude for all the ways the community enhances our lives and to take steps (literally!) to make a positive environmental impact.
Here are three green actions you can take this month and beyond:
1. Visit Bronte by Bus, by Bike or on Foot
Bronte is serviced by four Oakville Transit bus stops along Lakeshore Road that will drop you in the heart of the commercial district. Did you know kids under the age of 5 ride for free with a paying adult and seniors can ride all routes all day for free on Mondays? Good for the earth and good for your wallet!
Designated a Bicycle Friendly Business Area (BFBA) by Ontario by Bike™, Bronte has taken steps to welcome visitors with extra services and amenities for those who want to explore the neighbourhood on two wheels.
And, of course, our pathways and sidewalks are wheelchair, stroller and feet-friendly. Leave the car at home if you live nearby and enjoy the fresh air as you stroll, sightsee and shop.
2. Shop Local
A neighbourhood like Bronte is a place where everything you need can be found. When you shop locally, you reduce your carbon footprint: limited driving + decreased traffic = less air pollution. And the small businesses that comprise Bronte’s commercial district are personally invested in the community’s well-being.
Take it one step further and a seek out businesses that put green at the core of their operations. They’re easy to find in Bronte!
My Girlfriend’s Closet is an upscale consignment boutique with a motto that pre-loved clothing is best.
Simply Green Baby curates their products to ensure everything they sell is eco-friendly – and they plant a tree with every $100 purchase.
Rainbow Expressions Salon Inc. talks the talk, walks the walk and chops the chop. They give beauty waste a new life by boxing it up and sending it to Green Circle Salons where it’s sorted and either composted, turned into bio-composite plastics or used in the development of environmentally friendly technology.
3. Participate in Earth-Friendly Events
Visit Bronte to connect with one of Ontario’s most scenic lakeside communities while you act locally to make a big green impact.
On Saturday, April 1 at 12pm, participate in the 6th Annual Chinook Penning Event in Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park. Bring the family and help the Halton Region Salmon and Trout Association stock 30,000 Chinook Salmon fingerlings into the net pen program in Bronte (outer) Harbour.
On Saturday, April 22 at 9am, support a clean, green, litter-free Bronte and pitch-in to pick up litter for a morning at Bronte Bluffs Park and Bronte Harbour at East Street. This event is organized by The Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights.