Human health is intimately connected to the health of the planet. We need fresh water, clean oceans, and natural spaces that contain a rich array of animals, insects and plants. Promoting education about and recreation in our natural spaces has been a part of the Sierra Club philosophy since it was founded in 1892.
Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing
Some of the best stories of 2017 - because of YOU!
Melissa Munro — December 29, 2017Because of your support and strong commitment to the environment, we were able to take on some very challenging campaigns this year:
Canadian Youth Unite for Lake Erie at AquaHacking Challenge 2017
Yvonne Ho — December 20, 2017As the African proverb goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”. This was quoted by one of the judges to conclude the 2017 AquaHacking semi-finals competition. It epitomized a powerful theme for an evening that involved bringing people and organizations together that had been working to develop integrated water governance by promoting technological innovation in this sector. Moreover, to engage future leaders by bringing water problems to the forefront of public and private sector agendas and fostering commitment to solving them.
"Canada's Oceans: Towards 2020" - Protecting Canada's Oceans through the Power of Science, Art, and Policy
Yvonne Ho — December 18, 2017"Let's change our national motto - "From sea to sea" forgets that we have three oceans; the Arctic is largest part of our coastline. We're an ocean nation, if our youth grow up knowing that, it will change how we do things... 'From sea to sea to sea'!" - Geoff Green, Executive Director and Founder of Students on Ice
Sierra Club's Urban River Valley and Greenbelt Celebration Goes On at Mississauga's Environmental Appreciation Evening
Yvonne Ho — December 14, 2017"...The more we all know about and love the ecosystem that embeds and surrounds us, the more we feel that we are a part of it, the more we will see ways to enjoy, protect, and enhance what we have..."
BREAKING NEWS: Government of Ontario looking to expand Greenbelt by one third to protect water resources
Yvonne Ho — December 12, 2017The official announcement came on December 7th. The province is proposing to grow the Greenbelt by up to another 345,000 hectares (see Figure 1), adding on to the 810,000 hectares already in permanent existence plus the extra 10,000 hectares of urban river valley lands and wetlands that were announced this spring. This is a truly impressive proposal.
ENGOs Unite to Protect the Great Lakes at the People's Great Lakes Summit 2.0
Becky Bassick — November 23, 2017Guest Post: One million cubic meters of Radioactive Waste to be deposited in "Near Surface Disposal Facility" next to Ottawa River
Yvonne Ho — November 20, 2017"..The consortium proposes a “Near Surface Disposal Facility” (NSDF), a mound of one million cubic meters of nuclear waste on a hillside draining into the already highly contaminated Perch Creek wetlands, less than 1 km from the Ottawa River.
Sierra Club Celebrates Ontario’s Greenbelt with cake, soup, and a hike in Niagara’s Carolinian old growth forest
Yvonne Ho — November 10, 2017The Celebration
On the afternoon of October 28th, on St. Catharine’s' Lockhart Drive in a threatened Carolinian Old Growth Forest north of the Niagara Escarpment, the Sierra Club celebrated a major environmental victory. This was the extension of Ontario's Greenbelt to 21 major urban river corridors from Northumberald to Niagara. In Niagara, this involved the protection of Lake Gibson - a reservoir for most of the drinking water for Niagara's residents.
Government of Ontario's "Long-Term Energy Plan" fails to uphold Ontarians' environmental and energy future
Becky Bassick — October 27, 2017The following article was written by Becky Bassick, Sierra Club Ontario's Green Energy & Great Lakes Campaign Volunteer.
“By wasting billions on nuclear rebuilds rather than investing in far more cost-effective energy efficiency and hydro imports, the government's plan misses out on the best opportunities to lower energy and environmental costs.”
Time to Celebrate: 21 New Rivers Added to Ontario's Greenbelt!
Yvonne Ho — October 5, 2017PLEASE JOIN US IN CELEBRATING 21 NEW RIVERS ADDED TO ONTARIO'S GREENBELT...
THEN
...HIKE THE ENDANGERED LOCKHART DRIVE OLD GROWTH FOREST WITH US!
Good News!
Sierra Club Ontario joins 47 ENGOs to Comment on Great Lakes Draft Binational Strategy on Persistent Toxins: PCBs and HBDCs
Becky Bassick — September 27, 2017UPDATE: Sierra Club's Michigan Chapter opposes OPG's Deep Geological Repository proposal in submission to LAMP
Yvonne Ho — September 26, 2017Part II: Let’s Get Motivated for Biodiversity by Protecting Canada’s Lands & Freshwater
Yvonne Ho — July 27, 2017This article Part II of a 5-part blog series, as part of our Biodiversity Video Campaign.
"When ecosystem services are compromised, economic and health impacts such as lower agricultural productivity and lower quality drinking water can result, raising costs for Canadian, industry and governments."
It's finally here: Greenbelt Plan 2017!
Yvonne Ho — June 22, 2017The (Greenbelt Plan's) amendments uphold the Greenbelt's most central legacy: its permanence.
The following article was written by Thaia Jones, Sierra Club Ontario's Greenbelt Campaign Chair.
HERE AT LAST!
Significant changes needed to tackle Lake Erie’s algal bloom problem
Yvonne Ho — June 22, 2017Lake Erie's algal blooms are hurting the lake's ecosystem, Ontario’s economy, and the health of communities that depend on it.
The following article was written by Dr. Lino Grima, former professor of Water Resources Policy and Environmental Management at the University of Toronto, Chair of Sierra Club Ontario's Great Lakes Campaign and Co-Chair of Sierra Club's Binational Great Lakes Committee.
Wild Child - Helping Nurture Generation N
Gretchen Fitzgerald — June 5, 2017Almost as an antidote to last week's announcement that the US intends to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement, today, June 5th, we celebrate World Environment Day.
Some people have asked for a break from the bad news and the heartache that sometimes comes with caring for our Earth - whether its trying to stop toxic pollution, prevent climate change, or protecting wildlife and wild spaces. For me, a good antidote to the doom and gloom is checking in with our Wild Child programs on PEI and Nova Scotia.
Potential Revival of Mid-Peninsula Expressway Threatens Ontario's Greenbelt and Local Habitats
Yvonne Ho — May 9, 2017“A Politician only thinks of the next election... A Leader thinks of the next generation.”
Patrick Brown, Ontario PC Leader, has shown support for the shelved Mid-Peninsula Expressway - representing a threat to Ontario's Greenbelt, including some of the local communities, green space, and wildlife habitat that it has been supporting ever since its establishment in 2005.
The following article was written by Dr.