Ecological preservation. We have a culture of strong public support for natural areas, both for their ecological function and for recreation opportunities. Conservation easements and land trusts are commonly used as a way to preserve environmentally sensitive land in perpetuity. Natural areas are connected, and we’ve reduced habitat fragmentation by rewilding underused land. We have established streamlined lot severance and zoning processes to facilitate ecological gifts. The Greenbelt has expanded to include Waterloo Region, with provincial-level protections for the Paris-Galt moraine, the Waterloo moraine, the Grand River, and the protected countryside in our region. Hidden Valley has remained a celebrated jewel in the heart of Kitchener, with strong public support for protecting it against future road extensions. Conservation authorities have resisted the disposal of their lands, keeping natural spaces under public control for the long term. There is a safe and sustainable groundwater supply for all residents of Waterloo Region.

Non-extractive thinking. We act to undo the root causes of climate change such as colonialism and extractive economic development. More land is owned and stewarded by Indigenous groups. There are opportunities for youth to practice environmental stewardship, integrated into their recreational and learning activities. We monitor biodiversity in the region and create conditions to increase biodiversity. We have built a region that is friendlier to birds, bees, and species-at-risk. We consider the countryside line a permanent limit to urban sprawl, and welcome new neighbours without destroying any farms or natural areas.

Social bonding in an ecological worldview. Our public spaces allow us to express collective grief, celebrate, and motivate collective action for climate justice. Advocacy intersects with social, cultural, and religious ties, and we develop new rituals to make meaning and pursue accountability. We recognize humanity as a keystone species that is enmeshed in an ecosystem that we must steward appropriately. We strive to live in an ecosystem, not a hierarchy. We have developed meaningful relationships tied to the Grand River, Waterloo Moraine, the protected countryside, woodlands, natural areas, and naturalized rivers and creeks in our region.

Urban form & transportation. We’ve created more green spaces in cities while also increasing the number of people in each neighbourhood through higher-density development that makes efficient use of space and is paired with investments in the public and natural realm. We have achieved density without crowding, a sustainable city where people have the choice to walk, bike, bus, or take transit to any destination in their daily life. Cars are used less, not because we were forced out of them, but because the alternatives have become irresistible. We have eliminated the need for surface parking lots, turning them into gardens, affordable housing, and neighbourhood services. Every neighbourhood has experienced an increase in green space, as well as more neighbours living in various housing types, that meet the needs of every stage of life.

Environment: measurable outcomes

• Rate of groundwater recharge
• Water quality in our watershed’s rivers and creeks
• Concentrations of road salt, fertilizers and mining by-products in the environment
• Biodiversity (count number of species)
• Tree canopy coverage (by neighbourhood)
• Rate of children diagnosed with asthma or other air quality related illnesses
• Number of hectares protected by Conservation Authorities, municipal/provincial/national parks, conservation easements, land trusts, and other environmentally-sensitive areas
• Rates of participation in outdoor recreation & sport
• Vehicle kilometres travelled (by transportation method)
• Total km of roadways vs multi-trails and sidewalks
• Air Quality [Canadian Index of Wellbeing]
• Grand River downstream water quality