At HCF’s Living the Environment conference, students from every Hamilton high school learned about connecting themselves to the environment so they can make a difference in the world around them.
Each year, HCF hosts an environmental conference for all of Hamilton’s secondary schools. Click here to read more.
Initiatives
Environmental Focus
In 2000, Hamilton Community Foundation talked to stakeholders about focusing its work most effectively. The community flagged the environment as a priority and HCF responded. Although the environment had long been supported through many of the Foundation's donor-advised and field of interest funds, HCF undertook research and learning to determine the best way to focus its resources to address this pressing concern for Canadians.
The result has been:
- environmental grantmaking through our Protecting Our Environment Together (POET) initiatives
- Engaging citizens in action
- Building the capacity of our local environmental organizations and
- Sharing knowledge and learning.
POET Grants
Launched in 2004, POET was the outcome of extensive research and consultation with environmental experts and other stakeholders. POET's goals are to increase the adoption of sustainable behaviours and choices by residents of Hamilton that will improve our environment and at the same time, protect human health.
Three target groups are:
- Neighbourhood and citizen groups (POET neighbourhood grants)
- Schools and youth groups (POET youth grants)
- NGOs serving the Hamilton community
POET focuses on five issues:
- Air quality
- Water quality
- Waste reduction and management
- Energy consumption
- Protection of natural areas and corridors
Originally a three-year program, POET was extended for an additional year in 2007 to build on its track record of creating a greener Hamilton. Funds for POET come from the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and five donor funds at HCF, along with support from the Community Fund. At the same time, environmental grantmaking from donor-advised funds is ever-increasing, as citizens express their commitment to a healthier planet.
A few outcomes from HCF's environmental grants are:
- Hamilton EcoNet was established, bringing together 24 local environmental organizations focused on energy efficiency and pollution prevention
- High school students in 26 schools annually undertake some 60 environmental projects
- 3,000 north Hamilton households were given energy savings kits that saved 1,600 tonnes of greenhouse gases
- 5,000 trees were planted, 1,800 inventoried, and a tree festival initiated
- 3,500 north-end residents participated with industry and law makers to address neighbourhood environmental concerns
- Young people marked more than 1,000 storm drains with painted yellow fish, flagging the need to stop household pollutants from entering the water system
Check out our environmental resources: