Helping Hamilton Go Solar Workshop a huge success!

Our December 5th Solar Workshop at McMaster Innovation Park was a huge success. Over 250 interested individuals attended the event. They were provided with plenty of helpful information about everything from available solar technologies and how they work to tips on completing a provincial microFIT application. The resounding message from attendees is that there is a need for more workshops like this one and for more learning opportunities around the theme of renewable energy. Keep checking back here for more details on events in 2011!

Helping Hamilton Go Solar

Our efforts to get Hamiltonians thinking about renewable energy are culminating in a great event scheduled for December 5th. Helping Hamilton Go Solar is a workshop designed to cover the basic information people need to pursue a solar installation - whether it be solar photovoltaic panels on a roof or a solar hot water heater for home. The great thing is that the pursuit of renewable energy installations means the creation of good green jobs right here in Hamilton. Consider coming out on December 5th to learn more!


We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Blue Green Canada on this effort. Both organizations receive support for green jobs/ green economy work from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Additionally, our December 5th workshop is being sponsored by TD Canada trust.

Visit http://www.environmenthamilton.org/ to view details regarding the workshop or call Lynda at (905) 549-0900. You can also RSVP for this event on Facebook. Click here to access the Facebook event page.

It was a busy summer!

EH's GOLE Project Manager Lynda Lukasik and summer intern Adam DeSousa spent the summer months organizing new efforts to promote the green economy and green jobs in Hamilton.

Efforts began to build the framework necessary to create a Green Business Directory for Hamilton. To start, our focus will be on renewable energy and value-added local food products. The directory will ultimately be posted to the Environment Hamilton website for public access.

Work on a Green Business Directory also led to discussions around Fair Trade, partly through recognizing that, while we are committed to promoting local production of local needs, we'll always import goods into our community. This led us to embark on an effort to see Hamilton formally certified as a 'Fair Trade Town' through TransFair Canada.

Our goal to see Hamilton become a Fair Trade Town evolved very quickly over the summer and we have already been recognized on the TransFair website as a 'Fair Trade Town In Progress'. The last major goal we need to satisfy to become a full-fledged Fair Trade Town is to get the city to commit to using Fair Trade products and supporting the local Fair Trade campaign. Our hope is that we'll secure this commitment soon after the October 25th municipal election.

Have your say about the City's Economic Development Strategy

The City of Hamilton is inviting Hamiltonians to comment on the draft Economic Development Strategy. A series of Public Open Houses are being held this week, all starting at 7:00 pm with a presentation at 7:30 pm:

• Mon. April 19 - Cardinal Newman HS (127 Gray Rd, Stoney Creek)


• Tues. April 20 - Michalangelo's (155 Upper Ottawa St)


• Wed. April 21 - McMaster Innovation Park (175 Longwood Rd S)

Click here to access the draft Economic Development Strategy.

Click here to view the poster for the Open Houses.

Environment Hamilton's GOLE project is collaborating with Blue Green Canada to put on this day-long workshop designed to bring a diverse mix of Hamiltonians together to develop an action plan for making green jobs and green economic development a reality in our city. Click here for more information on the agenda for the day and how you can register as a participant.

Managing Without Growth - Slower By Design Not Disaster

York University professor Dr. Peter Victor will be the keynote speaker at Environment Hamilton's upcoming Annual General Meeting, set for April 8, 2010, starting at 7pm at the Hamilton Board of Education's downtown auditorium. Dr. Victor is one of a growing number of economists challenging the current assumptions that prevail within our market economy. At the core of his critique are concerns about reconciling the infinite growth model that dominates in the market economy with the reality of the planet's finite resources. Dr. Victor's perspectives are critical for anyone interested in determining how best to move forward with an effective plan for creating a green, sustainable economy.

More about the book from www.managingwithoutgrowth.com:

Peter Victor challenges the priority that rich countries continue to give to economic growth as an over-arching objective of economic policy. The challenge is based on a critical analysis of the literature on environmental and resource limits to growth, on the disconnect between higher incomes and happiness, and on the failure of economic growth to meet other key economic, social and environmental policy objectives.

January 27th Panel a Success

Mayor Eisenberger addresses the crowd while panelists Lynda Lukasik, Dr. Ashish Pujari and Tony Verrelli listen.

We had a great turnout for our January 27th panel, sponsored by EH's GOLE Project, the Hamilton & District Labour Council, and Blue Green Canada. Over 100 people showed up to listen to panelists share their perspectives on how the green economy will transform our city. And there was plenty of discussion following panel comments.

Welcome to the GOLE Project

Welcome to the official blog of Environment Hamilton's Greening Our Local Economy project. Join us as we embark on a journey exploring the potential for green economic development and green jobs in our city. The community conversation begins on Tuesday, January 26th with a town hall style meeting exploring the question:

Will the Green Economy Transform Hamilton?

It's an important question and this is an important time in our city's history. We have the opportunity to embrace the green economy and head on a transformative course that could contribute to profound change where environment, economy, and social elements of our community are concerned. Be sure to come out and join the conversation!