Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 6h

Autumn is a season of change and the best time to plant for the future.

🌿 Learn how to transform underused spaces into thriving urban forests through our Mini Forest Training Course. 🍂

👉 Sign up today: buff.ly/KtuuOg9

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 7h

We’re joining Efficiency Canada today for their Canadian Home Energy Justice Conference.

Ben Copp, (Office of Energy Efficiency at NRCan) delivered the first keynote, speaking about federal priorities and progress on home energy efficiency to reduce home energy bills.

cc @brhaley.bsky.social

1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 12h

Valérie Tremblay spoke with @aptnnews.bsky.social about the equity implications of electric school buses.

Register now to join Valérie and other authors for an online panel about their recent report, Embedding Equity in Canada’s Transition to Electric School Buses.

buff.ly/WNVcqYr

1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 1d

Green Communities Canada and @forestry.ubc.ca are excited to release a new report.

The first report of its kind, "Seeds of Change: Cultivating Mini Forests Across Canada," investigates the rapid growth of the mini forest movement in Canada.

🔗 Get the report here:

Seeds of Change: Celebrating the Growth of Mini Forests Across Canada - Green Communities Canada

Green Communities Canada (GCC) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) are excited to release a new report. Seeds of Change: Cultivating Mini Forests Across Canada investigates the rapid growth…

buff.ly

1 1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 2d

🌍 #WorldHabitatDay calls on us to protect the right to shelter & healthy spaces.

In 2024, GreenUP & One City Peterborough worked together through our #LivingCitiesCanada Fund, to plant for resilience, building greener, more inclusive communities. 🌿

buff.ly/SDhQELb

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 5d

This project was supported by a grant from GCC’s Living Cities Canada Fund, in partnership with Trees for Life Canada, and with support from Definity.

1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 5d

🌱 Need a heart-warming read? Check out this beautiful story about the Buena Vista Garden Collective transforming a once-empty boulevard into a welcoming green space:

Read more: buff.ly/p0rI2v8

A garden for the community: Buena Vista boulevard attracts more than just pollinators

Transforming what was once a "forlorn space," gardeners are proving how shovels, seeds and soil can bring a community together.

buff.ly

1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 5d

Have you seen the news coverage of our recent report on how we can roll out electric school buses more equitably across Canada?

Register now for our Oct. 15 online panel with the authors of the report.

buff.ly/WNVcqYr

2 3

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 6d

🌱 On Sept 30, the City of St. Thomas planted 400 trees in a small space to create its first Miyawaki Mini Forest, with the help of local kids! 👏

A hands-on project showing how communities can grow greener, healthier futures.

Read more:

Children help create 400-tree mini forest in St. Thomas

St. Thomas has its first Miyawaki Mini Forest.

buff.ly

1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you to RBC for supporting this project through GCC’s Living Cities Canada Fund, and to our partner Canadian Trees for Life!

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 6d

GCC & the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre are digging deep into soil research to support thriving mini forests across Canada.

Learn more in our latest blog: buff.ly/3PztyV0

#RBCTechforNature #MiniForests #SoilHealth

1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 7d

🌍🌱 Happening TODAY! GCC’s Green Infrastructure team is presenting on "Mini Forests" at "From the Wild to Our Backyards," a free Toronto Zoo webinar on restoring biodiversity.

2–3:30 PM EDT.

👉 Register: buff.ly/Cri5kq9

From the Wild to Our Backyards: Protecting Biodiversity in a Changing Climate Webinar · Luma

Join the Toronto Zoo for an inspiring Toronto Climate Week webinar exploring how we can protect and restore biodiversity in our own communities. From the Wild…

buff.ly

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 7d

Today is International Walk to School Day, and the start of #Walktober – International Walk to School Month! 🍂👟🚸

Every day in October, we encourage children to keep healthy by walking + wheeling to school.

Check out our resources: buff.ly/9tz5vRW

1 1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 8d

GCC will be closed today to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

On this day, we recognize the tragic legacy and ongoing harm of residential schools. We honour the children who never returned home, the families of the missing children, and the survivors.🍂

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 9d

Green Communities Canada and @forestry.ubc.ca are excited to release a new report.

The first report of its kind, "Seeds of Change: Cultivating Mini Forests Across Canada," investigates the rapid growth of the mini forest movement in Canada.

🔗 Get the report here:

Seeds of Change: Celebrating the Growth of Mini Forests Across Canada - Green Communities Canada

Green Communities Canada (GCC) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) are excited to release a new report. Seeds of Change: Cultivating Mini Forests Across Canada investigates the rapid growth…

buff.ly

1 3

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 9d

⚡🚍 Canada has a chance to lead—not just in clean transportation, but in doing it right. Ethical sourcing, responsible disposal, and inclusive design should be the standard, not the exception.

Register now to join our online panel on October 15.

buff.ly/FhvcyIk

1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 10d

🌊 Sept 28 is #WorldRiversDay, a reminder that healthy rivers mean healthy communities.

🌱 Rain gardens filter runoff & protect waterways. Since 2016, GCC has supported communities, and we offer free courses to help you start.

💧 buff.ly/CPm8mZK

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 12d

The 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play is live!

Active outdoor play boosts physical activity, supports emotional well-being, reduces screen time, and improves sleep for children and adults.

Explore the full statement by @outdoorplayca.bsky.social:
buff.ly/zCUnRpl

#AOP10

2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play » Outdoor Play Canada

Policy Practice Research

www.outdoorplaycanada.ca

2 1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 12d

Cars versus kids: How resistance to change limits children’s right to the city
theconversation.com/cars-versus-...

Cars versus kids: How resistance to change limits children’s right to the city

Through a long history of prioritizing cars in our cities, we have normalized not seeing or hearing children on our streets.

theconversation.com

2

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 12d

Clean air isn’t a luxury—it’s a right. 🌍 On #WorldEnvironmentalHealthDay, we’re spotlighting electric school buses.

Join our Oct 15 panel with the authors of CESBA’s new report to explore equity, health, and climate in Canada’s ESB transition.

👉 buff.ly/flXmGes

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 13d

👏 Exciting news from Welland! The city’s first mini forest is on its way—1,700 native trees & shrubs supported by GCC's Living Cities Canada Fund.

Volunteers are needed on Saturday, Sep 27, to help plant Welland’s very first mini forest!

Read more:

City of Welland announces site for first mini forest

1,700 native trees and shrubs are coming to the Logan Avenue area

buff.ly

1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 13d

This project was supported by a grant from GCC’s Living Cities Canada Fund, in partnership with Trees for Life Canada, and with support from Definity.

1

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 13d

🌱 Need a heart-warming read? Check out this beautiful story about the Buena Vista Garden Collective transforming a once-empty boulevard into a welcoming green space:

Read more: buff.ly/p0rI2v8

A garden for the community: Buena Vista boulevard attracts more than just pollinators

Transforming what was once a "forlorn space," gardeners are proving how shovels, seeds and soil can bring a community together.

thestarphoenix.com

1 1 2

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 13d

Healthy roots start with healthy soil!

GCC & the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre are digging deep into soil research to support thriving mini forests across Canada.

Learn more in our latest blog: buff.ly/3PztyV0

#RBCTechforNature #MiniForests #SoilHealth

Green Communities Canada @greencommunities.bsky.social · 14d

Meet Brandy Lin Tiffany with the @cityofhamilton.bsky.social Forestry Department. Hear her thoughts on the connection between people + trees.

Click the link to learn about this #MiniForest planting event with our #LivingCitiesCanadaFund + Greenbelt Foundation: buff.ly/4gMu9Or