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Thirty Years of Action

Home › Thirty Years of Action

2014 Annual Report

What people are saying about Environmental Defence:

  • “Congratulations ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE for 30 years of commitment to working with citizens for a cleaner, healthier environment. Your leadership in challenging wrong decisions but also in working constructively and collaboratively to find solutions is a model for all of us and one that I hope will continue for future generations.”

    Ruth Grier - Former Minister of the Environment

  • “You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by being a part of ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE - and I don’t say that because I have to. (ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE) has made a difference so that we can effectively make change and find solutions to have a better environment and better living space.”

    Erin Brokovich - Environmental Activist

  • “We need to support organizations like ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE who are there getting the work done. As long as there are people doing that work around all kinds of causes, specifically environmentally - I feel very pleased and honoured to be able to lend my support.”

    Bruce Cockburn - Music Icon and Prominent Activist

  • “I’m honoured to be involved with ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE and have the opportunity to bring awareness for this cause to the forefront of our everyday lives.”

    Randy Bachman - Rock and Roll Icon and CBC Radio Host

  • “It’s been a pleasure working with ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE to save endangered species, stop aggregate expansion on the Escarpment, and to challenge our blind-faith acceptance of tar sands pipelines. I want more citizens to join the fight and stand on the front lines with EDC to create a better future for all of us.”

    Sarah Harmer - Canadian singer-songwriter and activist

  • “I am incredibly proud of ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE’S clear and impressive accomplishments over the past 30 years. Having been on the Board for nearly two-thirds of that time and as President for nearly one-third, I have been fortunate to witness first-hand the extraordinary efforts of a small group of intelligent and committed Canadians.”

    Bruce Lourie President, Ivey Foundation; best-selling author and past President of ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE

  • “Bravo for thirty years of collaboration with First Nations. With legal counsel from ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, we created a permanently protected cultural heritage landscape in the Greenbelt. Preserving Skandatut, our ancient capital and burial ground, is a great legacy for all Nations.”

    Heather Bastien Former Ontario Liaison Designate, Huron-Wendat Nation

  • “How accomplished, powerful and influential you are, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, at the tender young age of 30. Just think of what a non-toxic crusading force you’ll be in your fourth decade! Happy birthday and cheers to many more.”

    Gill Deacon Author, “There’s Lead in your Lipstick: Toxins in our Everyday Bodycare and How To Avoid Them”; Just Beautiful Campaign Cabinet Member; Host, “Here and Now” on CBC Radio One

  • “Our environmental future is at risk. Generations present and future will ask, ‘what were you doing about this?’... Thanks to the folks at ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, for their answer of doing something about it.”

    Al Gore Former US Vice-President (during the announcement that Ontario will go coal-free)

  • “ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE is a top notch organization. We couldn’t have found a better partner in our efforts to create green jobs and a green economy.”

    Ken Neumann Canadian National Director, United Steelworkers

Letter From the President and Executive Director

This year, we celebrate ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE’S 30th anniversary. While we look forward to exciting changes, we also toast our past successes, all made possible by you.

Back in 1984, there were few tools to protect environmental assets. Nature was largely seen as a means for economic gain, consistent with the resource based development that had built our economy until that time. But our awareness of the true value of our natural assets was changing, and in this spirit, the Canadian Environmental Defence Fund (our first name) opened its doors, providing legal services and advice to communities looking to define a new relationship with our shared environment—convinced that by engaging with clear arguments, scientific evidence, and the support of the law, Canadians could make a difference.

Together, we made change happen. From eliminating toxic chemicals from baby bottles to ensuring better water quality at Canadian beaches, the list of our achievements is long.

Over the years, we’ve grown in size and experience. Today, we offer comprehensive solutions to complex issues. Our work on toxics, land, energy and water has shown that there are sustainable, economically robust approaches to environmental challenges.

These days, a growing number of Canadians realize we don’t need to choose between a healthy environment and a healthy economy. We can and must have both. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE will soon launch a new focus for much of our work, within a Clean Economy Program. As part of this program, we’ll work with businesses, citizens, commuters and farmers to reduce pollution, clean our water, steward our lands and transform our energy use in order to create more jobs, and more money for the things that we all need.

As part of this program, we’ll look to emerging energy technologies to create a greener electricity supply, we’ll focus on new payment systems to encourage the conservation of lands and natural resources, and we’ll encourage the power of the market to reward companies that provide sustainable products and services.

We know many Canadians want a vibrant clean economy in Canada, so we’ll provide Canadians with new ways to work with us to make this possible. We’ll make it easier and more rewarding for you to help us move government and industry to this bright new future.

So on our 30th birthday we look back with pride on all that we have accomplished and look forward with anticipation for our plans for the future. But most of all, we thank you for your support over the years to create a world Canadians are proud to pass on to their children.

 

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Bob Davies – President
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Tim Gray – Executive Director



Annual Highlights

land_usePromoting smarter land use planning

At ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, we support smart growth and speak out about poorly planned development that destroys precious farmland and  forests. In the past year, our legal counsel and staff assisted over a dozen citizens’ groups opposed to large-scale infrastructure projects, commercial and residential developments in agricultural areas across southern Ontario, and in Nova Scotia.

In one notable case, a developer in Ontario proposed a large wedding banquet facility on the Oak Ridges Moraine, in the rolling hills of King Township. With our help, the Stewards of the Moraine defeated the application at the Ontario Municipal Board.

We also helped citizens’ groups who speak up on behalf of the environment and smart land use from being SLAPPed (which are Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) and we supported anti-SLAPP legislation.

Our legal counsel David Donnelly and Board Member Bruce Lourie were key advisors in the campaign to establish a Greenbelt for Halifax, recently adopted in its new Official Plan.

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Canadian youth sweep up international awards for litter solutions

Our annual Canada’s Next Green Journalist competition once again saw Canadian youth use their writing, photography, and videography talents to find solutions to environmental problems in their communities. It was another record year as we received so many great entries from across the country. The national winners went on to compete against students from 15 other countries in the international Litter Less competition, where five Canadian entries placed in the top three in their respective categories this year—our best showing to date! Congratulations to Aian Binlayo, Connie Le, Gaganbir Dhugga, Jane Hu and Camila Lau, and Krista Ariello and Hanna Begovic on their international awards.

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Developing standards for green gravel

Over the years, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE has fought against many inappropriate gravel pits and quarries. We won as often as we lost. One thing that became clear was that the status quo wasn’t working for anyone, and another approach was needed. In 2011,we joined forces with fellow environmental organizations and with many of our community partners and we sat down with representatives from the aggregates industry to hammer out a set of new rules to guide siting and operation of socially and environmentally responsible gravel pits and quarries. That standard is very near to launch, and we’re confident the Cornerstone Standard will deliver better outcomes for all concerned. Keep an eye out, because greener gravel is coming to a project near you.

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Connecting Canadians to green eco-beauty products

This year, we hosted our fourth Just Beautiful Eco-Beauty Market in Toronto, as part of our commitment to educate consumers about how to avoid chemicals in personal care products. At the market, visitors sampled and shopped for hair care, skincare and cosmetic products offered by companies which have signed our Just Beautiful Pledge—a pledge that they don’t make or sell products with the Toxic Ten ingredients, and will disclose all ingredients on their products’ labels. The Just Beautiful companies are proof that you can be green and make green at the same time.

Ed staff picReaching out to educate and mobilize Canadians

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE’S Outreach Team had another big year by being active at events, on campuses and in the community. Whether they were promoting and delivering workshops on how to avoid toxic chemicals, promoting Ontario’s Greenbelt at farmer’s markets, or informing citizens of proposed pipeline projects, our Outreach Team continued to help the public to get more involved in our work. And this year, we made the Canadian Intern Association’s Wall of Fame, an award for employers who provide an educational work environment for people new to the work force and help them get started in their careers.

Energy

Canada has committed to limiting global warming to 2 degrees. But the oil industry wants to triple production of the tar sands, which would cause emissions to skyrocket. This year ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE countered Big Oil’s spin with our Reality Check reports, which set the record straight on how the tar sands are damaging our water, air and climate. We helped over 10,000 Ontario residents speak up about the risks of Enbridge’s Line 9 tar sands pipeline plan. And, we championed energy solutions, like conservation, that save families and businesses money and reduce pollution.

Read more to learn about our next steps and how you can take part.

Our planet is warming, bringing more extreme weather – floods in Calgary and Toronto, forest fires in the Northwest Territories, Quebec and B.C. and hurricanes on the East Coast. We can expect more extreme weather as the planet heats up.

Canada, with other countries, committed to limiting global warming to 2 degrees. But the oil industry, which wants to triple tar sands production, is spending millions of dollars on ads to promote the tar sands—Canada’s fastest growing source of carbon pollution. This year ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE countered Big Oil’s spin with our Reality Check reports, which set the record straight on how the tar sands are damaging our water, air and climate.

We also raised awareness about risky pipeline projects that would enable the tar sands’ expansion. We helped more than 10,000 Ontario residents speak up about the risks of Enbridge’s Line 9 tar sands pipeline plan. We hosted Rock the Line, a concert with Sarah Harmer, Gord Downie and the Sadies, Hayden and Minotaurs. Over 2,000 people attended and together, we raised public awareness about Line 9’s risks. We also kicked off a campaign to educate the public about how TransCanada’s Energy East tar sands pipeline, the largest proposed tar sands pipeline on the continent, would threaten the water of millions of Canadians with the risk an oil spill—all to export unrefined oil and create few jobs.

We helped build a growing movement of Canadians saying no to risky fossil fuels. At the Healing Walk in Alberta, National Days of Action and other events, we helped citizens raise their voices, and there were some big wins. A U.S. government decision on Keystone XL pipeline was delayed, and public and First Nations opposition to the Northern Gateway pipeline has led most observers to conclude it will never be built.

At ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, we know Canadians want a future they can be proud to pass on to their children. This year we released a poll, conducted by Environics, that found 76 per cent of Canadians believe that, given climate concerns, we should be moving away from depending on fossil fuels and towards cleaner energy. Canadians know that we don’t need to choose between a healthy environment and a healthy economy. We can and must have both.

That’s why we support energy solutions that make sense. This year, Ontario became the first jurisdiction in North America to stop burning coal for electricity. We celebrated with an event featuring Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore. Eliminating coal from Ontario’s grid is the largest greenhouse gas reduction project on the continent. It’s helped air quality too. In 2005, Ontario had 53 smog days and in 2013, it had only two.

We support energy conservation to save families and businesses money, reduce pollution and create a more sustainable energy system. With our clean economy partners, Blue Green Canada,we released More Jobs, Less Pollution: Why energy conservation is common sense for Ontario. The report shows that cutting electricity and natural gas use by 25 per cent by 2025 would create 25,000 new jobs, reduce federal and provincial deficits, boost GDP by $3.7 billion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nine per cent. It appears we made a compelling case.

In April, Ontario announced a Conservation First framework that will ensure the province pursues cost-effective ways to reduce energy needs before building new infrastructure.

And, we support investing in renewable energy. Our report, Your Home Electricity Bill: A study on the costs in Ontario, shows that renewable energy accounts for a small part of residential electricity bills, that renewables are not the main reason electricity costs rose in Ontario and that cutting energy waste can offset a large part of the projected increase in electricity prices.

Next Steps:
We’ll keep helping Canadians speak out against reckless plans to expand the tar sands and the risky pipelines that enable that expansion. We’ll work with industries and governments to develop new ways to reduce global warming pollution and shift to renewable energy. And we’ll continue to lead the effort to build a clean economy, powered by safe, modern energy.

Toxics

Efforts by concerned consumers and organizations like ours to remove cancer-causing, hormone disrupting chemicals from household products, are paying off. This past year, there has been a positive shift in North America: in September, for example, Walmart U.S. announced its commitment to reducing or eliminating 10 chemicals in the products it sells, and for suppliers to fully disclose the ingredients in their products by January 2015. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE is working to get cancer-causing and hormone-disrupting chemicals out of the products Canadians use every day in their homes and workplaces but there is much work still to be done.

Read more to learn about our next steps and how you can take part.

Whether you’re washing your hair, watching a movie on your couch, cleaning your house, or opening a can of food, the last thing you want to think about is toxic chemicals. Neither do we.

That’s why we’re working to get cancer-causing and hormone-disrupting chemicals out of the products Canadians use every day in their homes andworkplaces. Since 2005,we have educated the public, tested products and people, and have worked with government and industry to remove chemicals of concern from products—including successfully advocating for the ban of BPA from baby bottles in Canada.

Efforts by organizations like ours, and by concerned consumers, are paying off. This past year there has been a positive shift in North America: in September, for example, Walmart U.S. announced its commitment to reducing or eliminating 10 chemicals in the products it sells, and for suppliers to fully disclose the ingredients in their products by January 2015.

You may remember our report The Trouble with Triclosan, released in 2012, which raised the alarm about this hormone-disrupting, anti-bacterial chemical. Since we started calling for a ban on triclosan, Environment Canada declared it to be toxic to the environment. A sign of progress. And, earlier in 2014, the State of Minnesota announced its ban of triclosan from most consumer products, due to health and environmental concerns. By 2017, products containing triclosan will not be permitted to be sold in the state. It still remains in hundreds of products on store shelves. We want that to change.

With this shift in mind, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE investigated the chemical policies of the five largest cosmetics companies in Canada to see which ones are making progress to eliminate toxic chemicals from their products. Our report: Taking Stock: How the Cosmetics Industry Ranks on Toxic Chemicals showed that while some are taking meaningful action, others still lag behind.

For this report, we ranked Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, Estée Lauder and L’Oréal on their targets for eliminating harmful ingredients, how they are addressing concerns about chemicals in their products, and ingredient disclosure on their product labels.

As expected, most of the companies can improve significantly. Since the release of the report, we have been meeting with leaders in the industry to help make their products safer and their policies stronger.

We are also helping salon workers in Toronto give their workplaces a much-needed makeover when it comes to toxics. Hair stylists, makeup artists and estheticians are particularly vulnerable to toxic exposures in the workplace. Thanks to the support of Live Green Toronto, we made outreach to hair and esthetics schools, to share knowledge about how chemicals in various cosmetics products affect the health of salon workers, the health of clients, and the greater environment. Whether you’re a client or an employee, we believe every time you leave a salon you should be Just Beautiful.

Finally, we’ve been giving individuals the knowledge and tools necessary to reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals and help make a difference. We’ve hosted a number of community workshops in Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax, where participants learn how to identify potential environmental carcinogens in their homes, what they can do to protect their health, and how they can take action.

Next Steps:
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE will continue our work to have five toxic chemicals linked to negative human health impacts like cancer, removed from consumer products: phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, flame retardants and triclosan. We will do this by educating consumers about chemicals in the products they buy so they can choose safer, non-toxic options and by working directly with companies and with those seeking to protect the health of Canadians.

Water

In recent years, the Great Lakes, and in particular Lake Erie, have seen a number of intense and frequent algal blooms during the summer months. These blooms can poison drinking water, threaten human health, reduce tourism and property values, and suffocate and kill fish. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE works directly with shoreline communities to protect habitat and keep our waters clean. Through our Blue Flag program, we certify green and clean beaches and marinas across the country. It’s a milestone year for our program as 2014 marked its 10th anniversary!

Read more to learn about our next steps and how you can take part.

It’s nearly impossible to imagine Canada without its iconic rivers, lakes, and beaches. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE works to protect these precious natural resources for future generations.

In recent years, the Great Lakes, and in particular Lake Erie, have seen a number of intense and frequent algal blooms during the summer months. These blooms can poison drinking water, threaten human health, reduce tourism and property values, and suffocate and kill fish.

To combat this problem, we co-authored the report Clean, Not Green: Tackling Algal Blooms in the Great Lakes which provides a four-point action plan, including the use of market mechanisms to pay farmers to stop nutrient pollution, to help create a healthy future for the Great Lakes. The report received attention in Canada and the U.S., and has set a path for us to work with various groups such as farmers on next steps.

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE also works directly with shoreline communities to protect habitat and keep our waters clean. Through our Blue Flag program, we certify green and clean beaches and marinas across the country. It’s a milestone year for our program as 2014 marked its 10th anniversary!

This year, we also raised flags at three new beaches: Canatara Beach (Sarnia, ON), Waubuno Beach (Parry Sound, ON) and Winnipeg Beach (Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park, MB). This brings the total number of Canadian beaches proudly flying a Blue Flag to 24, in addition to four marinas. To be awarded a Blue Flag, beaches and marinas have to meet strict international standards.

Next Steps:
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE will continue to work alongside citizens to support stronger protection of the Great Lakes and to call on the Ontario government to pass a strong Great Lakes Protection Act. We will also continue to increase the number of Blue Flag beaches and marinas across the country so more Canadians have safe and clean places to swim.

Land

At nearly 2 million acres, Ontario’s Greenbelt is the largest in the world. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE works with communities that want to preserve their green space and grow the Greenbelt. This year, we worked with Oakville, Mississauga and Toronto who each took steps towards adding their urban river valleys into the Greenbelt’s protective fold. We also raised awareness about the continued risks of urban sprawl, which can damage quality of life, personal finances and health as well as destroy prime farmland.

Read more to learn about our next steps and how you can take part.

At nearly 2 million acres, Ontario’s Greenbelt is the largest in the world. A decade ago, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE played a key role in establishing Ontario’s Greenbelt, which protects rivers, streams, farmland, and environmentally sensitive areas from urban sprawl. The Greenbelt also safeguards millions of Ontarians’ drinking water by protecting the sources of rivers and streams that wind into Lake Ontario. Today, we work with communities that want to preserve their green space and help grow the Greenbelt. Our report, Good Things are Growing in Ontario: Expanding Ontario’s Greenbelt Through Urban River Valleys, explained how municipalities could further protect their urban river valleys by adding them into the Greenbelt’s protective fold. This year, we worked with Oakville, Mississauga and Toronto who took steps towards making this a reality for the Don River, Humber River and Etobicoke Creek in Toronto; the Fourteen Mile Creek and the Credit River in Oakville; and Etobicoke Creek in Mississauga. We also raised awareness about the continued risks of urban sprawl. Our report, The High Costs of Sprawl: Why Building More Sustainable Communities Will Save Us Time and Money, outlined how urban sprawl damages our quality of life, personal finances and health. And it discussed how greener development standards and public transit can result in more sustainable, efficient and integrated communities. Next Steps: We’ll continue to work with citizens who want to add their urban river valleys, farms or natural areas to the Greenbelt’s protective fold. We’ll highlight the areas that are threatened by proposed development and highways and we’ll work to show how these threats can be addressed and, we’ll provide more ways for Ontarians to show their support for the Greenbelt.

Celebrating Our Supporters

GREEN CHAMPION Brian Phillips

BRIAN Dreads High ResBack in 1989, before being eco-friendly was popular, Brian Phillips opened a hair salon in Toronto. Four years later, after eight years in the industry, he became concerned about the potential impacts of harmful chemicals on staff and clients. So began his journey to make his salon as toxic-free as possible. When he couldn’t find high quality toxic-free hair products, Brian created worldPRODUCTS – a healthy personal care line. By focusing on healthier practices, Brian has helped to change the way that consumers perceive green beauty in Canada.

Twenty five years later, award winning worldSALON remains a leader in the green beauty movement. In addition to the salon’s superlative style, clients are drawn to its outstanding environmental commitment. For example, Brian’s decision to install solar panels has lowered the salon’s carbon footprint by 2,000 tonnes a year. A steadfast supporter of ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE’s toxics campaign, Brian’s guidance was instrumental in the success of our Just  Beautiful campaign to get toxic chemicals out of personal care products.

Oyster Festival

OysterStrongLogoThank you very much to Rodney’s Oyster House and the Ontario oyster community for another excellent Ontario Oyster Festival. For 25 years, the Ontario Oyster Festival has donated proceeds of this great shucking day to ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE. Vendors donate products and services, and volunteers of all stripes pitch in to make this event a huge success for oyster lovers and the environment. A special thank you to Rodney Clark, Ann-Marie Celestine and the Ontario Oyster Festival team.

Patagonia

Patagonia sets the bar high when it comes to responsible corporate stewardship. Established in 1974, this top-of-the-line apparel manufacturer for alpine climbing and active outdoor sports has quietly blazed a bold trail and changed industry practices for the better. Patagonia balances a commitment to the bottom line with being an authentic, responsible corporate citizen. We continue to be impressed by the rock-solid partnership Patagonia has forged with us. This corporate leader helped promote Black Out, Speak Out, a campaign to raise awareness about the federal government’s gutting of environmental laws and silencing of those who seek to protect our environment. Patagonia also participated in our Stop Line 9 campaign last year, linking our work about the risks of this pipeline plan with Patagonia’s campaign to better protect important streams, waterways and sources of clean drinking water. We are proud to call Patagonia our friend and partner.

30 Years of Volunteers

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Peter D’Aguiar

“I AM HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE AND TO BE A PART OF THE FRIENDLY AND WELL-EDUCATED STAFF.”

A photography enthusiast who delights in details like early morning sunlight on the beach, Peter D’Aguiar has been donating his time to ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE for more than 10 years. With his keen eye for detail, Peter volunteers behind the scenes, skillfully assisting with administrative tasks. He has dedicated countless hours to helping ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE communicate effectively with our donors. Peter’s smiling face is always a welcome sight at the office.

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Wendy Ingram

“HELPING TO CLEAN UP OUR ENVIRONMENT IS AN INVESTMENT IN MY GRANDSONS’ FUTURES!”

Wendy Ingram’s enchanting warmth and generous nature is matched by her incredible commitment and tireless contributions. She has donated her time to ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE in numerous ways over the years, including personally calling our supporters to thank them for their donations, spearheading the 2013 and 2014 Gala auctions, and even testing our website. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE is very fortunate and grateful to have Wendy on our side.

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Susanna Merlo

“IT’S AN HONOUR TO HELP CONNECT PEOPLE TO PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND INSPIRE CHANGE THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE.”

Susanna Merlo is a wonderful volunteer: reliable, resourceful, funny and hardworking. A student of holistic nutrition, Susanna first donated her time to ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE in 2012 at an Eco-Beauty Market. After helping out at several Markets and a Blue Flag beach event, Susanna joined the
Auction Committee for the 2014 Gala. Susanna is a gem and a much-appreciated member of the ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE team.

Remembering Farley Mowat

Farley Mowat

Farley Mowat

With the passing of Farley Mowat in May 2014, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE and the environmental community lost one of our best friends.

Farley was one of the first members of ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, joining at our inception, on the invitation of Elizabeth May and Dr. David Suzuki. Raising awareness, recruiting experts and fundraising for environmental lawsuits across Canada appealed to Farley. So did enhancing local citizens groups’ ability to raise some hell, when needed. His passionate plea to end low-level military flight training in Labrador, is a classic example.

Few know that Farley Mowat also saved ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE. In the early days, we had a typewriter, handwritten mailing list and were generally dismissed by politicians and the public. By September 1988, we were down to our last $30,000 and a plan was in place to wind down the organization. Farley agreed to put his name and face to a fundraising letter to a list of 20,000 prospects, marked “From the Desk of Farley Mowat.”

We expected to break even, at best. Instead, the appeal was a phenomenal success. So, we sent out more letters. That November, our fundraising dinner with Dr. Suzuki sold out and ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE was back on track.

We will miss our friend and cherish the legacy of his work.

 

Thank You David Donnelly

David in Labrador

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE is celebrating 25 years of working with one of Canada’s leading environmental lawyers, David Donnelly. In 1988, prior to becoming a lawyer, David was the Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Defence Fund (CEDF), now ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE. Since then, he has been instrumental in leading countless cases and successes including: saving one of PEI’s last wildlife refuges from developers; fighting against the Newfoundland cods stocks collapse and the fixed-link bridge to PEI; creating Ontario’s Greenbelt and the forward-thinking Green Energy and Economy Act; drafting the first Lake Simcoe Protection Act; fighting SLAPPs and protecting the internationally significant Huron-Wendat site, Skandatut. We could write an entire book listing the ways David has contributed to the protection of the environment and human health in Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE is honoured to work with David and we look forward to 25 more years.

ABOVE: David Donnelly (second from right) in Muskrat Falls, Labrador

The 2014 Environmental Defence Gala: An Evening with Bruce Cockburn

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The 2014 Environmental Defence Gala: An Evening with Bruce Cockburn, brought environmental, business and community leaders together to celebrate our work protecting the environment and human health. The elegant evening was infused with passionate ideas, inspiring performances and great conversation, including how to create meaningful, lasting, transformative change. Thank you to the Gala Committee, guests and sponsors for your commitment to creating a world we can be proud to pass on to future generations.

Staff - April 2013 to March 2014

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Adam Scott

Climate/Energy Program Manager

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Aidan Grove White

Planning Advisor—Greenbelt

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Alanna Scott

Development Director

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Alex Cheesman

Development Officer

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Brenda Heyer

Development Manager

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Brett Tryon

Blue Flag Program Manager

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Claire Malcolmson

Water Program Manager (mat leave May 2013)

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Cynthia Foo

Grants Manager

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David Donnelly

Legal Counsel

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Erin Shapero

Land/Water Program Manager

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Gabriella Bensason

Communications Intern

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Gillian McEachern

Campaigns Director

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Hannah McKinnon

National Program Manager

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Ian Carey

Outreach Program Manager

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Janet Patterson

Events Manager

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Jennifer Mayville

Communications Manager

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Katie Edmonds

Online Engagement Manager

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Katy David

Grants Manager

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Keith Brooks

Program Manager

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Liza Smithies

Senior Development Officer

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Maggie MacDonald

Toxics Program Manager

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Nancy Goucher

Water Program Manager

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Naomi Carniol

Communications Manager

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Rachel Potter

Toxics Program Coordinator

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Richard Keith

Executive Assistant

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Sabrina Bowman

Climate Campaign Coordinator

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Sarah Winterton

Acting Executive Director/Managing Director

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Stephanie Kohls

Communications Director

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Tess Finlay

Communications Coordinator

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Tim Gray

Executive Director

NOT PICTURED: Calista Arasaratnam, Accountant; Carlos White, IT Manager; Tracy Wright, Sustainability Intern; Nancy Sacksteder, Development Coordinator; Mary Ford, Operations, HR Manager

Board of Directors - April 2013 to March 2014

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Robert Davies
President and Chair

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Eric Stevenson
Treasurer

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Margaret Slaght
Secretary

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Bruce Best
Director

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Fatima Crerar
Director

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Bob Eisenberg
Director

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Jennifer Ivey
Director

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Trish McMaster
Director

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Michael Perley
Director

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Tom Rand
Director

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Jeffrey Singer
Director

Honourary Board
Robert Bateman; Ray Civello; David Suzuki; John Swaigen; Donald Wright

Celebrity Partners
Randy Bachman; Robert Bateman; Erin Brockovich; Bruce Cockburn; Gillian Deacon; Sarah Harmer; Kari Matchett; Jennifer Podemski; Tamara Podemski; Sarah Slean. For more on our celebrity partners click here.

Financial Report

COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS AT MARCH 31, 2013

  2014  2013
ASSETS    
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 803,037  $ 1,015,784
Accounts receivable  $ 188,185  $ 185,117
Other current assets  $ 70,214  $ 72,976
Fixed assets  $ 63,703  $ 62,002
Investments  $ –  $ 102,812
Total Assets  $ 1,125,139  $ 1,438,691
LIABILITIES    
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  $ 245,300  $ 258,184
Deferred contribution revenue  $ 534,708  $ 544,523
Total Liabilities  $ 780,008  $ 802,707
Net Assets  $ 345,131  $ 635,984
Total Liabilities and Assets  $ 1,125,139  $ 1,438,691
REVENUE    
Supporter contributions  $ 3,465,466  $ 3,801,422
Other  $ 22,779  $ 46,147
Total Revenue  $ 3,488,245  $ 3,847,569
EXPENSES    
Program and operating expenses  $ 3,779,098  $ 3,696,617
Total Expenses  $ 3,779,098  $ 3,696,617
Excess of Revenue Over Expenses  ($290,853)  $ 150,952

 

For the full audited financial report, click here.

Financial History of Environmental Defence

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Thank You!

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE thanks all of the individuals and organizations who generously supported our efforts between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014. Our work protecting the environment and human health would not be possible without you by our side. Thank you! See the entire list here.

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To see all the photos from this year’s annual report, check out the full gallery here.

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