How do you deal with change?

“The best possible way to predict the future is to create it.” Abraham Lincoln

Workshop: A Greener Home Starts Here. Sat July 11, 11am-12:30pm Hosted by the London Environmental Network at the London Food Co-op, 621 Princess St. This workshop will provide expert advice and actionable recommendations on:

• Energy efficiency

• Water conservation

• Green infrastructure

• Home retrofits

• Available funding and incentive programs

Register for the Event and Apply for FREE Energy Retrofits Worth Up to $7,000

Webinar: Unlocking Plug-in Solar in Canada (aka Balcony Solar) June 24, 8pm hosted by the Climate Reality Project

• the global push to make it more widely available,

• what’s blocking it in Canada, why outdated rules need to change, and

• what we can learn from U.S. states that are already moving ahead.

If you’re interested in clean energy, climate organizing, and practical ways to take action, we’d love for you to join us!

Three of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s (CPPIB) twelve directors – one quarter of the board – now have connections to the fossil fuel industry. Read more in Shift’s statement.

Climate Action: Ask for a fossil-free board for the Canada Pension Plan

At the June 8, 2026 Community and Protective Services Committee meeting, a Tree Nursery Feasibility Study was approved to proceed. The report was prepared by Timea Filer, RPF Manager, Urban Forestry.

(video 16:00) Councillor Sam Trosow asked staff if they would consider consulting with local non profit or academic groups prior to hiring a consultant but failed to wait for the report author to comment.

Excerpts from the report:

(p.2) To achieve London’s canopy target of 34% by 2065, the City needs to plant at least 6000 standard size trees (50mm) per year until 2065 on City property.

(Which would cost) approximately $3.2 million ($530/tree) annually, based on current pricing (includes cost of tree, installation and aftercare).

The demand from municipalities in Ontario for trees from nurseries is at an all-time high and the ability to secure the volume and diversity of tree species is becoming increasingly challenging for everyone. (ReForest London launched their tree nursery last year.)

The study will investigate the benefits and costs of multiple models such as, a City owned and operated tree nursery, subcontracting a tree nursery, or contract growing.

For example, Wellington County operates two tree nurseries for both municipal purposes and for discounted sale/giveaways. Windsor has operated a tree nursery on lands held for a wastewater treatment plant expansion, which has primarily served as a major source of stock for street and park trees.

(p.6) The estimated cost to undertake this study is $125,000 sourced from UF2047 Urban Forest Strategy. “Costs for the study are wholly related to hiring a third-party consultant with extensive experience and knowledge as subject matter experts.”

Timeframe:

• Background research July – October 2026

• Analysis of information November 2026 – February 2027

• Draft and Final Reports March 2027

• Presentation of Report to CPSC April 2027

(I think it’s a great idea to grow your own (tree) supply, but wouldn’t $125,000 would pay for a person to work on this project fulltime for a full year!?! Let your councillor know if you think that this sounds crazy to you.)

The city’s Strategic Plan Performance Dashboard has 8 Areas of Focus.

Strategic Area of Focus: Climate Action and Sustainable Growth

Outcome 3: London’s infrastructure and systems are built, maintained, and operated to meet the long-term needs of the community.

• 3.2 b. Build, maintain and operate assets with consideration for energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

Strategic Area of Focus: Well-Run City

Outcome 2: Londoners experience good stewardship, exceptional and valued service.

• 2.4 d. Conduct targeted service reviews to ensure the efficient and effective allocation of resources.

Sat June 13 Butterfly Festival, 17 Meadowlily Rd S. Learn to catch and release butterflies. Hosted by TTLT. Drop-in anytime from 11am-2pm. Note: see event link for apparel recommendations

Sat June 13 Art/Ecology Retreat: “Margins and Mosaics: Wetland” with naturalist, Larry Cornelis and artist, Mary Abma.

Sun June 14, 9am Yoga in the Park at Meadowlily Nature Preserve hosted by TTLT. Please bring your own mat, comfortable exercise clothing, and a reusable water bottle. No experience required. Registration required

Mon June 15 Pollinator Garden cleanup at Jeanne Sauve F.I.P.S. 3:30 - 4:30pm (weather dependent) Many hands make light work.

Wed June 17, 10am-11am Garden Club, featuring a talk by Rob McQueen of Forage City London. Hosted by Salvation Army, London Community Services, 310 Vesta Road served by LTC#10, 15, 27 Free. Open to everyone.

Thurs June 18, 6:30 - 7:30 Treevening (Trees in the Evening) at Reservoir Park Community Garden. We’ll take a tour, look at some of the native trees and their non-native look-alikes, and highlight ways you can tell them apart. Register

Fri June 19, celebrate Indigenous Solidarity at Victoria Park with food, crafts, Powwow Drumming, Powwow Dancing, prizes, community

• 6am - Sunrise ceremony (fire lit at 5:30am)

• 11am - Grand Entry

• 11am-3pm - Powwow

Sat June 20, 9:30am-11:30 Antler River Rally cleanup

Wed June 24, 10am-11am Garden Club, featuring a talk by Dr. Brendon Samuels. Hosted by Salvation Army, London Community Services, 310 Vesta Road served by LTC#10, 15, 27. Free. Open to everyone.

Sat July 11, 11am-12:30pm Workshop: A Greener Home Starts Here. Hosted by the London Environmental Network at the London Food Co-op, 621 Princess St.

Fridays for Future 2:30 - 3:30pm continues every Friday at the corner of Dufferin and Wellington streets. Bring a sign, or just come to chat and experience fellowship with other concerned citizens. This is a small group, dedicated to holding a place for youth in support of Greta Thunberg’s global movement.

LEARN MORE at ClimateActionLondon.ca

by Alex Leff

Excerpt (12:42):

We all have our own call to adventure. The looming iceberg is not a distraction from your life, it’s an invitation to live the life we’re called for. In the hero’s journey, we are faced with the question: how we can use our unique skills and gifts to face this moment. To be alive in it, and how can we use this moment as a catalyst to do something unexpected and brave with our lives?

We don’t need to carry the weight of a mountain, we only need to be the seed that pushes through a crack in the concrete that makes a little space for life.

The stakes are incredibly high, but we are still going to be laughing and falling in love through it all. Our real story is about many heros who all have their own trails to travel. And since this journey is so beyond what any of us could possibly even fathom or seem to do anything impactful about, the key thing is to find the fellowship. How do we find the other people in our lives that we can join with and experience this together. Our call to adventure is an invitation not only to live a meaningful life and respond to the iceberg in a way that feels worthy to the moment but also, to discover the many forms of community that can accompany us on that journey.