Grade 3 students at Beacon Hill Elementary School’s garden.

BHS students are highly encouraged to use their bikes to get to school instead of opting for drop off by fuel-based family vehicles (...and they're getting a little exercise too!)

Beacon Hill Elementary School’s compost team.

The weekly Marché BEAU Farmers Market runs from May to September on Fridays from 3 - 6 p.m. and is open to all residents. The market hosts three local farmers who sell beautiful vegetables picked fresh and minimally transported to the market. This creates an opportunity for people to connect with their growers and get to know and understand what it takes to produce their food.

Since April, Beaconsfield High School has taken on the challenge of moving the school towards more sustainable practices by removing most garbage bins in their school cafeteria. Compost and recycling bins have replaced most garbage bins which has brought down garbage levels to only one bag per day vs eight bags per day previously. Students and staff are sorting out their lunch remains and are far more aware of how the reduction of garbage is relatively easy, and that this action can make a huge difference at a school and city level.

The Big BEAU Garage Sale in the spring encourages re-use and diverts unwanted items going to landfill by selling them locally to fellow neighbours.

I try to make zero-waste lunch packing for myself and the kids. In my mind, it means that the individual lunches do not create any more waste—no paper napkins, no plastic utensils, no yogurt cups, no squeeze apple sauces, etc. Basically, at the end of my kid’s lunch period, they shouldn’t need to go to the trash can or recycling at all.

Did you know that the fashion industry is the 2^nd most polluting industry in the world?

I learned that recently, while participating in a zero waste challenge with my family.

At the moment, we are trying to reduce our consumption and reuse/repair our goods as much as possible. One step at a time…

Last year, rather than buy new appliances, we repaired our fridge as well as our oven.

I also replaced my old car which consumed a lot of fuel with a hybrid rechargeable vehicle.

Aside from that, I try to be creative by transforming the use of certain clothes, I give or buy certain items second-hand. For example, a bridesmaid dress became a Princess Peach costume for an activity at the library. 1 dress = many possibilities.

I grow my veggies and fruits in my garden, most from seeds (lettuce, beans, snap peas, cucumber, squash, tomatoes, zucchini, hot peppers, raspberry, blackberries, strawberries, thyme, basil).

• We only have one car since November, so we coordinate our outings.
• I pick up the hangers at Nova, where I do volunteering, and I bring them to be cleaned and eventually reused.
• I put plastic clips (e.g. bread, milk) in a small container to reuse them before putting them in the recycling.
• I use a clothesline to dry my clothes. It saves electricity.
• I put all my plastic bags in one bag (as is recommended in the “What to put in your recycling bin” guide distributed by the City).
• My 4 composters work hard for me as well. I have much less food waste. Plus, they provide a fantastic fertilizer for my plants.
• I fill my recycling bin as much as possible (like in the photo). I place it at the curb about once every two months.

In Beaconsfield's Communications Department, we have adopted a hybrid work approach. Remote working allows us to reduce our GHG emissions.

These boxes installed in Montrose and Brookside Park allow donated books to take on a new life.

It’s a great way to share the joys of reading while being respectful of the environment.

Stay tuned: two new boxes will be installed around the end of the summer in Shannon and Briarwood Park.

Special thanks to the Beaconsfield Artists Association and to the Friends of the Beaconsfield Library for their collaboration.

Witness an immersive multimedia experience at Centennial Park with the laser show and illuminated trail on July 1st.

Powered by electricity, this technology is environmentally cleaner than traditional fireworks, preserving air and water quality in the surrounding environment.