News release

For immediate release

Saanich celebrating groups committed to sustainability and One Planet Living

Saanich, BC – On June 6, Saanich celebrated the accomplishments of 12 local schools, businesses, and organizations who have committed to One Planet Living. One Planet Living is the vision of a world in which people enjoy happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the earth’s resources, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness.

“Approximately three earths would be required to support the global population if we don’t change our ways and look at becoming more sustainable,” said Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes. “Saanich residents care about protecting the environment, and at this event we are celebrating local groups who are putting that care into action in their daily lives. It is an expression at a local level of our concern about the climate emergency.”

The One Planet Saanich initiative is part of an international project including cities in the UK, South Africa, Denmark, and Russia. Participants created One Planet Action Plans for their organizations, committing to building healthy, happy, equitable communities that use zero carbon energy and protect land and water.

Students in the Leadership and Flexible Studies programs at Reynolds Secondary created a plan with nearly 40 actions, including fostering chicks for backyard chickens, rainwater collection at school, and rehabilitating a Garry Oak meadow. “Through the program, we are gaining access to an international network of schools that will be sharing ideas and inspiring each other,” said Heather Coey, a teacher at Reynolds Secondary.

The congregation at First Unitarian Church Victoria included a carbon challenge to motivate members to change their driving and flying habits, installing electric vehicle chargers, sharing recipes to encourage low-carbon food choices, and advocacy to senior levels of government about climate action.“The ten principles of One Planet Living complement our seven Unitarian principles beautifully, especially our seventh principle: respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part. Our action plan will help us live our values more completely,” explains Glenyss Turner, Chair, Environmental Action Team at First Unitarian Church.

“The One Planet Saanich initiative was motivating and inspiring. We connected with and learned from other organizations locally and around the world, and saw how our individual actions are connected and support each other,” said Katie Underwood with Haliburton Farm.

The One Planet Cities initiative is funded by the KR Foundation, coordinated internationally by Bioregional (a UK-based non-profit) and in Saanich by One Earth (a local non-profit), and hosted by the District of Saanich as part of the updated Climate Plan 100% Renewable and Resilient Saanich engagement process. Additional funding for the project was provided by Vancity Credit Union.

Learn more

More information about the One Planet initiative is available at Saanich.ca and oneplanetsaanich.org.

Quick facts:

The ten principles of One Planet Living include:

• Health and happiness
• Equity and local economy
• Culture and community
• Land and nature
• Sustainable water
• Local and sustainable food
• Travel and transport
• Materials and products
• Zero waste
• Zero carbon energy

One Planet Saanich Participating Organizations

Four secondary and one post-secondary school:

• Claremont Secondary School
• Reynolds Secondary School
• Mt. Douglas Secondary School
• Artemis Place Society
• Camosun College

Four businesses

• Uptown
• Bumblebee Electric
• Vancity Credit Union
• Beespot Neighbourhoods

Three community organizations

• Haliburton Farm
• Creatively United for the Planet
• First Unitarian Church of Victoria

 

- 30 -

 

Media contacts:

District of Saanich
Ting Pan, Manager of Sustainability, ting.pan@saanich.ca, 250-475-5494 ext. 7118 

One Earth (One Planet Saanich Project Lead)
Cora Hallsworth, Senior Associate, One Earth, 250-580-7423, cora-h@live.com

Reynolds Secondary School
Heather Coey, Teacher, 250-857-2184, hdcoey@gmail.com