This Sunday May 5th, Sustainable North Grenville (SNG) is thrilled to be hosting the 15th annual Sustainability Fair and EV show at the North Grenville Municipal Centre from 10 to 3. Now a well-loved herald of Spring in our community, the event draws visitors from all over the region who come to enjoy the many vendors and information booths, partake in mouth-watering local baking and cooking, test drive a new EV, and be serenaded by local talent.
There will be various presentations to suit all interests. In the morning, representatives from the Ferguson Forest Centre (FFC) Board and the Kemptville Campus will share an hour to present initiatives within their organizations. Wes Herring from the FFC Board will talk about the Centre, the nursery, their corporate mandate, and possible agroforestry. Liz Sutherland from the Campus will touch on the success and growth of the community garden, the native habitat gardeners group, Eco Farm Day, school programming, and more.
Community members Katie Nolan and Sarah Tuck will be hosting a Climate Circle – a facilitated, safe space for voicing emotional responses to the planetary crisis. This gentle and supportive environment offers participants the chance to be heard and hear from others who may share similar concerns – a rare opportunity in our action-focused culture. Numbers are limited for this event, which is suitable for ages 12+.
Designed for the EV-curious, “A Beginner’s Guide to EV Myths” will be hosted by members of the Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa (EVCO). Additionally, Transport Canada will be on site to answer questions about their incentive program.
Of interest to anyone looking to bring their home into the 21st century, Chris Weissflog from EcoGen Energy and Build will give a presentation on home energy. He will describe a home energy retrofit, from “light” to “deep”, and discuss various aspects of retrofit work and its implications. The audience will learn from examples of home energy retrofit projects and outcomes, including the economic costs and benefits. Current economic incentive programs as well as the process of energy evaluation from an NRCan accredited Energy Advisor will also be included.
To round out the day of presentations, Michelle Dunford returns to the fair to educate about sustainability at home and in your day-to-day life. We all have aspirations to help create a sustainable future. What choices can have the largest impact? And how can we make small lasting changes in our busy daily lives? Michelle, her husband and their two kids (ages 6 and 4) have been living a sustainable lifestyle for the past six years. Whether your goal is to slow global warming, reduce your plastic waste, minimize impact to wildlife habitats, or save money, Michelle’s talk will help you make simple choices that fit your lifestyle and lead to a sustainable future.
The Sustainability Fair is a family-friendly event – your kids can check out the many fun and interactive booths, and can hang out in the Kids’ Zone as long as they like. Irene is back to help the littles get their hands in the dirt to plant seedlings. Diana will bring in her vermicomposter to showcase the amazing digestion abilities of worms. And of course there will be an arts and crafts station where kids can unwind and focus on a creative project. New this year – Caitlin from the North Grenville Public Library will be there to sign kids up for their first library card, and she’ll even be able to sign out books on site!
The SNG team is excited to see you on May 5th! SNG is always open to meeting new people who want to be part of our community’s Earth-conscious movement. From organizing the fair to screening movies and hosting workshops, there are many ways to be involved. Come with your own inspiration and you’ll find a supportive group that will help you make your idea a reality. Email your interest to: info.sustainablenorthgrenville@gmail.com.
