Windfall 2015 News Archives

Cost of flood insurance going up

Extreme weather due to climate change causing rate hikes

In the summer of 2013, the Greater Toronto Area received five inches of water in a day (as much as the city would normally receive in the entire month, and then some). Five thousand residential basements were flooded and the Insurance Bureau of Canada reported that insured property damage was estimated to be in excess of $850 million, and costs to the city itself were $170 million, making it the province's costliest natural disaster.

Read the full article

Learn how to manage stormwater

Healthy Kids Community Challenge

Windfall Centre to launch new program in Aurora

Official launch coming in January 2016

Healthy Kids Community Challenge, a partnership between Windfall Ecology Centre and the Town of Aurora, will focus on improving the health and fitness of local youngsters and those who guide them. Read the full story in the Auroran.

Windfall Healthy Kids program featured in the Auroran

Toyota to stop selling gas-powered cars by 2050

A wake-up call for Ontario and its struggling auto sector

Windfall's EV Adoption study cited in article

Toyota Motor Corp.'s goal of reducing emissions from new vehicles by 90 per cent within the next 35 years is a wake-up call for Ontario and its struggling auto sector, experts say.

Reaching such a goal would require the world's second-largest automaker to virtually phase out all gasoline-fuelled vehicles and base future models on hybrid-electric or pure electric propulsion (fuel cell or battery).

Read the full article

Read Windfall's EV Adoption study cited in the article

Will Ontario become a relic of the auto industry?

Ontario's Environmental Commissioner recently urged the province to up its game if it hopes to achieve its GHG emission reduction target.

Ontario is ideally positioned to be a leader in EV manufacturing, research and development, according to a recent study from Windfall Centre, which calls on the province to exploit its strengths and carve out an EV manufacturing node that will shore up its sagging auto sector. Missing the manufacturing opportunities presented by a transformative shift to low carbon vehicles would have dire economic consequences for Ontario's labour market.

Read the full story

Windfall's bee-autiful pollinator garden

Frankie Flowers team helps build pollinator garden at Windfall Centre

Windfall's rain garden now has a new neighbour... a pollinating garden. Read the full story and see how easy it can be to plant your own bee and butterfly friendly garden.

Building a pollinator garden

Will Ontario become a relic of the auto industry?

Ontario's Environmental Commissioner recently urged the province to up its game if it hopes to achieve its GHG emission reduction target.

Ontario is ideally positioned to be a leader in EV manufacturing, research and development, according to a recent study from Windfall Centre, which calls on the province to exploit its strengths and carve out an EV manufacturing node that will shore up its sagging auto sector. Missing the manufacturing opportunities presented by a transformative shift to low carbon vehicles would have dire economic consequences for Ontario's labour market.

Read the full story

Windfall's bee-autiful pollinator garden

Frankie Flowers team helps build pollinator garden at Windfall Centre

Windfall's rain garden now has a new neighbour... a pollinating garden. Read the full story and see how easy it can be to plant your own bee and butterfly friendly garden.

Building a pollinator garden

Healthy Kids Community Challenge — Aurora

Call for project proposals

Deadline November 27, 2015

Individuals involved in sports, health, nutrition, and wellness programs are encouraged to submit project proposals that could be implemented in the upcoming action plans.

Read the Public Notice from the Town of Aurora

Windfall plugging-in at Ikea EV ribbon-cutting

Wednesday October 14, 2015 at 9:am

City of Vaughan Ikea, 200 Interchange Way

Windfall Founder & Executive Director, Brent Kopperson, driving Windfall's all-electric Nissan Leaf, will be the first to charge-up at the official ribbon-cutting of Ikea's new EV charging stations located at 200 Interchange Way in Vaughan. On hand to perform the official ribbon-cutting will be City of Vaughan mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. EV charging will be available, cost-free, to Ikea shoppers.

Visit Ikea in the City of Vaughan

Introducing the new power plant for your home

Test project coming to Ontario

PowerStream, Ontario's second-largest municipally owned electric utility launched a pilot project this week that will see 20 residential properties in and around Richmond Hill equipped with solar panels and bookshelf-sized battery systems. Read the full story featuring Windfall Director Neetika Sathe...

Read the Toronto Star article

Home Energy Loan Program Expands

All Toronto properties are now included

The City of Toronto's innovative Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) has expanded city-wide. Program eligibility will no longer be based on postal code, instead all Toronto properties are now included.

See program details

Aurora's electric road show shows life in green lane

The Town of Aurora's inaugural electric vehicle roadshow was more about bringing awareness to methods of sustainable transportation as it was about hopping behind the wheel for a test drive of several electric-powered and hybrid vehicles on hand at the Aurora Town Hall parking lot.

Read the full article at yorkregion.com

Please Join Us to Celebrate 25 Years of STORM

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Windfall Ecology Centre, 93A Industrial Parkway South, Aurora ON

Save The Oak Ridges Moraine Coalition (STORM) has hit a quarter-century milestone of protecting and preserving Ontario's environmentally sensitive Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) and the Oak Ridges Moraine Partnership for 2015 (Earthroots, EcoSpark, Ontario Nature and STORM) will be hosting a 25th Anniversary Award Ceremony to celebrate.

To RSVP to this event please email info@stormcoalition.org or call 905.841.9200 by Sunday, September 13, 2015 (required).

Learn More: 25 years of STORM

Free community workshop

Learn how you can take simple steps to maintain the natural water cycle on your property

Thursday September 24, 2015 / Barrie Ontario

Learn about Rain Barrels, Rain Gardens, Permeable Landscaping Options and how you can get a FREE RAIN home consultation and FREE Rain Barrel!

Thursday September 24, 2015
7:pm to 9:pm
Dorian Parker Centre
227 Sunnidale Road, Barrie, ON

For more information or to reserve a seat contact Andrea at:
email: abolton@windfallcentre.ca
phone: 1-866-280-4431 ext 167

Aurora Electric Vehicle Roadshow

September 26, 2015, 10 am to 3 pm

Aurora Town Hall

Join us at Aurora Town Hall (100 John West Way) for this first time event. Ride and drive various electric vehicles​, see EV charging station demonstrations​, experience e-bike demonstrations and much more. Plus enter to win the use of an electric vehicle for a week!

Learn more: Aurora Electric Vehicle Roadshow

Free electric car charging coming to Ikea stores

60-amp charging stations at Canadian stores by end of August

IKEA announced at the Climate Summit of the Americas just outside Toronto on Thursday that it will install 60-amp charging stations at all of its Canadian stores by the end of August. Every location will get two chargers per store to start with.

Electric car charging coming to Ikea

High spirits at the 2015 Windfall Ecology Festival

YorkRegion.com reviews our 14th annual  festival

Droplets didn't dampen the enthusiasm of partiers in Newmarket, but then again, the environment couldn't survive without rain such as that brought by this afternoon's showers...

Read the full YorkRegion.com review

Windfall Centre opens it's doors

Doors Open Aurora

August 15, 2015

Join Windfall Centre for Doors Open Aurora this Saturday between 10:am and 4:pm at the Charles Henry Sheppard House. Guided tours are offered at 11:am, 1:pm and 3:pm and light refreshments will be available.

Learn more: Doors open Aurora

Ontarians to discuss climate action

Ontario Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Glen Murray, has released Ontario's Climate Change Discussion Paper. We welcome Ontario's continued leadership on climate protection and look forward to working with the province in building a sustainable and prosperous future for our children, says Windfall Centre Executive Director, Brent Kopperson.

Download Discussion Paper

Save on rain barrels

Order discounted rain barrels online

Funds raised from the rain barrel sale will go towards supporting the annual Windfall Ecology Festival.

Order rain barrels online today

Craft Beer Tasting at the Windfall Festival

Coming June 13 and 14, 2015

Fairy Lake Park, Newmarket Ontario

Along with our culinary demonstrations, at the Windfall Ecology Festival this year will be a Craft Beer Tasting tent where visitors can enjoy samples from local craft breweries.

Read the story at YorkRegion.com

Windfall Ecology Festival 2015

Exhibitor registration now open

Take advantage of early bird rates

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to present your sustainable product or service at the 14th annual Windfall Ecology Festival. With approximately 8,000 to 10,000 visitors attending over the two day event, it is a great opportunity for exposure. Take advantage of early bird rates now and join the fun June 13 & 14.

Register Now

Win a $500 VIA Rail travel voucher

Carpool Week April 20 to 26

Get your carpool team ready for a chance to win

The average cost of owning and operating a vehicle is $10,500 per year.  Carpooling can help you save money, time and reduce your impact on the environment. During the TORONTO 2015 PanAm Games (June 29 to July 27) drivers will need to be accompanied by at least two passengers to use the HOV lanes. Get your carpool team ready at smartcommute.ca/carpool for a chance to WIN 1 of 3 $500 VIA Rail travel vouchers.

Sign-up for a chance to win

Big discounts on rain barrels

Wednesday March 18, 10:am to 1:pm

York Region Administrative Centre, Great Hall

Windfall Centre will be at York Region's Canada Water Week celebration with big savings on Rain Barrels and expert advice on homeowner Storm Water Management.

View the York Region poster

Aurora climate change consultation date

Wednesday March 18, 2015 – 6:pm to 8:pm

Aurora Cultural Centre, 22 Church Street

The Ontario Government is hosting a series of town hall meetings as they prepare a new strategy for fighting climate change. This is your chance to have your opinion heard in Aurora.

More info and town hall dates and locations

2014 archives