Windfall Centre played a leading role in the development of renewable energy policy in Ontario by co-founding the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association and playing a lead role in creating the blueprint for Ontario's Standard Offer program, on behalf on the Ontario Ministry of Energy. Once implemented we supported the policy on the ground helping homeowners, community groups, corporations and municipalities through the process of installing Solar Photo Voltaic systems.
Healthy Kids Community Challenge was a province wide initiative operating in 45 communities across Ontario. Windfall Centre was chosen to deliver the program in Aurora. The Healthy Kids Challenge used a community-led method to promote policies and programs facilitating healthier lives for our children, through increased physical activity, increased availability of nutritious foods, and an increased knowledge of nutrition.
In 2006, Organic Earth Magazine named the annual Windfall Ecology Festival one of Canada's Top 12 Green Events. This labour of love was one of Ontario's earliest sustainability events and ran for 14 consecutive years beginning in 2002. The outdoor festival took place in the Town of Newmarket's picturesque Fairy Lake Park and was billed as Ontario's most inclusive celebration of sustainable living. Taking place on the third weekend of June, the festival included over 100 exhibits of environmentally friendly products and services as well as seminars, guest speakers, live music, and special events, including the renowned Trash Fashion Show.
Wildly outrageous, the Trash Fashion Show was a full-blown runway presentation of fashion and design - featuring outfits designed from reclaimed and recycled material.
Green Spokes was an active transportation program designed to motivate students to cycle to school, work with schools and local partners to install secure bike parking facilities and celebrate and reward students for their efforts.
REpower Ontario was an initiative designed to provide individuals with a one-stop introduction to the green economy that would allow them to determine if this is a domain they wish to pursue in terms of a career and if so, in what area they wish to specialize. At the same time, we wanted to embed the REpower experience with the emerging green philosophy and mind-set that will lead to transformation, innovation and systemic change in Ontario's economy.
Many Ontarians take their water from groundwater wells and dispose of their wastewater on site. Every rural resident has a key role in the water cycle. We take water from wells, treat it, use or consume it, and then release it into septic systems, to eventually make its way back into the groundwater or surface water nearby. Well owners in Ontario are responsible for the safety and operation of their own wells and septic systems and for what those systems put back into the water cycle.
The Well Aware program was designed by Green Communities Canada and delivered in York Region by Windfall Ecology Centre. The program encouraged well owners to protect their wells and our common groundwater supplies. The program offered a comprehensive free information kit and free on-site guided assessments. Well Aware was funded by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
In 2005 Sir Sandford Fleming College presented the Windfall Ecology Centre with a special award for its environmental work in ground water protection.
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