Employees at Conservation Halton plant trees at Hilton Falls Conservation Area.Supplied
Conservation Halton offers such a wide range of environmental wellness programs in its southern Ontario region that Kim Barrett, the organization’s senior specialist, research and sustainability, says it’s hard to pick a favourite.
“That’s like asking me to name my favourite child,” she says with a laugh.
The Pass It On program, however, is one she’s especially enthusiastic about. Offered in partnership with local libraries, it enables community members to “check out” a Conservation Halton park pass at their library, just like they would check out a book.
“We have 400 passes available at libraries for community members to sign out so that they can access our parks at no charge,” says Barrett.
It’s a creative way of fulfilling Burlington, Ont.-based Conservation Halton’s mandate to provide opportunities for people to connect with nature at one of the authority’s eight parks in the region between Toronto and Hamilton. This mandate applies to staff too: employees and their immediate families receive a free annual membership that allows them to visit all conservation authority parks across Ontario.
“There’s a lot of research about the benefits of nature for mental health and physical health,” says Barrett.
Conservation Halton preserves, manages and enhances the environmental health of the watershed it oversees, and staff is encouraged to visit it first-hand. “Seeing what’s happening out on the landscape is good for our folks who are involved in watershed management,” says Barrett.
The conservation authority protects 10,600 acres of green space, oversees 842 water monitoring sites and monitors 39 invasive species. In 2023, Conservation Halton completed 141 restoration projects, restored 8.5 kilometres of stream and planted 130,385 trees and shrubs. In total, the conservation authority has planted more than four million trees over the past 60 years.
“We are inherently a green business,” says president and CEO Chandra Sharma. “The kind of work we do promotes sustainability and advances green jobs. We also embed sustainability in our day-to-day operations and the work we do in our own facilities.”
Several examples illustrate this point, including electric vehicle charging stations in Conservation Halton’s main parking lot and recent office renovations that included installing LED lighting.
Staff have also worked hard to reduce Conservation Halton’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Atmospheric Fund’s annual emissions report for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) provides a barometer for Conservation Halton’s success.
Sharma notes that employees at all levels participate in sustainability initiatives. There are staff-led tree planting days and eco challenges, such as eliminating straws and buying local. On the organization’s intranet, there’s an internal EcoChat forum where staff can share green living tips. At Conservation Halton, sustainability is a core value, strategic priority and way of life.
“People come to work for Conservation Halton because of the direct impact this organization has on the local environment, the community and their well-being,” says Sharma.
Barrett echoes this sentiment. “We have a strong emphasis on staff wellness,” she says. This is reflected in a range of benefits and perks, including free premium access to the Calm mental health app, an annual wellness fair, and free yoga and meditation sessions.
“We want our staff to be happier and healthier – this not only connects them to our mandate, but it’s good for their overall health and well-being,” says Sharma. “It’s important that we lead by example – we like to walk the talk.”
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